Forest Park Hotel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Forest Park Hotel
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 Location in St. Louis
Location in Missouri
Location in the United States
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| Location | 4910 W. Pine Blvd., St. Louis, Missouri |
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| Area | 1.2 acres (0.49 ha) |
| Built | 1923 |
| Architect | Preston J. Bradshaw, George D. Barnett, Jr. |
| Architectural style | Renaissance |
| NRHP reference No. | 84002632 |
| Added to NRHP | March 22, 1984 |
The Forest Park Hotel is a historic building in St. Louis, Missouri. It stands in the Central West End neighborhood. This building is special because it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is an important part of American history and culture.
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About the Forest Park Hotel
The Forest Park Hotel is a tall, six-story building. It was first built in 1923. The building is made of strong concrete. It has red brick walls decorated with fancy terra cotta designs. Because the hotel was so popular, a seven-story part was added in 1926. This new section looked very similar to the original building. Later, in the 1960s, a small stone and glass area was added to one corner.
Who Designed This Historic Building?
The first part of the Forest Park Hotel was designed by Preston J. Bradshaw. He was a very well-known architect in St. Louis. He also designed other famous buildings nearby. These include the Chase Park Plaza Hotel and the Mayfair Hotel. The newer, taller part of the hotel was designed by George D. Barnett, Jr.. This section included some small, fancy dining rooms.
Fun Times at the Circus Snack Bar
The Forest Park Hotel was once famous for a fun nightclub. It was called the Circus Snack Bar. This club was on the ground floor, facing Euclid Avenue. In the 1930s and 1940s, it was a very popular place. A local businessman named Harold Koplar ran the club. Many famous performers played there. These included music legends like Liberace, Louis Armstrong, and Sarah Vaughan. Imagine seeing them perform there!
Changes Over the Years
In 1983, a businessman named Harold Butler bought the Forest Park Hotel. He was the person who started the restaurant chain Denny's. He spent $7 million to fix up the hotel. However, the hotel faced some money problems. Because of this, it closed down suddenly in December 1990. The building then sat empty for a long time.
In 2003, a group of developers decided to give the hotel a new life. They spent $20 million to renovate it. They turned the old hotel into a modern apartment building. It now has 115 apartments. Recently, two popular restaurant owners in the Central West End signed a deal. They plan to open a new restaurant on the first floor of the building. It will face Euclid Avenue, just like the old Circus Snack Bar.
