The Wiley 220
In 2009, with no set plan, George Dodson bought an empty city lot in downtown Texarkana. For years, it remained untouched. Then, a vision took shape in Dodson’s mind, what if he built a home there? “I just decided, ‘I think I’m going to live downtown,’” Dodson said, recounting how the project evolved. “So, I put my house on the market and decided if it sold, this is what I’d do. I went [on a trip] to Mexico and had three offers in three days.” From that moment on, the home he affectionately refers to as The Wiley 220 began to materialize.
“I walked around with my plans and a tape measure everywhere I went. If I went to someone’s home, I would measure a room and look at my plans. I would sit there and envision where the bed would be or how much space I needed to walk behind the bar stools,” said Dodson. And it is clear from the moment you walk up to the wooden entry doors that Dodson made sure every detail was considered. “I bought [the doors] at the Roundtop Antique Fair,” he explained. “I’ve been many, many times and had an idea of what I was looking for. I called my sister, and she told me there were three vendors who sold these doors. I went to all three but ended up back at the first set I saw. They are from Alexandria, Egypt, and date back to 1896.”
As you enter, you come into the home’s courtyard—a calming, curated space designed in collaboration with Bryan Callaway. Straight ahead, a fire pit anchors the lounge area. To the right, a water feature adds movement and sound. All around, thoughtful landscaping makes you momentarily forget you’re in the heart of downtown Texarkana.
The panoramic folding door separates the courtyard from the home’s interior living space, allowing the inside and outside to merge seamlessly. Above, a rooftop deck with a wet bar maximizes the home’s entertaining potential. “We sit up here on Saturday nights and people-watch or turn on the TV, and there’s always a breeze,” said Dodson.
Inside, Dodson retained the original brick walls of the adjoining buildings as a signature design feature. Masons removed layers of plaster by hand and restored the mortar using a technique called piping. “These walls date back to the 1880s,” Dodson explained. “They told me all the missing mortar had to be replaced by hand.” Preserving rather than covering the imperfections revealed traces of the building’s layered past—archways that once opened to neighboring buildings and marks where structural beams had been attached. Dodson’s research found that the building once housed a billiard saloon upstairs and sold dry goods and clothing below. Over time, it evolved into a general store, a hardware store, and eventually a printing company.
The open-concept kitchen and living area showcase a lot of Dodson’s art and other collectibles, which continue down the hallway, adding an upscale gallery feel. The artwork is a combination of playful sculptures and photographs, as well as meaningful pieces of custom art. “My favorite piece is one my mother painted,” Dodson recalled. “She started it and then tried to complete it before she passed away in 2016.”
I love downtown and everything it has to offer. There are more than ten restaurants within walking distance. I’ve owned the lot for over a decade, and the home features original 1890s brick walls throughout the interior.”-George Dodson
A recurrent design theme sprinkled throughout is monkeys, sometimes refined but often mischievous. The monkeys on the powder bath wallpaper are drinking, smoking cigars, and being astutely naughty, while the chimpanzee art in the guest bath shows a refined fellow in a green floral suit and sitting cross-legged in a red velvet armchair. All are a nod to Dodson’s childhood nickname, “Curious George,” and a glance into his fun-loving personality.
Scattered throughout, there are also pieces central to Dodson’s life. The light fixture in the half bath once hung in his childhood home. There is a pair of beautiful crosses that sat atop his parents’ caskets. And a piece of pottery he once made for his dad as a joke can be found mixed among the antiques and more contemporary furniture.
Dodson’s home is more than just a structure, it’s a living work of art and a deeply personal expression of creativity, heritage, and vision. From antique doors with global history to playful nods to his childhood, every inch of The Wiley 220 tells a story. With each thoughtfully curated detail, Dodson has transformed a once-empty lot into a vibrant, soulful space layered with meaning and memory. In doing so, he hasn’t just built a home, he’s brought renewed energy and character to the heart of downtown Texarkana.
Name of Property
The Wiley 220
Wiley was Dodson’s paternal grandfather’s name, and also his middle name, 220 is the address.
Homeowner
George Dodson
Location
Downtown Texarkana, Arkansas
Year Built
2024
Builder
Rogers Construction
Architect & Design
George Dodson, Rogers Construction, and Bryan Callaway
Stone & Tiles
The Design Center at Red River Lumber
Custom Ironwork
P&C Fabrication and Coating, Inc.
Landscaping
Bryan Callaway, Studio 230
Interior & Exterior Blinds
TXK Custom Exteriors
Favorite Piece
My mother’s final attempt at painting, before she passed away.
Favorite Spot
The Courtyard
Splurge
Panoramic folding door connecting the den to the courtyard
Fun Facts
The lights over the kitchen island were handmade to order in Israel by Shimale Peleg.
The light in the downstairs half bath belonged to my father and hung in his home bar for decades.
The front door, facing Broad Street, was purchased at Round Top Antique Fair and originally came from Alexandria, Egypt, circa 1895.
