Blake Wetzel

Reporting 1
Professor Thomas
March 31, 2015
You Cant Always Believe What You HearOr See

Blurb: The Adolphus is a historic landmark of Dallas and symbol of historical

luxury. This hotel boasts political, musical, and entertainment status as well
as haunted hallways, but you cant always believe what you hear or what
you see.

Rudolph Valentino graced the dance floor, Harry Houdini wrote a letter
on the hotels stationary during his stay, and Franklin D. Roosevelt even
celebrated a birthday at this historical landmark, but the residency of a jolted
bride who hung herself and now walks the halls of the 19th floor is highly
speculated.
Since its opening in 1912, the Adolphus Hotel, located in the heart of
downtown Dallas, has remained an iconic building and tourist attraction. For
the past hundred years the hotel has boasted political, entertainment and
musical prominence. While this image is true and the historical importance of
the hotel cannot be denied, its haunted history may be a figure of
imagination.

As the story goes, a young bride was left at the alter by her soon-to-be
husband and was so jilted that she hung herself where she was due to say
her vows the following day. Many employees tell the story of the ghost of the
bride roaming the 19th floor, and some guests claim witness to paranormal
activity, while others characterize these events as urban legend.
In 30 years of working with the hotel I never saw one ghost, said
David Davis, Adolphus employee.
Skeptical of the haunted stories Davis feels there is much more to the
hotel than a pointless fable. Not all employees share this same outlook
though.
Quite a few people believe that the hotel is actually haunted, said
Drake Odgers, Adolphus Concierge.
He recalls complaints and testimonies from many guests and
employees alike who all claim to have heard or seen something out of the
ordinary.
In one case, a woman woke up at 4:00 am to laughter outside her door,
but no one was to be found. The next night at exactly 4:00 am she woke up
again, this time her roommate had heard the laughter too.
On two other accounts guests reported being greeted by a man
dressed in a tuxedo who offered them an ice bucket. After they left their
rooms though, the ice buckets disappeared. According to employees no such
man and no said ice buckets have ever existed at the hotel.

Years back, a sight inspector visited the Adolphus and took a picture of
a bright white figure sitting on the end of his bed which he later showed to
surprised employees.
One housekeeper even claims to this day that she can hear music
playing from the roof of the ballroom late at night.
But with each story comes an equal and opposite denial of its validity:
Nineteen years I worked in housekeeping. I would go up at night to
see, but I never actually saw the haunted, said Darlene Kirks, Adolphus PBX
Operator.
Despite these controversies and differences in opinion however, the
Adolphus hotel remains an intriguing establishment. Once referred to as the
grandest building west of Venice, the establishment remains one of the few
of its kind in the Dallas area.
After 100 years the hotel is seeking renovations in order to restore its
prominence and continue modernizing to fit the needs and wants of clients
and guests. The renovation currently under way will include the installation
of a spa and swimming pool.
This coming Monday the hotel will also welcome its first female
General Manager, yet another aspect of the hotels transformation.
The hotel will probably become a mecca for the entertainment
industry again following these renovations, said Odgers.

Until then, generations of guests will continue to enjoy their stay at the
Adolphus thanks to its history and long-time staff that are familiar not only
with the hotel itself, but its reoccurring, loyal guests.

Contact list

David Davis, Adolphus Employee: ddavis@adolphus.com

Darlene Kirks, Adolphus PBX Operator: dkirk@adolphus.com
Drake Odgers, Adolphus Concierge: dodgers@adolphus.com (214) 651-3540