Located in historic downtown Bryan, Texas, the LaSalle Hotel first opened its doors in 1929. This historic boutique hotel is rumored to be haunted by a number of spirits. Reports of strangeness range from ghostly apparitions, lights turning on and off on their own, mysterious knocks, moving objects, and disembodied voices, to name a few.
History of the Hotel
The story of the LaSalle Hotel begins long before officially opening its doors as a hotel. The earliest known record dates back 1866 as one of the first two-story structures in Bryan, Texas.
In 1875, a local businessman rented the ground floor while the second floor served as Bryan’s theater and opera house. The second floor would later be converted into a ballroom.
The LaSalle structure must have undergone major reconstruction as it re-emerged as the seven-story LaSalle Hotel in 1928. At this time, the LaSalle was the tallest building in downtown Bryan.
By 1929, the LaSalle Hotel was a booming business. The hotel was just a short walk from Bryan passenger rail service, an important mode of transportation during this time period in America. Travelers frequented the LaSalle as it was a popular stop on the rail between Houston and Dallas. The hotel’s coffee shop was a popular gathering place for travelers, the community’s well-to-do, as well as the general population.
In 1934, the LaSalle served as a temporary home to the remaining survivors of the Civil War Texas Brigade, who held their final reunions in downtown Bryan.
At seven stories and over 100 guest rooms, the LaSalle Hotel remained the tallest building in Bryan until 1948, when that title was overtaken by the Varisco Building (also rumored to be haunted).
It is believed that Elvis Presley dined and stayed overnight at the LaSalle Hotel on August 23, 1955, as he was in town to perform at the Saddle Club rodeo arena in Bryan.
The LaSalle continued to serve as a hotel until 1959, after which it was repurposed and operated as a nursing home for over 15 years. In 1975 it was forced to close due to new federal regulations.
From 1975 to 1980, the building was operated as an apartment building.
In 1997, the LaSalle Hotel Ltd. purchased the hotel and began restoration. The hotel was added to the National Register of Historic Places and in September of 2000, it was once again open for business as a hotel.
The LaSalle went through another renovation in 2015 when it was purchased by Janak Patel. The hotel is now operated as a historic boutique hotel consisting of 55 rooms and suites. It also has a craft cocktail bar and restaurant on the ground floor, and a speakeasy located in the hotel’s basement.
The Hauntings
There does not seem to be one single spirit haunting the LaSalle, but rather multiple spirits seem to make themselves known. However, as a matter of speculation, there are certainly many possibilities to account for the otherworldy activity.
Since the LaSalle served as a nursing home facility for a number of years, as with many nursing facilities, it can be assumed that some, if not many, of the residents probably died in the building itself. Could some of these entities be former residents who call the building their final home?
Or could it be, after what was most certainly a traumatic period in their life, one of the departed civil war soldiers who previously called the LaSalle their home? Maybe it’s a previous owner or manager who loved the hotel so much they enjoy paying it a visit from time to time. Maybe it’s a little of all of the above.
Without a definite story or incident that might be responsible for the haunting, let’s look at some of the many reports.
The Bar, Restaurant, and Speakeasy
A hot spot for paranormal activity seems to center around the bar and restaurant, and the basement directly below. Bar employees have reported strange activity, such as lights that flicker and turn themselves off and on. Strange knocking sounds on the windows when no one is there has been reported as well.
In another account, a restaurant chef with a short break between shifts decided to take a nap in the basement around 2:00 am. He was awoken by two wine bottles exploding. He is reported to have taken his blanket and told the ghost, “Okay, you can have the basement!” By the way, you can experience the basement yourself as it has been remodeled into a prohibition style speakeasy called the 5 Knocks Speakeasy.
Other Ghostly Activity
Many guests wanting to have a ghostly experience request the most haunted room, but according to hotel staff, the whole hotel has activity. Other reports of paranormal activity include voices being heard when no one is around. There are also stories of doors opening and closing on their own, including a hotel staff member who had a door propped open with a door stop only to turn around to see that door had been shut.
Included in the spooky happenings are the appearance of full body apparitions, in particular, one of a man who seems to wander around the hotel only to suddenly vanish without a trace.
Reports from Hotel Guests
Imagine staying in one of LaSalle’s luxurious rooms for the night. Maybe after a little television or reading , you turn out the lights and tuck yourself into bed. Soft pillows and fresh sheets soothe you into a restful and comfortable sleep. Then in the middle of the night, you feel someone tug on your foot. You sit up fast, heart racing. You fumble to turn on the lamp, but when you do – no one is there.
This is exactly what multiple guests have reported.
See for Yourself
So many reportedly haunted places are abandoned, closed, or completely inaccessible. What’s wonderful about the haunted LaSalle Hotel is that you can experience it for yourself. The LaSalle is a fully operating boutique hotel, complete with a bar & restaurant, and a haunted speakeasy in the basement. For seekers of the paranormal, does it get any better than that?
See for yourself. Visit the restaurant and have a bite to eat, or have a drink or two at the bar. If you’re feeling brave, book a stay overnight. If anything weird happens, let us know here at Texas Hauntings!
References
Aggieland’s Most Haunted. The Battalion.
LaSalle Hotel website: About Us.
The Haunting of the LaSalle Hotel. KAGS.