Redmont Hotel

Designed by Atlanta architect G. Lloyd Preacher in the Chicago architectural style, construction of the Redmont Hotel began in 1924 and was completed in 1925 at a cost of $1.2 million. When it opened its doors on May 1, 1925, the 14-story, 200-room establishment was considered a marvel of modern hotel design, being among the first in the South to feature a private bathroom, circulating ice water, and ceiling fans in every guest room. In 1937, the hotel opened the famous 'Rainbow Room' lounge, which became a premier gathering spot for local civic leaders, politicians, and industrialists known as the 'Knothole Gang.'

In 1946, prominent hotelier Clifford Stiles purchased the Redmont Hotel. Stiles initiated extensive modernizations and converted the entire fourteenth floor into an opulent 3,000-square-foot personal penthouse apartment for himself and his family. The hotel earned a permanent place in music history on December 30, 1952, when country music superstar Hank Williams spent his final night alive in Room 305 before dying in his car on New Year's Eve en route to a concert in Ohio.

After changing hands several times and enduring periods of decline in the late twentieth century, the Redmont underwent a massive $20 million restoration in 2015. Reopening as part of Hilton's prestigious Curio Collection, the hotel carefully preserved its historic plasterwork, grand ballroom, and rooftop lounge while establishing its status as a premier boutique hotel in Birmingham.

The ghost lore of the Redmont Hotel revolves around former owner Clifford Stiles and several long-term spirits who reportedly reside on the upper floors. Clifford Stiles purchased the hotel in 1946 and lived in the sprawling top-floor penthouse until his death. Guests and hotel staff report that Stiles never truly vacated his beloved residence. Guests staying on the fourteenth floor and staff in the penthouse suite frequently report seeing the spectral apparition of a tall, dignified gentleman dressed in a 1940s suit walking down the hallway, adjusting his hat, or standing silently by the rooftop windows overlooking downtown Birmingham.

Another famous legend involves a mysterious 'Lady in White' or woman in a 1920s flapper-style gown who roams the grand staircases and hallways of the eighth and ninth floors. According to local stories, she was a guest during the hotel's early heyday who met a tragic end. Guests have reported seeing her figure glide past bedroom doorways late at night before vanishing into solid walls, accompanied by the faint scent of vintage floral perfume.

A third popular legend describes a phantom dog—often described as a small terrier or spaniel—that runs along the carpeted corridors of the upper guest floors. Guests have reported hearing the distinct sound of small paws clicking against hardwood floorboards near the elevators, only to find no animal present when opening their doors.

Hotel staff, overnight guests, maintenance workers, and visiting paranormal investigators have logged numerous unexplainable occurrences throughout the Redmont Hotel. The most frequent reports take place on the top floor near the former Stiles penthouse and on the third floor near Room 305, where Hank Williams stayed. Overnight guests in Room 305 report hearing soft acoustic guitar strumming late at night, disembodied singing, and experiencing sudden cold drafts.

Housekeeping staff working on the fourteenth floor have reported doors opening and closing unassisted, light switches flipping independently, and furniture shifting across rooms when suites were vacant. Guests waiting for elevators on upper floors frequently report feeling an unseen presence standing beside them or feeling a gentle tug on their clothing.

In the grand ballroom and mezzanine areas, night staff have reported hearing disembodied laughter, hushed party conversations, and the clinking of champagne glasses echoing from dark, empty banquet rooms after midnight. Electronic voice phenomena (EVP) recordings captured in the upper stairwells have documented faint male voices saying 'welcome' and 'my hotel.'

Rising fourteen stories above downtown Birmingham, the Redmont Hotel is a classic example of Chicago-style commercial architecture. Constructed of reinforced concrete clad in red brick, limestone, and terra cotta trim, the building features strong vertical lines, decorative cornice work, and large arched windows on its lower retail and lobby floors.

The interior features an elegant lobby with soaring ceilings, marble floor tile, original wrought-iron railings, and restored decorative plaster molding. Key spaces include 120 luxury guest rooms, the historic Mezzanine Ballroom, a fitness center, the Harvest Restaurant, and the popular 'The Roof' bar offering panoramic 360-degree views of the Birmingham skyline.

The Redmont Hotel is located at 2101 5th Avenue North at 21st Street in the heart of downtown Birmingham, Alabama. Operating 24/7 as a full-service historic boutique hotel under Hilton's prestigious Curio Collection brand, room reservations are available year-round. Non-overnight visitors are welcome to explore the restored lobby, dine at Harvest Restaurant, or enjoy evening cocktails at 'The Roof' lounge.

The hotel is conveniently located within short walking distance of major downtown Birmingham attractions, including the historic Theatre District, Birmingham Museum of Art, and the Civil Rights Institute. Valet parking is available at the main entrance, and all public spaces are fully ADA accessible.

The Redmont Hotel's haunted reputation is strongly bolstered by its full century of continuous operation in downtown Birmingham, its famous historical connection to country music icon Hank Williams' final night alive in December 1952, and persistent first-hand reports from hotel guests, night staff, and housekeepers regarding the ghost of former owner Clifford Stiles in the penthouse suite and 1920s apparitions roaming upper corridors.