Bentley Hotel

Bentley Hotel
Hotel Bentley
Location 801 3rd St., Alexandria, Louisiana
Coordinates 31°18′43″N 92°26′42″W / 31.31194°N 92.44500°W / 31.31194; -92.44500Coordinates: 31°18′43″N 92°26′42″W / 31.31194°N 92.44500°W / 31.31194; -92.44500
Area 1 acre (0.40 ha)
Built 1907 (Opened 1908)
Architect George R. Mann
Architectural style Renaissance
NRHP reference # 79001084[1]
Added to NRHP November 15, 1979

Bentley Hotel, usually known as the Hotel Bentley, is a classic Renaissance-stylel hotel located near City Hall in downtown Alexandria in central Louisiana. Built by the timber baron Joseph Bentley, it opened to the public in 1908. On November 15, 1979, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

The hotel was once owned by the Pineville real estate developer Buddy Tudor, who worked for its historic preservation.[2]

Former owner Robert G. "Bob" Dean, Jr., of Baton Rouge closed the hotel in December 2004 and placed it on the market, at one time asking $12 million. The current owner, Michael Jenkins, purchased the facility for $3.4 million on October 11, 2012;[3] The Bentley had been listed for $6.5 million. Jenkins has now reopened the renovated hotel with a hundred available rooms.[4] The newer part of the structure, the seven-story tower, has been converted into condominiums; while the older section remains a hotel.[5] The Bentley Room restaurant and Mirror Room lounge have also been reopened.[6]

An area inside the Main Lobby has also been utilized to create a World War II exhibit, which showcases many items of memorabilia from the war. Hotel Bentley was significant to World War II because of the famous Louisiana Maneuvers which were conducted nearby. Notable military leaders visiting the area during that time included Generals George S. Patton, Jr., Omar Bradley, Joseph Stilwell, and Dwight Eisenhower among others. Many of these headquartered at the Bentley.[7]

Nearby in the riverfront district is the 7-story Alexander Fulton Hotel and Convention Center.

On August 10, 2018, the Bentley celebrated its 110th anniversary. In addition to the military figures, the Bentley has hosted such entertainers as John Wayne, Roy Rogers, and Cary Grant.[8]


References

  1. ↑ National Park Service (2009-03-13). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
  2. ↑ "Prolific real estate developer Robert "Buddy" Tudor, Jr., dies", Alexandria Town Talk, March 15, 2010
  3. ↑ "Closed Hotel Bentley in Alexandria sells for $3.4 million". Alexandria Daily Town Talk, October 13, 2012. Retrieved October 14, 2012.
  4. ↑ "Jeff Matthews, "Alexandria's Hotel Bentley could be open for Christmas," June 14, 2013". The Town Talk. Archived from the original on June 16, 2013. Retrieved June 15, 2013.
  5. ↑ "Cynthia D. Jardon, "Historic Hotel Bentley changes hands with local businessman Mike Jenkins buying Alexandria landmark". Alexandria Daily Town Talk, October 12, 2012. Retrieved October 12, 2012.
  6. ↑ "Buyer hopes to reopen Alexandria's Hotel Bentley this summer". March 8, 2013. Archived from the original on April 11, 2013. Retrieved 2013-03-09.
  7. ↑ "Home - Hotel Bentley". Hotel Bently. Retrieved 2017-04-08.
  8. ↑ Jeff Matthews (August 6, 2018). "Hotel Bentley celebrating 110 years". Alexandria Town Talk. Retrieved August 11, 2018.


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