The scent of cigar smoke is inhaled in the hotels non-smoking rooms, and heavy doors are known to open with no source to have actually pushed them ajar. Since the time of his passing, his ghost has been spotted at the Menger, most especially in his old private suite. Guests have been shocked to see her walking through walls and closed doors. The bandit had been seated in the lobby of the nineteenth century luxury hotel and, despite being noticed by both the night watchman and the elevator, he apparently had enough gumption to stand up, go on over to Paul Cox, and thrust a brown paper bag at the fifty-eight-year old clerk on the other side of the counter. Guests both avoid and intentionally book this room. It seems that even though a hundred years have passed since, many of the Rough Riders still like to camp out at the Menger. Adjacent to the Alamo, some of these ghostly visitors to the hotel are attributed to the many that died during theBattle of the Alamo. The new operators of the Tantanoola Tiger Hotel also plan to remove the pub's five pokies before it reopens in October. Theres a bit of a dispute on how many ghosts still haunt the halls of this historic hotelsome put the number of specters at thirty-two, others claim that the number might be closer to forty-five. But Wheeler followed his wife. From intimate wedding ceremonies in our Spanish garden courtyard to lavish celebrations in our Grand Ballroom, we guarantee an unforgettable experience. Actors such as Sarah Bernhard and Lillie Langtree; political men like General Robert E. Lee and Ulysses S. Grant; and authors such as William Sydney Porter, Sidney Lanier and Oscar Wilde have all stayed at the Menger, some more frequently than others. Impress your guests with elegant, Victorian-era venues in Alamo City. Byways & Historic Trails Great Drives in America, Soldiers and Officers in American History, John C. McCoy Founder of Westport, Missouri. Up until this point most businesses in San Antonio were boarding houses and there were few breweries. By 1951 a new wing had been added, and the building had been completely modernized. In February of 1836, Mexican General Santa Anna marched with his troops to the Alamo mission, intent on stamping out the rebellion. The hotel staff could not have been more accommodating and pleasant. His nearly translucent figure never moves, never shifts; nevertheless, staff have reported feeling as though they are being watched at all times. Youve got to wonder how desperate he was to avoid the payment because he just so happened to leave his 750-pound bull alligator behind. Having hosted many celebrated personalities, including past presidents, military commanders, empire builders, cattle barons, etc. Send ghost story, nature and music tips to camille.sauers@mysa.com. The Shops at Rivercenter and the Alamo Plaza are pumped with fun family friendly attractions. It was the year 1959, and a tall bandit (according to The Courier Gazette) had just robbed the historic Menger Hotel. Ms Black and Ms Williss hadregularly stayed at the 157-year-old pub to visit their son, his partner and their daughter, who livenearby, and were excited when they heard the business was for sale. Sallie has been seen numerous times wearing an old long gray skirt and a bandana around her forehead, the uniform common during her era. Rebecca Day and her husband Shaun, from Adelaide's south, purchased the business after the previous leaseholder was evicted in March due to unpaid rent. He raised his arm, aimed, fired, and killed Jim Draper, a San Antonio hack driver. I can find no evidence that he did, but Ive heard that story since childhood. Western Brewery had been built on part of the site in which the Battle of the Alamo had transpired; just on the other side was a boarding house owned by the widow, Mary Guenther. Over the years, the Menger Hotel has persisted to be one of the most beautiful places to stay in all of Texas. Mary Menger and the other management at the hotel had loved poor Sallie White so much, however, that they decided to fund Sallies funeral costs. Today, the suite is known as the King Ranch Suite, and you too can stay there on your next trip to San Antonio. Seated at the bar, hes been known to holler out at the workers, easily coercing them into conversation. (LogOut/ Known for its boutique sidewalk cafes and clubs, Houston Street is San Antonios oldest and most popular hangout for dining, nightlife, and music. This week, we profile the spirits of the historic Menger Hotel, who each seem to linger for different reasons. Although the oil exploding was not responsible for the fire, the conflagration did occur. Under Kampmanns management, a new bar was installed and it became one of the most elegant of its day. Another ghostly guest at the hotel is the apparition of Sallie White, a nineteenth century chambermaid murdered by her husband. According to Texas Legend, Teddy Roosevelt lingered at a table in the Menger bar to recruit cowboys returning from trail drives on the Chisholm Trail for his Rough Riders, signing them up on the spot and later drinking and carousing with his volunteers. Truth is? Many sobered up the next morning to find themselves on their way to basic military training at Fort Sam Houston before joining in the Spanish American War. "I think if you're going to do pokies, you have a good 20. The Menger Hotel, one of the state's oldest and best-known hotels, was opened by William Menger and Maria Mary Clara (Baumschleter) Menger, both German Harry Wheeler never was arrested for the murder of his common law wife. Though at work Sallie was all smiles, the same couldnt be said for her life at home. Sallie lived in Blum Alley, now a passage between the Menger and River Center Mall. According to Swartz, Sallie White was a chambermaid at the Menger Hotel who met a tragic end on March 30, 1876. Under Kampmanns management, a new bar was installed and it became one of the most elegant of its day. 