San Antonio’s historic St. Anthony Hotel has a storied past, but like many old buildings, it’s begun showing its age. According to a recent story, however, all that is about to change.
Not only is a $24m renovation planned for the 104-year-old building, but BC Lynd Hospitality, which owns and manages the hotel, has asked San Antonians to get involved in the effort by providing photos, stories, and mementoes they may have of their experiences here.
The St. Anthony Riverwalk Wyndham Hotel, to give it its proper name, is the first hotel in the United States to be fully air-conditioned. The renovation aims to restore the hotel to its status as the “queen of San Antonio”—the title given it by Clyde Johnson IV, BC Lynd’s chief investment officer.
The St. Anthony was built in 1909, and was the first luxury hotel in the city. The air-conditioning for which it’s famous was installed in 1936. The hotel also offered the first examples of things that are now standard, such as automatic doors and drive-up registration. It was popular with celebrities and politicians, and has welcomed such notables as Babe Ruth, Rudolph Valentino, Lyndon B. Johnson, and Judy Garland. More recent visitors include George Clooney.
BC Lynd hopes to display old photos and stories in the hotel, and has developed a Facebook page and website to make it easy for people to share their experiences at the St. Anthony. It could work with brochure printers to create materials for city-wide distribution.
Location
16606 San Pedro Avenue
San Antonio, TX 78232
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Hours
Mon: 8:00 - 5:00
Tue: 8:00 - 5:00
Wed: 8:00 - 5:00
Thu: 8:00 - 5:00
Fri: 8:00 - 5:00
Sat: Closed
Sun: Closed