Whether it’s the wedding couple dressed in 1920s elegance that roams the hallways and sits gently on the edge of a guest’s bed, or the shadowy apparition that appears in photographs, or even the dark, angry presence that lingers in the basement, these spirits seem to remain inside the Weatherford Hotel, but the stories about them have traveled far and wide.
As Halloween approaches, the historic hotel’s owners are on a ghost hunt. Henry and Pamela “Sam” Taylor want your stories. And they are willing to pay for them. “As we work to restore the building from the basement to the balconies, we are interested in capturing as much of the building’s history as we can,” said Henry.
Besides ghost stories, the Taylors are looking for important moments in which the Weatherford has played a role. “For example, we want to know if you met your sweetheart here, or if you have early memories of the hotel before the 1970s,” said Sam.
Stories brought to the Weatherford or sent to samgreen@weatherfordhotel.com are eligible for a 10 percent discount on lunch or dinner in Charly’s. The best stories will be posted on the Weatherford Hotel website.
“The Weatherford Hotel has a lot of wonderful stories to tell. We’ve heard some great oral histories about Wyatt Earp giving his gambling earnings to the local women’s organization to avoid an arrest, and gun fights over card games. If you have something to add, please let us know!” said Henry.
The latest phase of the nearly 40-year restoration project will result in major improvements to the Victorian building including an underground 1920s’ speakeasy-style game room that is scheduled to open in early 2014 under the pub’s original name, “The Gopher Hole.” The Zane Grey Ballroom will be expanded and the balconies will double in size, eventually wrapping around three sides of the building.
A major component of the restoration work is fortifying the building throughout, from the bottom up. “At one time there were 32 hotel rooms. Walls kept being added as larger rooms were carved up into smaller rooms to accommodate more guests. The building was becoming heavier and heavier,” said Henry. “We’ve removed plaster and walls, reduced the number of hotel rooms to 11 and are replacing 30 tons of weight from the roof with much lighter material. We’re taking off 20 pounds per square foot and putting back three pounds per square foot. The building is breathing a sigh of relief and springing back.”
A portion of the second floor will be removed as well, allowing for 19-foot ceilings in the hotel lobby. The entire restoration effort, including a new fire escape and elevator, is expected to be completed in two years. The hotel, Charly’s Pub & Grill, and the Zane Grey Ballroom will remain open throughout the project.
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