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On two separate occasions, guests reported seeing Sallies ghost walk through a door or a wall as though the barrier posed no problem to the otherworldly specter. Turns out that much like Sallie White, Captain Richard King was not about to let death be the reason he was seated from the Menger. Back Roads host Heather Ewart shares her picks for the best pubs on Australia's back roads. Tales of Texas Ghosts: The spirits of the historic Menger Captain Kings apparition has been spotted roaming the hallways on the second floor and disappearing through doorways. The interior, if at all possible, was even more breathtaking. An investigation of Wheeler himself and their house showed no signs of any weapons, leaving the officers without any sort of leverage to arrest Harry Wheeler and stick him in jail. She died at the hotel after suffering multiple gunshot wounds at the hands of her abusive common-law husband. Another notable ghost of the Menger Hotel is Captain Richard King.King would go on to be one of the most successful entrepreneurs of the nineteenth century, in all of America. The Menger Hotel in San Antonio has enchanting history "I don't see the enjoyment in them Almost always, hes seenor heardat the Bar. Perhaps one of the most famous of all of the Mengers guests would happen to be a guy named Bill. Kampmann, who adds a three-story addition to the north and an east wing with a cherry-wood bar modeled after the House of Lords Club taproom in London. Ashbruck and W.R. Boyd, who were operating the vehicle, and three people on the streetcar. Lets start with the ghost ofwho else but Teddy Rooseveltwho is frequently seen and sometimes heard at the Mengers bar. Dont made a sound.". The beer was chilled by the Alamo Madre ditch, which passed through the hotel courtyard, mint juleps were served in solid silver tumblers, and hot rum toddies came to have wide renown. Twitter: @camillesaccount, Terry Scott Bertling /San Antonio Express-News, Courtesy of Justin Hernandez, taken by Paul Keinrath, Courtesy of Justin Hernandez, photo taken by Paul Keinrath. The Ghosts of the Menger Hotel - "It's a Texas Thang,Y'all!" He stayed so often, actually, that the hotel bestowed upon him his own private suite on the second floor. Primarily, appearing at night, Sallie is generally seen walking along the hotel hallways, carrying a load of clean towels for the guests. Interested in booking your stay? One by one the Texians fighters and their supporters fell, including infamous James Bowie and Davy Crockett. WebBy whom, you ask? On the National Register of Historic Places, the Menger Hotel is one of Texas best-known and oldest hotels. Many rooms overlook the Alamo, pool, or Alamo Plaza, and all retain the furniture, art, and accessories from the hotels earlier days, including four-poster beds, velvet-covered Victorian sofas and chairs, marble-topped tables, and period wall coverings. Sallie White was one the Menger Hotels most beloved staff members during the late nineteenth century. Richard despised his time with a jeweler in New York, and at the first opportunity he escaped and stole away on a ferry destined for the Mississippi River. Tacos that "Eat Good"! On the rare occurrences when staff have actually approached the very-real looking apparition, he is said to start with his recruiting tactics as though trying to rope them into joining the Rough Riders! She had been thinking of turning it into offices like the other similar heritage-listed buildings on Penola Road but has now changed her mind. Originally from New York City, Richards poor Irish family lacked the funds to provide for their son. In the dead of night, he scurried to each room, rapping on doors and waking the guests. RELATED: One of the oldest mansions in Texas beckons architecture and ghost story lovers alike, Camille Sauers grew up in San Antonio and studied at the University of Colorado at Boulder. Ah, but I promised ghosts, didnt I? The Colonial Dining Room at the Menger Hotel was known far and wide for its cuisine.Click to see full answer. All Rights Reserved. "We're the talk of the town down there at the moment not just Tantanoola but surrounding small towns as well. As one might guess, the brown paper bag was not just a brown paper bagno, the Tall Bandit had used it to shield his blue steel revolver. On one occasion, a staff member stopped to ask her, Are you comfortablemay I get you something? only to be answered with an unfriendly No before the woman disappeared. When he learned of his impending death from his personal physicians, Captain King spent the last months of his life, wrote his will disposing of his great wealth, and bade farewell to his friends in his suite at the Menger. The Mengers restaurant, the Colonial Room Restaurant, received very high praise for its menu, as well. 204 Alamo Plaza Whipping around, the employee spotted a man appear at the bar. JUNE 2021: Victorian-era banisters at the Menger, decorated for Fiesta. Ghost City Tours offers the best Ghost Tours in San Antonio. Ms Day saidlocals were excited to hear the doors would reopen. Step into this Victorian-era dining room and be transported back in time with traditional Texas cuisine, 20th century jazz, and soft mood lighting. Guests have reported countless paranormal phenomena, including everything from witnessing beds actually levitate off the floor to hearing strange rapping noises and even seeing nearly translucent faces appear beside their own while looking into the mirror. But the strangest paranormal activity of all must be the dancing red orb that only has ever appeared in Kings suite or just outside it. (LogOut/ Menger Hotel. She did not look like Willie Nelson, and I knew it wasnt a dream.