Articles
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Southern Beauties Rise Again By Jan Butsch Schroder
One was devastated by Hurricane Katrina, and the other by fire and neglect. But we’re thrilled that both grand old ladies are making comebacks. Beloved by generations of Mobile residents, The Battlehouse in downtown Mobile and The Grand Hotel Marriott Resort Golf Club & Spa across Mobile Bay in Point Clear, Alabama are reopened and once again welcoming locals and visitors. Built in 1852, The Battle House was the heart of Mobile society and visitors such as Ulysses S. Grant, Woodrow Wilson and Babe Ruth spent time there. Destroyed by fire in 1905, it was rebuilt in 1908 and operated as a hotel until 1974 when it shut down. Empty, neglected and falling into an increasingly dire state of disrepair, the hotel reopened in May after a five-year, $220 million renovation. Now a Renaissance Hotel, the 238-room hotel blends a renovated original eight-story hotel connected to a 38-story tower. When I got a glimpse of the gorgeous curved staircase in the Crystal Ballroom, I could just picture the next generation of elegant brides and debutantes making their grand entrances down those stairs. Once the summer home to many members of Mobile society who crossed the bay to enjoy the cool summer breezes, The Grand Hotel fully reopened late last year after suffering major damage during Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Storm waters rose up to six feet in the main building. But after a $50 million renovation, this 160-year-old Southern beauty is back, and is once again charming us with her lovely grounds, two golf courses and the 20,000-square-foot European-style spa. We first wrote about the spa in these pages in the July/August issue, ironically the time of hurricane. We’ll glad to welcome you back. The Battle House Grand Hotel Marriott Resort Golf Club & Spa
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