The Menger Hotel in San Antonio is one of the oldest hotels in Texas. Built, in 1859, by William Menger to compliment his successful brewery, the hotel is proud of it's spirited heritage, boasting at least 32 different apparitions. There have been improvements and alterations but the hotel clings to the original decor with a fervor that is much appreciated by guests, both new and old.
The President's Ghost
Theodore Roosevelt came to the Menger Hotel in 1898, ordered a beer and waited. As the young strong men arrived to slake the thirst they had built up driving cattle on the dusty plain, Roosevelt offered them a beer, then another. As the drink eased their thirst and softened their resolve, Roosevelt recruited them for his Rough Riders, the First United States Volunteer Cavalry. Just over 100 years later people passing through the lobby glance into the bar and see Teddy Roosevelt at the bar, waiting for ruffians to recruit.
The King Rancher
Captain Richard King, having made his fortune on rivers, cattle and land, spend so much time at the Menger hotel that he had his own suite there. On being informed that his death was imminent he retired to the hotel and, in due course, his funeral was held there. Although some changes have been made to the hotel, the King Suite is still in use today. Captain King still uses his room, walking through the wall where the door used to be.
The Ghostly Ladies
When you first enter the hotel you may seen a woman knitting in the lobby, but don't speak to her, she's not very friendly and will disappear. A maid at the hotel is frequently sighted carrying towels down the hall in the Victorian Wing. Nothing unusual about this, except that this particular maid was attacked by her husband and died of her wounds two days later, in 1876.
The Mysterious Frontiersman
A man dressed in buckskins sits on a bed in one of the rooms and asks, "Are you gonna stay or are you gonna go?" Three times he repeats this question, and then he disappears. Perhaps this is a ghost from the Alamo, just a few steps away. It is probably a question that was asked of every man in the Alamo.
If you are going to stay in this lovely old hotel be prepared to meet these characters, or one of the many others that can't tear their spirits away.
Sally Anne Lewis - Sally has master's degrees in science and journalism, is fascinated to a degree in most things. Always something to learn.
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