The Duncan Hilton

Over the years our home has become affectionaltely known as The Duncan Hilton. As the tiltle implies, this started because of all the people who have stayed with us over time. I think 103 Valley Club Circle was the first Duncan Hilton--or at least the first where we started calling our house that. Since we were the only relatives in Little Rock, everyone else in our family makes a reservation at the Hilton when coming to LR for football games, the doctor, to shop, or for a special event.

The newest Duncan Hilton

Five years ago, we built a new Hilton. We kept this use of our house in mind while designing our abode and made sure we had plently of room for out-of-towners. Upstairs is where they stay. We have a choice of the Buffett room (decorated in island style, complete with an autographed copy of A Pirate Looks at Forty), the Garden room (plenty of floral photos and greenery here), the formally Asian room (which our decorator was quickly told to change), and the TV room, with a daybed for overflow company. We didn't put as many amenities up there as in our downstairs living space. There are no slow-closing potty lids here, and the ceilings are only 8 feet instead of 9. Alan explained to the builder that we didn't want our guests to be too comfortable or they might stay too long.

Many people have stayed at the Duncan Hilton over the years. Family of course have been here numerous times. In fact, my sister Kathy complained recently about not getting her Hilton Honors Points for all her stays. Alan pointed out that Hilton gives no Honors points for free lodging. Others who have stayed here are friends passing through, business associates of Alan's, friends of our kids, and even some friends from Little Rock who were without power for a few days.

Noone, however, has spent more nights as a Hilton guest than my nephew Ben. Since his family lives in Birmingham, he lived with us one summer while working in Little Rock. And Ben is the reason the Duncan Hilton is completely booked for the weekend of Nov. 15. He's getting married that Saturday, and reservations started coming in a couple of months ago. We'll have Mema in the Garden Room, Brent and Katie in the Buffett room, their son Walker in the formally Asian room (where we now have a baby bed), and Hunter in the TV room. He said the Day Bed had to be more comfortable than Denver Peacock's couch. Actually, if anyone else is brave, we still have a queen-sized bed in the room with Walker and a second bed under the day bed Hunter will sleep on. (Lucky Hunter even gets to share a bathroom with Mema.)

So if you are coming to Little Rock, you might want to check out the Duncan Hilton. The Duncan Hilton even serves free breakfast and sometimes lunch and dinner, so it's a real bargain.