The History

The Wine Club is one of the most unique in the country. It hosts an excellent assortment of dining venues, all of which are serviced by our extraordinary wine ‘cellar,’ Bunker 55°, which possesses remarkable features and a remarkable history. Seeing our exclusive Bunker 55° is itself worth a visit to Houston Oaks.The history of Bunker 55° has some interesting twists. Originally the Club property was owned by oil giant and conglomerate, Tenneco (Tennessee Natural Corporation). During the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, the company built an extensive underground bunker facility, not to house wine, but for maintaining and  monitoring the company’s global gas operations. In 1996, El Paso Corporation bought all of Tenneco’s gas operations, which included what is now the Club property. Later (2010), the Club procured the facility, which included the underground bunker located beneath the current, Houston Oaks Hotel.The above-ground portion of the building has been renovated to serve as a first-class hotel for members and their guests. The underground bunker, however, is being transformed into a premier Napa Valley-style wine cave hosting wine storage units, a private dining room, meeting spaces, and a lounge area.