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in Alexandria Louisiana
The Hotel Bentley, built in 1908 on Third Street in Alexandria, has long been the flagship hotel in Central Louisiana, offering luxury and amenities for tourists and business travelers. As recently as the 1980s, the Bentley was designated a four star hotel, the only four-star hotel in Louisiana outside of New Orleans. In the late 1990s, the hotel changed ownership and became affiliated with the Radisson chain, and renamed the Radisson Hotel Bentley. The History of the Hotel Bentley It was named after Joseph A. Bentley, a lumber entrepreneur from from Pennsylvania who moved to Rapides Parish in 1892. James F. Litton was the first hotel manager. The Hotel Bentley was built by the F. B. Hull Construction Company of Jackson, Mississippi on Third Street one block north of the Alexandria City Hall. After a series of openings and closings, the last closure was in 2004. The hotel remains closed as of late 2011.
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 The Hotel Bentley ... haunted by ghosts, or not? |
The Hotel Bentley in the SyFy Channel's TV Series "Ghost Hunters"
The Hotel Bentley was featured in the SyFy Channel's reality show Ghost Hunters TV series in February 2011.
The first episode (701) of Season 7 of SyFy was entitled "Haunted Town", and featured several locations in Alexandria that were rumored to be haunted.
As leaders of The Atlantic Paranormal Society (TAPS), stars in the TV series help those with questions about paranormal phenomena and ghost hunting.
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This episode focuses on the Bentley and two other downtown Alexandria buildings where paranormal activities have been reported. Once the TAPS investigation is completed and the paranormal experiences captured, the reveal is presented in this episode of Ghost Hunters.
Also featured in the SyFy series was the Diamond Grill now located in the former C.A. Schnack Jewelry building on Third Street, and Finnegan’s Wake Pub.
Read more about ghosts in Alexandria on the recap of "Haunted Town" on the SyFy website
Current Status of the Hotel Bentley
Although closed since 2004, efforts remain underway by the City of Alexandria to partner with an outside firm to renovate and reopen the hotel, but prospects for a signed deal remain elusive.
The hotel remains in disrepair, and is showing signs of deterioration as shown in the photos below. Even the hotel's landmark entrance has failed ... on July 1, 2011 the Hotel Bentley sign above the Third Street entrance fell and was destroyed.
Shown below are photos of the hotel as it appeared about 2003, and updated photos taken during 2011.
For more information, history, photographs, historic postcards, and artifacts from the Bentley, visit the Historic Bentley web site.
Other Hotel Properties in Alexandria
Searching for Alexandria hotels and motels, and need information about deals and reservations?
The Hotel Bentley is closed, but many other fine accommodations are available in the area. Alexandria, with its central location in Louisiana, and its position on Interstate Highway I-49, offers a large number of hotels, motels and other accommodations.
Among the lodging offerings located in the Alexandria-Pineville area are:
- Hampton Inn & Suites
- Courtyard by Marriott
- Holiday Inn Express
- LaQuinta
- Parc England Hotel
- Econo Lodge
- Super 8
- Comfort Suites
- Baymont Inn
Other accommodations are available in Alexandria, and in Pineville across the Red River.
Visit our Alexandria Hotel & Motel listings, availability, locations and reservations section on this website.
Hotel Bentley Lobby circa 1970s (courtesy of the Louisiana History Museum)
The Hotel Bentley as seen in 2003
Stained Glass Still in Place
The Hotel Bentley as seen in 2011
Stained glass removed along DeSoto Street windows
After the Third Street sign of the Hotel Bentley fell on July 1, 2011
Window frames along Third Street side of the hotel showing a sad state of rot and disrepair
Mirror Room Lounge neon sign still in place on south side of the Hotel Bentley
South portico columns showing rot, rusk and a general state of disrepair
South Portico along DeSoto Street facing the Alexandria City Hall
South Portico looking toward the Red River
South Portico of the Hotel Bentley, facing east
"Modern" signage for the Hotel Bentley along Jackson Street
Hotel Bentley plaque - National Register of Historic Places
Hotel Bentley Historic Marker ... on Third Street near the Bentley valet parking area
Vintage Postcards of the Hotel Bentley
More Historic Postcards of the Hotel Bentley, Alexandria, Louisiana |
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3Courtesy
of Fred Richards 4Courtesy
of Bill King |
Other Historic Hotels and Tourist Courts in Alexandria
Several grand hotels, tourist courts and motels existed in Alexandria over the last few decades.
On this website you can view more Alexandria historic courts.
| Learn more about Alexandria Take a tour on The Alexandria Retrospective... |
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