Redmont Hotel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Hotel Redmont
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 Location in Alabama
Location in the United States
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| Location | 2101 5th Ave N Birmingham, Alabama, USA 35203 |
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| Built | 1925 |
| Architect | G. Lloyd Preacher, Smallman & Brice |
| Architectural style | Chicago |
| NRHP reference No. | 83002974 |
| Added to NRHP | January 27, 1983 |
The Redmont Hotel Birmingham, often called the Redmont Hotel, is a historic and special hotel in Birmingham, Alabama, USA. It stands 14 stories tall, which is about 160 feet (60 meters). This hotel has 120 rooms and a place for meetings.
The Redmont Hotel is located on the corner of 5th Avenue North and 21st Street. It got its name from Birmingham's Red Mountain. The Redmont is the oldest hotel in Birmingham that is still open today. It is currently owned by Bayshore Company and is part of the Curio Collection by Hilton brand. This means it's a unique hotel that keeps its historic feel.
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The Redmont Hotel's Early Years
The Redmont Hotel first opened its doors on May 1, 1925. It was designed by architect G. Lloyd Preacher from Atlanta, Georgia. When it first opened, it had 200 rooms.
What made the Redmont special back then? Every room had its own private bathroom. This was very unusual for hotels at that time! It also offered chilled water and ceiling fans in each room.
Fun Facts from the Past
In 1937, a special lounge called the "Rainbow Room" opened. This lounge became a popular spot for important people in Birmingham. They formed an informal group known as the "Knothole Gang."
In 1946, a businessman named Clifford Stiles bought the hotel. He was known for owning many hotels.
A Penthouse on Top
In 1947, Clifford Stiles turned the entire top floor of the hotel into a fancy apartment for his family. This apartment was like a New York-style penthouse. It had terraces, its own private elevator, and even a small lawn for pets! Many grand parties were held there.
Some people say that Clifford Stiles, who passed away in 1975, might still be around the hotel.
Famous Guests and Special Suites
In 1952, the famous singer Hank Williams spent his last night at the Redmont. He was on a trip from Montgomery to Charleston, West Virginia.
One of the hotel's suites became known as "the Lucky Governor's Suite." This is because it was used as the local office for the successful election campaigns of governors Jim Folsom and George Wallace. These campaigns happened in the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s.
Bringing the Hotel Back to Life
After many years, the hotel started to show its age. In 1983, a group of investors bought it. This group included famous NBA players like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Ralph Sampson.
On February 27, 1983, the Redmont Hotel was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's an important building with historical value.
A big renovation project costing $7 million began. The hotel had a grand re-opening in 1985. Another update happened in 2000. During this work, hidden architectural details were found and cleaned up.
Plans for Condos and Changes
In April 2006, the hotel's owners announced plans to change the top two floors. They wanted to create nine one- and two-bedroom apartments, called condominia. There would also be another luxury apartment in the penthouse.
These apartments would have special hotel services. This included housecleaning, valet parking (where someone parks your car), room service, security, and help from a bellhop. People living there would also get to use the fitness center. There were also plans to add a coffee shop or doughnut shop on the ground floor.
The owners also decided to operate the hotel independently. They stopped being associated with Crowne Plaza. However, because of a tough economic time called the Great Recession, these renovation plans were put on hold.
The Redmont Hotel Today
In October 2013, the hotel received special tax credits from the state of Alabama. This helped fund a big restoration project that started in 2014. The City of Birmingham also gave $400,000 in tax help.
Interior designer Natalie Toy was chosen to plan how the inside of the hotel would look. A local company, Stewart Perry, did the construction work. They completely updated all the guest rooms. They also added a new restaurant, a bar, and a café.
The hotel officially reopened on March 8, 2016. It is now part of the "Curio Collection by Hilton" brand.
Today, the Redmont Hotel Birmingham has 11 floors and 120 guest rooms. It continues to be a beautiful and historic place to stay.
Images for kids
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A comfortable room at the Redmont Hotel.
See also
In Spanish: Redmont Hotel para niños
