Haunted Holiday Inn Express Riverwalk Get Spooked
The Haunted Holiday In is a must-visit destination for anyone interested in the history and folklore of San Antonio. The jailhouse designed by Giles still stands today, and it has been transformed into a unique and spooky hotel experience. Guests can stay in the actual jail cells that were o
However, little did anyone know that this new jail would eventually become one of the most haunted places in San Antonio! The Haunted Holiday Inn Express has a fascinating history that is sure to give you goosebumps. The building was once a jail that housed notorious criminals and outlaws. The jail had a reputation for being one of the most brutal in Texas, and many inmates never made it out alive.
Today, the Haunted Holiday Inn Express stands as a testament to San Antonio’s past. It offers visitors an exciting opportunity to experience the city’s history firsthand. It has been renovated and turned into a hotel where people can stay overnight and experience the paranormal activities that occur within its walls. The hotel staff is well aware of the building’s haunted reputation, and they are more than happy to share their ghostly experiences with guests who are brave enough to stay there.
In conclusion, San Antonio, Texas has a rich history that is full of excitement and adventure. From Native American raids to notorious outlaws and criminals, the city has seen it all. Today, we can experience this history firsthand by staying at the Haunted Holiday Inn Express, which was once a jail that housed some of the most dangerous criminals in Texas. So, if you’re feeling brave and want to experience some paranormal activity, book your stay at the Haunted Holiday Inn Express and get ready for an adventure of a lifetime!
The Hotel Was Once A Jail
The construction of the Old Bexar County Jail in 1911 presented a challenge, not just for the inmates. Due to zoning laws, architect Henry T. Phelps could not extend the jail horizontally but instead had to build up an additional level.
The Old Bexar County Jail, then a two-story building, was transformed into a three-story building. While this was newsworthy, the jail’s notoriety arose from another innovative element that Phelps added.
Previously, hanging gallows were staged outside the jail, but Phelps made a drastic change when he placed them inside the prison. On the third floor, a trap door was installed, and when the fateful time arrived, the condemned criminal was led up with chains around their feet to prevent any potential escape.
The jailer put a dark hood over their head, and a thick, braided rope was tied around the neck before being positioned over the trap door. At the lever pull, the criminal would plunge downward, with their feet dancing, as the gathered crowd—which included journalists, politicians, and other prisoners—watched in horror. Lady Luck was often not kind to the outlaws of San Antonio, and often their misdeeds were met with swift Karma.
Hanging At The Holiday Inn Express
In 1921, the final public execution at the Old Bexar County Jail emerged as the talk of the town. It even garnered the attention of national publications. The person in question was Clemente Apolinar; he had been charged with the violent murder of Theodore Bernhard. On August 16th, Clemente’s long journey from Floresville to San Antonio, Texas, began. It was an arduous twelve-hour trek, during which the heat seared his neck and blisters developed on his feet. He was desperate for water, so he decided to take a break at his favorite creek, Salado Creek. However, when he arrived, the water was clean and pure; suddenly, it became muddy and dirty. Clemente, filled with rage, went looking for the culprits, who he found floating boats in the creek, 14-year-old Theodore and his younger brother Kirby. As soon as they saw him, the brothers attempted to flee.
Theodore was the one he caught. Clemente grabbed a rock. He took that rock and beat the boy’s head in. He took his thumbs and removed his eyes.
By this point, his brother Kirby had reached the closest village, exhausted and out of breath. He pleaded with somebody to help him with the madman down by the creek, and by then, a man named Johnson stepped up, claiming he was brave enough to confront the murderer.
Johnson immediately returned to the village, saying he needed more support. When he arrived at Salado Creek, Clemente was nowhere to be seen – he had already returned to San Antonio. But when Johnson descended to the river, Clemente walked along the shoreline, humming and singing as if nothing was wrong. He boasted to anyone who would listen, displaying Theodore’s eyeball from his pocket as proof of his kill. They arrested him on the spot, throwing him in Old Bexar County Jail.
Ghost at the Holiday Inn Express
But the question is, why is the Holiday Inn Express haunted? Well, legend has it that the hotel was an old jail. And not just any jail, but one with cruel and inhumane ways. It is said that the spirits of the former inmates still haunt the building, and they are not happy about the old jail now being a hotel.
