Bentley Hotel

{{Distinguish|Bentley Hotel (New York City)}} {{Use American English|date=July 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}} {{Infobox NRHP | name = Bentley Hotel | nrhp_type = | image = Bentley Hotel.JPG | caption = Hotel Bentley | location = 200 Desoto St., [[Alexandria, Louisiana]] | coordinates = {{coord|31|18|43|N|92|26|42|W|region:US_type:landmark|display=inline,title}} | locmapin = Louisiana#USA | built = 1907 (Opened 1908) | architect = George R. Mann | architecture = Renaissance | added = November 15, 1979 | area = {{convert|1|acre}} | refnum = 79001084<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|2009a}}</ref> }}

'''Bentley Hotel''', usually known as the '''Hotel Bentley''', is a classic Renaissance-style hotel located near City Hall in downtown [[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]] in central [[Louisiana]], United States.

==Description and history== The hotel was built by timber baron Joseph Bentley at a cost of $700,000, allegedly because he had been refused dinner service at another local hotel for not being properly attired. It opened to the public in August, 1908, and Mr. Bentley lived in the hotel until his death in 1938.<ref name="ags-bentley">{{cite web |title=Joseph Bentley's Restless Hotel |url=https://americanghoststories.com/joseph-bentleys-restless-hotel-alexandria-la/ |website=American Ghost Stories |date=2026-05-25 |access-date=2026-06-01}}</ref> The hotel has since accumulated a local reputation for paranormal activity, with reported phenomena including footsteps in empty corridors, elevators moving without passengers, doors opening and closing on their own, the scent of cigar smoke with no visible source, and sightings of a well-dressed apparition believed to be Bentley himself.<ref name="ags-bentley" /> On November 15, 1979, it was added to the [[National Register of Historic Places]].

The hotel was once owned by [[Pineville, Louisiana|Pineville]] [[real estate developer]] Buddy Tudor, who worked for its [[historic preservation]].<ref>"Prolific real estate developer Robert "Buddy" Tudor, Jr., dies", ''Alexandria Town Talk'', March 15, 2010</ref>.

Former owner Robert G. "Bob" Dean, Jr., of [[Baton Rouge, Louisiana|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;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thetowntalk.com/|title=Closed Hotel Bentley in Alexandria sells for $3.4 million|publisher=Alexandria Daily Town Talk, October 13, 2012|accessdate=October 14, 2012}}</ref> The Bentley had been listed for $6.5 million. Jenkins has now reopened the renovated hotel with a hundred available rooms.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thetowntalk.com/article/20130614/NEWS01/306140014/Alexandria-s-Hotel-Bentley-could-open-Christmas?nclick_check=1|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130616065006/http://www.thetowntalk.com/article/20130614/NEWS01/306140014/Alexandria-s-Hotel-Bentley-could-open-Christmas?nclick_check=1|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 16, 2013|title=Jeff Matthews, "Alexandria's Hotel Bentley could be open for Christmas," June 14, 2013|newspaper=The Town Talk|accessdate=June 15, 2013}}</ref> The newer part of the structure, the seven-story tower, is being converted into [[Condominium (living space)|condominium]]s; while the older section remains a hotel.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thetowntalk.com/article/20121012/NEWS01/210120317/Historic-Hotel-Bentley-changes-hands-local-businessman-Mike-Jenkins-buying-Alexandria-landmark?nclick_check=1|title=Cynthia D. Jardon, "Historic Hotel Bentley changes hands with local businessman Mike Jenkins buying Alexandria landmark|publisher=Alexandria Daily Town Talk, October 12, 2012|accessdate=October 12, 2012}}{{dead link|date=July 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The Bentley Room restaurant and Mirror Room lounge have also been reopened.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thetowntalk.com/article/20130308/news01/303080336/buyer-hopes-reopen-alexandria-s-hotel-bentley-summer |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130411234059/http://www.thetowntalk.com/article/20130308/news01/303080336/buyer-hopes-reopen-alexandria-s-hotel-bentley-summer |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 11, 2013 |title=Buyer hopes to reopen Alexandria's Hotel Bentley this summer |date=March 8, 2013 |accessdate=2013-03-09 }}</ref>

A case in the lobby has historic artifacts on loan from the Louisiana History Museum, and 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. The Hotel Bentley was significant in World War II because of the famous [[Louisiana Maneuvers]], which were conducted nearby. Notable military leaders visiting the area during that time included generals [[Omar Bradley]], [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]], [[George S. Patton, Jr.]], and [[Joseph Stilwell]], among others. Many of these headquartered at the Bentley.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hotelbentleyandcondos.com/|title=Home - Hotel Bentley|last=|first=|date=|website=Hotel Bentley|language=en-US|access-date=2017-04-08}}</ref>

On August 10, 2018, the Bentley celebrated its 110th anniversary. In addition to the military figures, the Bentley has hosted such entertainers as [[Cary Grant]], [[Roy Rogers]], and [[John Wayne]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thetowntalk.com/story/news/local/2018/08/06/hotel-bentley-110-years/917601002/|publisher=Alexandria Town Talk|title=Hotel Bentley celebrating 110 years|date=August 6, 2018|author=Jeff Matthews|accessdate=August 11, 2018}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== * {{Commons category-inline|Bentley Hotel (Alexandria, Louisiana)}} * Hotel Website: https://www.visithotelbentley.com/

[[Category:Buildings and structures in Alexandria, Louisiana]] [[Category:Hotel buildings completed in 1907]] [[Category:Hotel buildings on the National Register of Historic Places in Louisiana]] [[Category:National Register of Historic Places in Rapides Parish, Louisiana]] [[Category:Renaissance Revival architecture in Louisiana]]