Battle House Hotel: Mobile’s Landmark Hotel Restored to Its Former Glory
One of Mobile, Alabama’s elegant buildings, the Battle House Hotel, has been restored to its former glory and retakes its place among the city’s historic landmarks. The hotel, which is now a Marriott Renaissance Hotel, is located in historic downtown Mobile and was restored as part of the RSA Battle House Tower project. At a height of 745 feet, the Battle House Tower is now one of the tallest buildings in the southeast and the tallest in Alabama. The Battle House Hotel and Tower is owned by PCH Resorts and is the mastermind of David Bronner, CEO of the Retirement System of Alabama. Bronner is the person who developed the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail in Alabama, which is another success story for the state.
The Battle House Hotel dates back to 1852 and the current building was erected in 1908 after being destroyed by fire in 1905. Although one would think that the hotel was named because of a role is might have served during military conflict, it was actually name after Samuel and James Battle, owners of the property on which the first hotel was built. After many years of serving as one of the main hotels in downtown Mobile, it sat vacant and dilapidated for close to 30 years until its re-opening earlier this year. The hotel escaped from the wrecking ball several times during that period due to the foresight and persistence of its owner Celia Wallace, who was determined to see the hotel returned to its former grandeur and position as a Mobile icon.
The Battle House was a showplace on the Mobile social scene for many years and it hosted many of the city’s key events such as Mardi Gras balls, wedding receptions, and other important events. Many famous people have stayed at the hotel over the years and it has even hosted a few presidents. Presidents Ulysses S. Grant and Woodruff Wilson have both stayed at the hotel. Other famous people who have stayed at the hotel include Stephen Douglas, Jefferson Davis, Admiral Rafael Semmes, several Civil War generals and baseball legend Babe Ruth.
The closing of the Battle House Hotel in the 70’s was similar to the fate that occurred to many distinguished hotels in other cities that were closed due to neglect and the decline of their downtown areas. Fortunately, the Battle House Hotel has been restored and finds itself ranked among other fine establishments such as the Peabody Hotel in Memphis and the Brown Hotel in Louisville, as a catalyst for downtown redevelopment.
The hotel’s grand reopening was something that the Mobile community long awaited and thousands who stood in line to take the tour of the classic hotel. Many citizens patiently waited for their chance to glimpse the representation of southern charm and hospitality and admire the restored details and new features of the hotel. For many of its black citizens, it was the first opportunity to visit and stay at the hotel since segregation prevented them from doing so back in the hotel’s heyday.
The hotel not only features original and restored touches but the restorations of the guest rooms retained much of the original woodwork, windows, and certain fixtures. The rooms now offer all the modern conveniences and décor found in any five-star hotel and especially that found in Marriott’s Renaissance hotels. The Trellis Room, once the main dining room and restaurant in the hotel, is once again serving appetizing dishes prepared under the creative eye of its talented chef. Diners can sit beneath the arched atrium with its restored, authentic Tiffany stained glass ceiling. The Crystal Ballroom, with its ornate columns and crystal chandeliers, has returned to its former opulence and as the place to host balls, wedding receptions, and stately banquets. The balcony overlooking Royal Street will once again be the place to view Mardi Gras parades as they pass in front of the hotel during carnival season.
A unique feature of the main lobby is the “whispering arch” on the second floor that spans the balcony overlooking the main lobby. The architectural feature of the arch allows a person to stand on one side of the arch and clearly hear what is whispered by someone on the other side of the arch. I was initially skeptical and figured it was just hotel folklore but after trying it out with my teenage son, it really worked. My son, being from the age of special effects, still thinks it’s a trick and that there are embedded microphones and speakers hidden somewhere.
The Battle House offers a full-service spa and exercise facilities, luxury pool, and close to 27,000 square feet of meeting space and a block from the Arthur Outlaw Convention Center. It now provides the city, along with its sister hotel, the Renaissance Riverview Hotel, which is also undergoing a multi-million dollar renovation, convention caliber hotel rooms and meeting facilities.
The hotel was often referred to as “Mobile’s Living Room” and now the city’s living room has been restored and updated. Mobile can now welcome back its grand dame with her doors opened wide to welcome all to experience her historic and luxurious amenities.
