CHAPTER NINE

THE HOTEL INDIGO

The Hotel Indigo sits inside Main Plaza right across from the Alamo, almost hidden from the view of all the tourists and locals who visit the downtown area daily. It is a majestic old building that stands somewhat tall, with architectural details from the early 1900s. The Hotel Indigo is not a famous hotel nor does it call too much attention to itself. It is somewhat overshadowed by the fame of the Menger, which sits close by. The Menger Hotel has a rich history unto itself, but it does not sit on the original grounds where the Alamo once stood. Only the Hotel Indigo can lay claim to this, and little do people know what exactly transpired on these grounds. If the earth could speak, it would have many stories to tell about that portion of land.

The northwest corner of the Alamo, where the Hotel Indigo stands today, was hit the hardest on March 6, 1836. This is where Santa Ana and his men first gained entry inside the Alamo and is also where the heaviest bloodshed occurred. In accounts written by people who later on saw the aftermath, it is claimed that the northwest corner was filled with so many mangled bodies that the ground was literally soaked with blood. On this corner as well is where the famous William Travis was shot and fell dead. The spot where he fell is where the hotel’s front desk stands today. The battle of the Alamo was over within ninety minutes and left behind horrific bloodshed. Samuel Maverick, who was at the Alamo, was emotionally drawn to the place and is reported to have said, “I have a desire to reside in this particular spot. A foolish prejudice, no doubt as I was almost a solitary escape from the Alamo massacre.” He decided to build his homestead at the old northwest corner. Later on, in 1909, a Southern Pacific Railroad executive named Colonel C.C. Gibbs built the first high-rise office building in the city, known as the Gibbs, on the same spot. Today, it is the beautiful Hotel Indigo.

The Hotel Indigo, formally known as the Gibbs Building.

With so much history and bloodshed on one spot, it is no wonder why the Hotel Indigo reports strange activity within its walls. Guests have often reported hearing canon and gunfire inside the hotel as well as screams of agony and shouting. When the Gibbs building was being constructed, workers found in the basement two canons from the battle of the Alamo. Since they have been removed, activity has seemed to peak. One of the security guards at the neighboring U.S. postal office said that one night, he saw through the window two men pushing a canon from the Hotel Indigo across the front of the post office. He thought nothing of it—there are so many reenactments in front of the Alamo—until the metal detectors went haywire at his post. Turns out, there were no reenactments that night in front of the place. Guests feel a lot of energy inside the basement and hear strange voices as well as footsteps. I myself have felt a different energy down there as well.

Original lobby and elevators of the Gibbs Building.

The original elevators inside the hotel are no longer in service, but they are a beautiful testament of old architecture from the turn of the century. Although the elevators clearly state they are no longer in service, guests are often confused; they swear they just saw someone using them a moment before. Guests also see people dressed from another time period walking down the hallways and entering different rooms, sometimes even their own. When they investigate, the person(s) have disappeared. Footsteps and voices are heard both day and night in those same hallways. Some people have even felt the presence of someone watching them while they are asleep in their rooms.

The next time you are in San Antonio, remember the Hotel Indigo. Its tragic history and restless ghosts are sure to welcome you.