Visitors to Alabama come for a variety of reasons. Some want to enjoy close access to the white sand beaches of The Gulf of Mexico and some want to explore big cities. One of the most popular attractions in the state, the Civil Rights Institute was opened in 1993 in Birmingham. If you are big on adventure and excitement, try your luck at one of a number of Alabama hotels and restaurants located throughout the state that are rumored to be haunted.
Located in Anniston, Alabama, the The Victoria Inn and Restaurant was built in 1888 and owned by three families before being converted into an inn. Legend has it that the ghosts of the families that occupied the property before it became an inn have never left. Guests swear that they hear glasses clinging in the bar, pianos starting on their own and some report hearing footsteps. An occasional guest will report a ghostly female figure standing near of the landing on the the main staircase of the building. The inn offers a selection of 60 rooms and suites decorated in a Victorian style with antique furnishings and the restaurant offers a selection of contemporary Southern cuisine.
The Rawls Hotel and Restaurant in Enterprise, Alabama, combines elegance, Southern charm, contemporary design and a bit of a spooky past. According to legend, a woman was pushed to death by her lover from the second floor landing and still haunts the building. She is not the only ghost that has been heard or seen on the property. Children can be heard playing when there are none checked in or at the restaurant, random cigar smoke has been smelled when no cigar-smokers are present and some guests report feeling as though they are being pushed over with force just out of the blue. The Hotel offers a selection of well-appointed suites and the restaurant offers gourmet American-style meals and a selection of wines and cocktails.
The St. James Hotel in Selma, Alabama was built in 1837 and has stood the test of time ever since. Businessmen and tourists looking to be close to the banks of the Alabama River frequent this hotel. The hotel was renovated in 1997 at a cost of more than $6 million. Tales indicate the hotel is haunted by outlaw, Jesse James. There have been alleged sightings of James, dressed in cowboy gear and spending time in guest rooms 214, 314, 315 and sitting at a table in the bar. Sometimes guests also report seeing his girlfriend Lucinda at his side.
Legend states that the ghost of the first owner of The Tutwiler Hotel in Birmingham, Colonel Tutwiler, is often seen at the Birmingham Hotel. According to many staff reports, he will often visit the kitchen after hours and move things about. Missing wine bottles and random noises also make up the story. The hotel completed a massive $9 million total preservation in April 2007 that includes new interiors, finishes and furnishings. Restaurant Century focuses on high-end gourmet steaks and Southern meals such as fried chicken.
