<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 1996 AND THE CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1996 AND THE
NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1996 OF PATRIOT AMERICAN HOSPITALITY, INC.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                             <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996             DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JUL-01-1996             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1996             SEP-30-1996
<CASH>                                               0                   7,004
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                        0                   8,831
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0                       0
<INVENTORY>                                          0                   1,222
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                     0                       0
<PP&E>                                               0                 571,952
<DEPRECIATION>                                       0                  14,062
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                       0                 663,649
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                0                  26,921
<BONDS>                                              0                 113,592
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                             0                 451,305
<OTHER-SE>                                           0                  (4,651)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                         0                 663,649
<SALES>                                         22,466                  52,735
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                22,677                  53,147
<CGS>                                                0                       0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                    8,546                  20,064
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0                       0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               1,709                   4,481
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                      0                       0
<INCOME-TAX>                                         0                       0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                  0                       0
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                    12,024                  27,835
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0                       0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.60                    1.67
        

</TABLE>