Savoy Hotel and Grill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Savoy Hotel and Grill
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 Location in Missouri
Location in the United States
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| Location | 219 W. 9th St. and 9th and Central Sts., Kansas City, Missouri |
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| Area | 9.9 acres (4.0 ha) |
| Built | 1888 |
| Architect | Van Brunt & Howe |
| Architectural style | Art Nouveau |
| NRHP reference No. | 74001073 |
| Added to NRHP | December 30, 1974 |
The Savoy Hotel and Grill is a famous hotel and restaurant. You can find it in Kansas City, Missouri. This hotel is super old! It's the oldest hotel that has been open non-stop west of the Mississippi River. The hotel closed for a big update in 2016. It then opened again in 2018, looking brand new.
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The Savoy's Story
Kansas City's Hotel Savoy was built a long time ago, in 1888. The people who owned the Arbuckle Coffee Company built it. In 1903, the hotel got a makeover. A new part was added, which included the Savoy Grill dining room. The Savoy Grill is the oldest restaurant in Kansas City, Missouri.
In the early 1900s, the Savoy was a fancy place to stay. Many travelers coming by train to Kansas City would choose it. It was the first hotel they saw when they arrived. Later, during the 1930s, the hotel started to get old and worn out. This was partly because of the Great Depression. Even so, the restaurant stayed busy.
The Savoy was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. This means it's an important historical building. In 1985, the hotel began to be fixed up. The owner, Don Lee, wanted to turn it into a bed and breakfast. He bought the restaurant in 1960 and the whole hotel in 1965. During the repairs, they were careful to save old parts of the hotel. This included the front desk and beautiful stained glass art. The Savoy Grill still has its original wooden bar. It also has high ceilings and special paintings from 1903. There's even a famous spot called Booth No. 4. This was where President Harry S. Truman and his wife Bess often sat.
About the Savoy Grill
The Savoy Grill is a well-known restaurant in Kansas City, Missouri. It opened in 1903. It became a historic landmark in 1974, just like the hotel. Many important people have eaten here. One famous guest was Harry S. Truman. He often visited for lunch when he worked nearby. Booth No. 4 is even called the "presidents' booth." Presidents like Warren G. Harding, Harry S. Truman, Gerald Ford, and Ronald Reagan have all sat there.
During the time of Prohibition, it was against the law to sell alcohol. Instead of removing the bar, they just hid it with curtains! The Grill is most famous for its delicious seafood and steaks. In the 1960s and 1970s, their slogan was: "The Savoy Grill: A new, different, and exciting restaurant over sixty years old."
Amazing Murals
The main dining room of the Grill has special paintings. These are called The Savoy Murals. Edward Holslag painted them in 1903. He was in his early thirties then. The murals show pioneers leaving Westport Landing. They are starting their journey along the Santa Fe Trail. Holslag was a student at The National Academy of Design. His work is also at the Congressional Library in Washington, D.C.. The Savoy Grill Murals are so important that they are part of the Smithsonian Institution's "Bicentennial Inventory of American Paintings."
Ghost Stories at the Savoy
Some people say the Savoy Hotel has ghosts! Hotel staff and guests have reported strange things. In the late 1800s, a woman named Betsy Ward lived in room 505. She also passed away there. People say a very old pistol was found hidden in the wall of that room. Guests and staff have heard odd voices. They have seen shadows. Doors have also opened and closed by themselves near room 505.
There are also stories about a spirit named Fred Lightner. People say he still haunts his old apartment at the Savoy. Other strange things have been reported too. These include clear voices on recordings. Pictures have shown glowing orbs and ghostly figures. Many people have seen a small girl in an old-fashioned dress. She is often seen on the fourth floor. The elevator sometimes gets stuck on the fourth floor. Or it might go to the sixth floor when someone pushes the fourth floor button!
The Fire of 2014
On October 23, 2014, a big fire happened at the Savoy Grill. The fire destroyed the kitchen. The historic restaurant area was not burned down. But it had a lot of smoke damage. The fire started because a cook was not paying attention. The restaurant had to close, and the hotel was emptied out.
