This story published in the Katy Trail Weekly newspaper on September 23, 2022. Click HERE to see the printed article.
CELEBRATING 110 YEARS OF A STORIED PAST
By Cynthia Smoot
The Adolphus Hotel in Downtown Dallas celebrates its 110 anniversary this year and the old girl is just as grand today as the day she was born. Anheuser-Busch co-founder, Adolphus Busch, built his namesake hotel as a passion project. The German immigrant had made his brewing fortune in St. Louis throughout the late 1800s but saw Dallas as the city of the future. In 1912, he debuted the city’s first true luxury hotel, modeling the building on a Germanic castle, only taller (because we all know everything is bigger and better in Texas). The 22-story tower remained the state’s tallest building for a decade.
Since opening its doors in 1912, the luxury property has served as an icon of Dallas and an integral part of the city’s history and culture and entertained celebrities and dignitaries such as Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Rudolph Valentino, Babe Ruth, Bob Hope, Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter, Ronald Reagan, and George HW and Barbara Bush, as well as British royalty, including Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip.
According to many, the hotel is not only one of the most beautiful hotels in the city, but also the most haunted. There are whispers that the hotel is reportedly visited by the distraught ghost of a bride left at the altar, along with a few unlucky souls who met their untimely death in the hotel’s cavernous elevator shaft. The mystery of it all just adds to the allure of the historic property.
Located inside the property is the storied French Room which has remained an icon of Dallas’ highest standard of fine dining for over a century, seamlessly blending the extravagance of classic French cuisine with cutting edge culinary techniques to create sublime dining experiences. The tradition of Tea at The Adolphus is an event enjoyed by many generations of fans and during the sitting, guests will enjoy a three-course menu of tea sandwiches, scones and pastries paired with loose leaf teas and champagne.
The iconic luxury property completed an extensive two-year renovation and restoration in Spring 2018 and today features three room types, luxury suites, rooftop pool, full fitness center, Spa Adolphus and award-winning on-site dining options including The French Room and City Hall Bistro. Shop the Commerce Retail Store which has a one-of-a-kind partnership with Stetson, Barber Shop (via Brass Tracks) and enjoy Viennese-inspired Otto’s Coffee and Fine Foods. In 2022, The Adolphus reopened a refreshed version of Rodeo Bar, the quintessential Texas tavern. Today, The Adolpus is a part of Marriott luxurious Autograph Collection portfolio of highly distinct properties.
You can celebrate the Adolphus legacy on Saturday, October 29 – at their 110 Year Gala where her imaginative dining, unique amenities, and memorable experiences will all come to life for an unforgettable evening. Don cocktail attire for this timeless celebration which will take guests through the years in the iconic French Room and feature music from over the decades, cocktails, champagne, hors d’oeuvres, and live entertainment.
If afternoon tea is more your vibe, attend their “Titanic Tea” Experience where they will pay homage to another pivotal event of that year, the fateful voyage of the R.M.S. Titanic. The two-course Afternoon Tea menu will feature dishes from the final first-class tea service aboard the ship, accompanied by live musical entertainment. Your ticket cost will also include a glass of first-class champagne and two artisan tea parings. More information about these events can be found at Adolphus.com