Caroline Rose Hunt is a prominent Dallas woman who was one of the richest in the United States. She is best known as the founder of Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, established in 1979. Learn more about the success story of the Dallas businesswoman at dallaska.
Childhood
Caroline Rose Hunt was born on January 8, 1923, in El Dorado, Arkansas. She grew up in a large family with six siblings. Her father, Haroldson Lafayette Hunt, was a famous American oil tycoon. Caroline would recall that she had no idea that her family was so wealthy. It happened when she saw her father’s photo on the cover of Life magazine titled: “Is this the richest man in the world?”.
She spent her childhood years in the Texas city of Tyler, which is located in the east of the state. In 1938, the Hunts moved to Dallas. She received her elementary education at a private school for girls, the Hockaday School, established at the request of local businessmen. She continued her education at a private women’s college in Staunton and the University of Texas at Austin. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English and art history in 1943. That same year, the girl married Lloyd Bowmer Sands.
Private life
When the United States plunged into World War II, Lloyd went to the front. Meanwhile, Caroline began working in her father’s office and later as a shop assistant at the Neiman Marcus department store. The young couple had five children. As was the convention of the time, Caroline’s duty was to raise kids, but at the same time, she also took time out for public activities, helping the local church.
In 1973, the couple divorced. Shortly after, Caroline wed Buddy Schoellkopf, who came from a wealthy and well-known Dallas family as well. However, this marriage did not last long either and they split up in 1987.
Starting her own business
Hunt’s entrepreneurial career began in 1979 when she founded Rosewood Hotels & Resorts. The company built luxury hotels with the highest standard of service. In that period, she and her children purchased the abandoned Italian-style mansion previously owned by Texas cotton lord Sheppard King. She spent $20 million to convert it into one of the best hotel and restaurant complexes in the city. Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek is located in an exclusive neighborhood and is still considered the most prestigious establishment in Dallas.
When building hotels, Caroline attended to each detail that reflected her own tastes. Rare or antique items and works of fine art of different ages were often used in the interior, as well as fresh flowers. The estate’s grounds were complemented by various landscape compositions.
Rosewood Hotels & Resorts was sold to New World Hospitality in 2011.
Philanthropic activity
Besides investing in the development of the hotel business, Hunt also donated a considerable amount of money to many cultural and educational institutions in Dallas. One of them was her former educational institution, Mary Baldwin College. Caroline and her sister Margaret financed the renovation of the Hilltop building, which was located on the college campus.
In addition, the entrepreneur allocated funds for the National Museum of Women in the Arts and the American Red Cross. She supported research on macular degeneration, a condition that Hunt suffered from and had poor eyesight.
Caroline suffered a stroke that caused her death on November 13, 2018, at the T. Boone Pickens Hospice in Dallas.