Hotel Indigo

The Hotel Indigo Today

The Hotel Indigo sits inside Main Plaza right across from the Alamo, almost hidden from the view of all the tourist and locals that visit the downtown area daily. It is a majestic old building that stands somewhat tall and with architectural details from the early 1900's. The Hotel Indigo is not a famous hotel nor does it call too much attention to it's self. It is somewhat over shadowed by the fame of another hotel that sits close by, the Menger. The Menger Hotel has a rich history unto itself, but it does not sit upon the original grounds where the Alamo once stood. Only the Hotel Indigo can lay claim to this and little do people know what exactly transpired upon these grounds. If the earth could speak, it would have many stories to tell about that portion of land.

 

Northwest Corner of the Alamo where the Hotel Indigo sits today

The northwest corner of the Alamo, where the Hotel Indigo stands today, was hit the hardest on March 6th, 1836. This is where Santa Ana and his men first gained entry inside the Alamo and this is also where the heaviest bloodshed occurred. In accounts written by people, who later on saw the aftermath, claimed that the Northwest corner was full with so many mangled bodies, that the ground was literally soaked with blood. Upon this corner as well is where the famous William Travis was shot and fell dead. The spot where he fell, is where the Hotel's front desk stands today.  The battle of the Alamo was over within ninety minutes and had left behind horrific bloodshed. Samuel Maverick who had once been at the Alamo, was emotionally drawn to this place and had once said "I have a desire to reside in this particular spot. A foolish prejudice, no doubt as I was almost a solitary escape from the Alamo massacre..." He decided to build his homestead at the old northwest corner. Later on, in 1909, a Southern Pacific Railroad executive named Colonel C.C. Gibbs built the first high rise office building in the city, know as the Gibbs, on the same spot. Today it is the beautiful Hotel Indigo.  

 

 The Gibbs Building in the 1940's

 With so much history and bloodshed on one spot, no wonder why the Hotel Indigo reports strange activity inside of it's walls.  Guests have often reported hearing canon and gunfire inside the hotel as well as screams of agony and shouting. When the Gibbs building was being constructed, they found in the basement two canons from the battle of the Alamo. Since they have been removed, activity has seemed to peak. One of the security guards at the neighboring U.S. postal office said one night, he saw through the window two men pushing a canon from the Hotel Indigo across the front of the post office. He thought nothing of it- there are so many re-enactments in front of the Alamo- until the metal detectors went haywire at his post. Turns out, there were no re-enactments that night in front of the Alamo. Guests feel a lot of energy inside the basement and hear strange voices as well as footsteps. I myself have felt a different energy down there as well. 
 The original elevators inside the hotel are no longer in service, but they are a beautiful testament of  old architecture from the turn of the century. Although the elevators clearly state they are no longer in service, guest are often confused, they could have sworn they just saw someone using them a moment before.  Guests also see people dressed from another time period, walking down the hallways and entering into different rooms and sometimes even their own room. When they investigate, the person(s) have disappeared. Footsteps and voices are heard both day and night in those same hallways. Some people have even felt the presence of someone watching them while they are asleep in their room.  
 The next time you are in San Antonio, remember the Hotel Indigo. It's tragic history and restless ghosts are sure to welcome you.