Built in 1859, just 23 years after the fall of the Alamo, one can only Imagine who or what may have been disturbed to build this beautiful luxurious hotel. Named after the original owner William A. Menger, he built and operated this famous San Antonio hotel for many years. What began as an extension of his boarding house , and something to occupy the site adjunct to his brewery (interestingly enough Mr. Menger used the tunnels underneath the Hotel's store his beer. These tunnels are now walled up and heavily Restricted). The Menger Hotel has played host to 13 U.S. presidents, countless Musicians, actors, and athletes in its more than 150 illustrious years. The Menger Hotel has always been a place to stay when you visit San Antonio. In 1870 the Menger was the best known hotel in the southwest. Over the years there have been several additions to the hotel in order to accomodate more guests. Due in part to both probably its location and age the menger is also one of the most haunted hotels in the nation... boasting at least 43 different ghosts haunt the hotel-some of which are seen on a regular basis. Probably the mot famous story is of a chambermaid by the name of Sallie White. She was a very beautiful woman and loved her job at the Menger. She was also married to Henry Wheeler, a Multeer in the U.S Army. Mr Wheeler has an incredible temper, and was a very jealous man... two things that dont mix. Sallie and her husband would always argue as he accused her of cheating on him with hotel guests. He threatened to kill her on several occasions. One night after a huge blowout of a fight at the hotel, Sallie went to the police afraid Henry was going to kill her. They advised her to stay at the police station overnight while they searched for Henry. They never found him, and against their advice, she went home. When she opened the door Henry was waiting with a gun. She opened the door, and ran out of the house, but not before he shot her three times in the stomach. She didnt die immediately. So Henry Left town... She died three days later. Feeling sorry for her situation and the fact she had no one to speak for her the Menger hotel piad for her burial at the cost of $32.00. The receipt for her burial plot is still listed in the hotel ledger and displayed in the lobby. As much as they can figure, Sallie feels moved that the hotel took care of her as they did and so she continues her work. She has been seen by countless guests walking up and down the hall in her old uniform carrying towels. She speaks to no one, and it is said if you leave your night stand a mess, during the night she will clean it, so that when you wake up, everything is in order. Another Famous resident of the Menger is and was Captain Richard King, founder of the king ranch. Captain King was a great man who brought poor families from Mexico and gave them jobs on his ranch. He lived in the hotel, and eventually died there as well. His body laid in state in his room after his death. Even after his death Captain King isn't afraid to show himself. He is seen constantly peering over the balcony in the old lobby dressed in a tattered duster, boots, cowboy hat, with his signature beard. People staying in the King suite have reported seeing an appararition walk through the wall. The Menger bar is just as infamous as the hotel. The bar is the very place Teddy Roosevelt recruited and formed the Rough Riders, the first Calvary in the U,S army that fought in Cuba and the Spanish American War. Roosevelt stayed at the hotel three times and was at times quite demanding. He had a special bell from his room to the front desk that he would ring when he wanted something. Even after he died the bell continued to ring. They dissconnected the bell and it still rang. Finally they had to completely remove the bell... and now Teddy no longer rings the front desk. The bar has quite a lot of activity, glasses fly across the room, things are moved both on the upper and lower levels. The Colonial Room Restuarant is not only a delicious place to eat, it's also one of the most haunted parts of the hotel. Workers have actually been overtaken by spirits in this room. One worker saw a little girl being chased by two men , the little girl touched his face and then ran through him , as did the other two men. Workers also have gone in the room late at night and they had tables flip over, and the chandeliers swing violently. There are so many stories of hauntings at the Menger. Things happen sometimes that are so real you don't realize until later you may have been speaking or seeing a ghost. Water turns on and off in certain Bathrooms, faces appear in mirrors and voices are heard. There's so much activity there's an entire book written on the place "The History And Mystery of the Menger Hotel" is well worth the read Mr. Ernesto Malacara has been documenting the many happenings for more than thirty years.