People who stay at a Holiday Inn Express have had some of the most bone-chilling accounts of ghostly encounters. The hotel’s history dates back to a time when it was an old jail, and apparently, the ghosts of its past inhabitants still roam the halls. Many guests have reported strange occurrences, such as feeling an eerie touch when they are alone or seeing someone else’s face behind them in the mirror while combing their hair. Some even claim to have heard unexplained voices in the middle of the night.
Throughout the years, there have been frequent reports of ghostly activity at the Holiday Inn Express. Employees and visitors have experienced similar paranormal events, from feeling that they are being observed to feeling an icy atmosphere. Even in the summer, temperature differences of up to 15 to 20 degrees in different spots of the hotel are not uncommon. Additionally, a man was using his laptop when the laptop was suddenly snatched away and thrown across the room, causing him to gather his belongings and hastily left the hotel frantically.
Story Passed Down By An Old Holiday Inn Express Employee
When he accepted the job, he stayed one night at the hotel. During his sleep, he was suddenly awoken by a sharp pain in his bicep as if somebody had seized his arm, yet nobody was in the room. When he got up the following day, he noticed a five-fingered bruise on his bicep. When asked about it, He stated that he and the hotel’s ghosts have come to an understanding where they leave him alone, and he does the same.
He often stayed overnight at the hotel, working late or taking the night shift. As he worked, he saw the security monitors, which would go off even when no one was present. When asked about it, he stated that he and the hotel’s ghosts have come to an understanding where they leave him alone, and he does the same.
Hanging at the Old Bexar County Jail
In 1921, the final public execution at the Old Bexar County Jail emerged as the talk of the town. It even garnered the attention of national publications. The person in question was Clemente Apolinar; he had been charged with the violent murder of Theodore Bernhard. On August 16th, Clemente’s long journey from Floresville to San Antonio, Texas, began.
It was an arduous twelve-hour trek, during which the heat seared his neck and blisters developed on his feet. He was desperate for water, so he decided to take a break at his favorite creek, Salado Creek. However, when he arrived, the water was clean and pure; suddenly, it became muddy and dirty. Clemente, filled with rage, went looking for the culprits, who he found floating boats in the creek, 14-year-old Theodore and his younger brother Kirby. As soon as they saw him, the brothers attempted to flee.
Theodore was the one he caught. Clemente grabbed a rock. He took that rock and beat the boy’s head in. He took his thumbs and removed his eyes. By this point, his brother Kirby had reached the closest village, exhausted and out of breath. He pleaded with somebody to help him with the madman down by the creek, and by then, a man named Johnson stepped up, claiming he was brave enough to confront the murderer.
Johnson immediately returned to the village, saying he needed more support. When he arrived at Salado Creek, Clemente was nowhere to be seen – he had already returned to San Antonio. But when Johnson descended to the river, Clemente walked along the shoreline, humming and singing as if nothing was wrong. He boasted to anyone who would listen, displaying Theodore’s eyeball from his pocket as proof of his kill. They arrested him on the spot, throwing him in Old Bexar County Jail.
What To Do With The Convicted Murder Clemente Apolinar
Police and law enforcement were at a standstill regarding Clemente’s murder of Theodore. His past entailed criminal activities but usually led to him being sent to the South Western Insane Asylum. Clemente’s health was poor, with physicians citing schizophrenia, seizures, and paranoia.
His condition sparked a split opinion on how to proceed with his trial. This caused a lot of debate in the country. Many argued against the death penalty for Clemente, as he was not in a healthy state of mind. Others argued against his being set free, citing his comment that he would have killed another boy if he hadn’t gotten away.
Banned public executions in San Antonio in 1926
The San Antonio City Council banned public executions in 1926 following the tragedy of Clemente’s death in 1921, but the jail was still open until 1962. According to legend, Jack Steese was the last prisoner to escape; he cut through iron bars in full view and climbed down with a fire hose. The police thought from the beginning that he planned to flee to a distant place. However, Steese went straight to his mother’s house.
Law enforcement quickly located him hiding under the bed, returning him to the Old Bexar County Jail. 1962 Sheriff Bill Hauck moved 328 criminals to a larger Nueva and Laredo Streets facility. The former jail was later converted into the Comfort Inn, Alamo, with 82 beds, and then in 2009, it became the Holiday Inn Express Riverwalk. Guests report seeing and hearing unexplainable activity in the old jail.