The Haunted Menger Hotel
Posted: 09.23.2024 | Updated: 09.24.2024
San Antonio, the Alamo City, the Military City, the River City—this Texas town is known for many things and has many names. But if it ever needed another nickname, the “Ghost City” might be a fitting appellation for this city, which has a hauntingly harrowing number of spirits and specters.
Nowhere else illustrates this spooky history of San Antonio better than the historic Menger Hotel, the oldest continuously operating hotel west of the Mississippi River.
A property with a gorgeous exterior and many stories behind it, the Menger Hotel is a fascinating place for history students and lovers of haunted lore.
Who haunts the Menger Hotel?
A better question might be, “Who doesn’t haunt the Menger Hotel?” A historic hotel with significant ties to the Civil War, the Texas Revolution, and the Roosevelt administration, the Menger Hotel has hosted a number of influential people over the years. There have been sightings of former President Teddy Roosevelt, a Victorian-era maid, a rancher, and so much more. Be sure to book a ghost tour with River City Ghosts to explore San Antonio’s haunted history.
The Menger Hotel History
The Menger Hotel was constructed in 1857 on the hallowed site of the famous Alamo battlefield. One of Texas’ most famous moments, the Alamo, was a heroic last stand between the burgeoning Texas Republic and the Mexican Army.
After the battle, Texas was absorbed into the United States, and San Antonio developed the land near the Alamo into a thriving metropolis. One of the new buildings was a brewery founded in 1859 by William and Mary Menger.
Texans enjoyed beer as much back then as they do today, and business boomed for the Mengers. William and Mary had to build a fifty-room hotel to accommodate all the overnight brewery guests. Their addition brought so much new business that they had to add another story. The Mengers didn’t just service tourists and travelers passing through. During the Civil War, it housed the Confederate Army (Robert E Lee himself stayed here at one point) and provided food, housing, and medical assistance for the wounded troops.
William helped run the place until he died in 1871 when the hotel passed to his wife and son. They ran it for another decade until they sold it to Major J.H. Kampmann, who added three additional stories to the already legendary property.
This was when the place really picked up; over the last century, a gorgeous marquee, marble flooring, a Spanish courtyard, and (most importantly for the San Antonio heat) a swimming pool and air conditioning.
It hosted guests ranging from Babe Ruth to John Wayne, and to this day, it remains a vibrant hotel and a San Antonio institution.
Hauntings at the Menger Hotel
The most commonly spotted ghost here is Sallie White. She was a maid during the hotel's early days, usually seen while preparing the towel cart. Friendly with guests, she was a beloved fixture of the hotel. Unfortunately, this happy woman had a tragic end as her abusive husband ended up killing her.
Many guests and hotel staff report seeing a woman dressed in an old-fashioned maid outfit despite the fact the hotel hasn’t used such outfits in years. This woman has been seen dusting or folding towels, but she disappears without a trace when people try to speak with her. Hotel staff love her - maybe for being friendly and helping keep the place tidy or keeping the guests on their toes.
There’s Captain Richard King, another oft-sighted ghost of the hotel. A former soldier and owner of one of the largest ranches in the world, he was an eccentric figure and a longtime hotel resident and even had a personal room there. After doctors told him that he didn’t have much longer to live, he spent many of his last days in that room, writing his will and saying goodbye. When he passed away, his funeral was held in the hotel parlor.
After Richard King’s death, he didn’t go too far because his “King Ranch Room” room has long been thought to be haunted by his spirit. The rancher is often spotted pacing back and forth in his room - passing through the wall where the door once was before the hotel’s refurbishments.
It’s been said that many old soldiers haunt these premises - some Alamo veterans and some Rough Riders looking to get a drink with Teddy Roosevelt. Some say other entities lend a hand in the kitchen, with utensils spotted floating from place to place, seemingly on their own.
A “Teddy Bear” of a Ghost
Robert E. Lee wasn’t the only Army officer who used the Menger Hotel as lodging. During the Spanish-American War, future President and then-soldier Teddy Roosevelt used the place as his personal headquarters.
Here, over drinks, Roosevelt recruited men into his famous Rough Riders volunteer regiment. Pulling from the ranks of college athletes, Native Americans, cowboys, and police officers, the Rough Riders earned fame, glory, and notoriety during the Spanish-American War.
And Teddy, by all accounts, loved his time at the hotel. The hotel often tells a story about how Roosevelt’s monocle popped out of place and landed in his drink. Roosevelt didn’t notice and ended up drinking the whole beer, eyepiece and all.
Rumor has it that Roosevelt still stops in now and again to pop in for a drink at the Menger Hotel. Most recently, hotel bartender Justin Hernandez caught a mysterious figure on camera who appeared in a mirror behind him. Was that old Teddy - just stopping in for his usual beyond-the-grave beer?
Haunted San Antonio
The Menger Hotel is a beautiful place with a colorful past and even more colorful ghostly residents. Something intangibly special about it keeps drawing guests, both living and dead, to it today. If you are visiting San Antonio, book a ghost tour with River City Ghosts. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, and keep reading our blog for more real Texas hauntings.
Sources:
https://www.mengerhotel.com/about-us
https://www.historichotels.org/us/hotels-resorts/the-menger-hotel/history.php
https://www.travelpirates.com/hotels/haunted-san-antonio-hotel
https://www.texasmonthly.com/articles/room-with-a-boo
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