Wednesday, February 2, 2011

My Stay at a Haunted Hotel


I got back in town last night from a business trip to Austin, where the company I work for was exhibiting at a trade show. And while most of my time was spent at the Austin Convention Center, for two nights I laid my head in room 537 at The Driskill.

I was excited to stay at The Driskill. It's absolutely beautiful and historic. Until I Googled directions and under suggested searches popped up "The Driskill Haunted." Out of fear, I didn't read any further about the hauntings at The Driskill until after I'd checked out. And out of fear, just reading "The Driskill Haunted" kept me sleeping with one eye open so that I wouldn't awaken to a ghost child apparition standing at my bedside.

I finally read up on The Driskill's hauntings today, only to find out it is considered the most haunted hotel in Texas. I'm glad to learn this after my two night stay. Especially since I was staying on the historic, original side of the hotel. Can we say heebie jeebies?

Instead of thinking about the ghosts while I was there, I decided to focus on the decor and brought home some good ideas for the Jordan household.


The hallways looked like an art gallery. Rows and rows of original artwork. I wanted to smuggle some of these home with me, but I thought that might tick off the ghosts.


This is 100 percent my style. I love how all the colors are very muted, but not boring. I'm wondering where I could get a king-sized headboard identical to this one. I also loved the furry blanket and the leather nightstands.


This cabinet has an image of The Driskill painted on it. I love all the little details.


This is the detail that I'm most likely to replicate in my home. ... probably my dining room. I had to break it to Ty very gently that I was wanting to paint our ceiling orange, and he liked the idea. It's just got to be the right color and everything else in the room needs to be toned down. What do you think? Do you like this look? I sort of am in love with it.

By the way, on the curtain valance is another image of The Driskill.

If you would like to read more about the hauntings at The Driskill, here's a link to several videos that tell this hotel's story.

And if you ever go to Austin, stay here. You'll feel as though you've done something brave after staying here a few days. Even if you come home with nothing to report on but the decor!

5 comments:

Tracy said...

This bed is pretty similar in headboard style to the one from the hotel picture.

http://www.havertys.com/Product_23615_____53_9_
It is a platform bed though, not just a headboard.

We have this bedroom suite and I absolutely love it.

Meryl & Russell McLendon said...

How fun!! Did anything spooky happen? If not, at least you got lots of decorating inspiration. =) I'll have to add this to my list of places to visit the next time I'm in Austin.

Stephanie Jordan said...

That bed is very similar! Thanks for the tip, Tracy.

Meryl, thankfully nothing strange happened. In one of the documentaries I watched about the hotel, it showed this picture of a little girl who died at the hotel. That picture was hanging just down the hall from my room, which kind of freaked me out because I remembered walking past the picture and not getting a good feeling about it! Freaky, freaky place. But beautiful!

Laura said...

Was it as creepy as that super creepy Arlington hotel in Hot Springs? Love the decor inspiration!

Stephanie Jordan said...

I would say the overall ambiance at the Arlington was worse. The Driskill was nice and updated so you didn't notice the "vibe" so much.

I will never stay at the Arlington ever again. It desperately needs updates. Makes me think of "The Shining"!!!!