I understand that they are planning to open the first part of February, and that parts of the hotel are essentially complete.

too bad they couldn't do the re-opening together with the 95th birthday.

But just think of the great party they will have in 5 years for the 100th anniversary!!

Marvelous post, Malibu!

With the Skirvin being a luxurious hotel on Broadway and BC Clark putting an entrance on Broadway and Automobile Alley seemingly taking shape as an upscale area on Broadway...

Broadway will be getting a lot of foot traffic. With that realization, I wonder what other businesses are planning to set up shop on Broadway. Just a thought...

Forget Bricktown. Automobile Alley might just be the next Deep Ellum.

Lets only hope so.

actually, that would be good. OKC to have more than just one vibrant urban district. All other big cities do.

Its ok for one to be touristy and the other to be upscale, urban, and local. That is what I always invisioned for AAlley and it looks like it is becoming a reality.

I think we also need to mention that the hotel will be open ahead of schedule. Everyone, from the mayor, to the construction crew, to Marcus, to those of us on here thought that getting the hotel open by the Big XII Tourney would be a tall order. In fact, I figured that they would have the rooms open and some common areas open, but that construction would still be ongoing during the Big XII. I think we need to commend the construction crew, the Skirvin Hilton general manager (and his staff), and Marcus company for getting the hotel open in February. I find that truly amazing. Not only will they be fully open for the Big XII, but they will have time to work any kinks out of the system before some very important people are staying there (that decide whether OKC gets to host the tourney again in the future).

Open during Big XII:
Renaissance
Sheraton
Courtyard
Skirvin Hilton
Colcord
Residence Inn??

Marriott already has a web page up for the new Residence Inn in Bricktown...

Residence Inn Oklahoma City Downtown/Bricktown: Suites and amenities for corporate travel (http://marriott.com/property/propertypage/okcbt)

According to this, the hotel will be open in December.

All the hotels you listed will be open for the Big 12 Tournament.

Man! They are ahead of schedule by several months!

How nice is the Residence Inn supposed to be?

Residence Inn isn't known to be a "luxury" brand. Their rooms are basically like apartments with a living room, kitchen and bedroom. It doesn't have the reputation of extended stay places, but is functionally the same with a few upscale touches and the Marriott badge. It's significantly more expensive than the extended stay places as well. The Residence Inn will be a unique offering that downtown doesn't have so far.

Today's Oklahoman contains a very nice article by Steve Lackmeyer called "Pieces of History ... Residents respond to request for Skirvin memorabilia" at NewsOK.com | Powered by The Oklahoman and NEWS 9 (http://www.newsok.com/article/2975441) ... the article notes that a "permanent display at the Skirvin Hilton Hotel" will include a bellboy's uniform from the 1930s, old photos, and some other stuff.

Today's Oklahoman contains a very nice article by Steve Lackmeyer called "Pieces of History ... Residents respond to request for Skirvin memorabilia" at NewsOK.com | Powered by The Oklahoman and NEWS 9 (http://www.newsok.com/article/2975441) ... the article notes that a "permanent display at the Skirvin Hilton Hotel" will include a bellboy's uniform from the 1930s, old photos, and some other stuff.

That's a nice touch - a nod to the history of a great hotel. Thanks for bringing this to our attention, Doug!

---------

Here are a few update pics taken yesterday ...

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/misc/random_11_26_06_5.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/misc/random_11_26_06_6.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/misc/random_11_26_06_7.jpg

As always, thanks so much Doug!

They'd better hustle if they are going to open in February.

It's looking very nice. That front facade is a beauty, and the windows sure dress the building up! Thanks for posting the pics, Doug.

BTW, I'll try to get together a tour of the Skirvin sometime after the holidays. I haven't forgotten about it.

City’s share of Skirvin renovation costs rises
by Brian Brus
The Journal Record
11/29/2006

OKLAHOMA CITY – The city’s portion of funding the Skirvin Hotel’s renovation grew by $4 million Tuesday as the Oklahoma City Council agreed to cover unexpected historic repair conditions and materials cost increases blamed on Gulf Coast construction.

Council members unanimously approved dipping into the downtown tax increment finance district fund to help cover an expected $5 million shortfall. The other $1 million will be provided through tax credits.

The difference raises the city’s stake in the project to $22 million. The full renovation of the nearly 100-year-old building is valued at more than $56 million.

City Business Manager Brent Bryant said several factors in addition to Hurricane Katrina led to the reported shortage, including time itself.

“You have to remember that we’ve always been pressed to have this thing complete before the Big 12 (basketball) tournament in March. That’s always been our goal,” he said.

“We went to the council in August of ’05, and we had 50 percent (incomplete) drawings and we had to get the deal done because we have always been pressed,” he said, referring to the City Council’s approval at the time to amend the funding plan to cover a shortfall in private money.

Hurricane Katrina struck the New Orleans area shortly thereafter. Bryant said there was no way to predict the effect it would have on the construction industry months later. Massive rebuilding has driven up demand and prices for drywall, insulation, roofing materials, steel and concrete nationwide.

Bryant said the cost of historic preservation efforts in the Skirvin also increased as the project progressed. Recovering and repairing the tiling in the hotel’s restaurant, for example, proved to be a problem. And some of the columns inside the building were found to be hollow and not actually functioning as support structures.

“It’s an old building. … You just continue to find things,” Bryant said.

Skirvin Partners was willing to pay the difference, “however, it is economically advantageous to the city to provide the $4 million of additional funding,” city staff members reported to the City Council.

Should the hotel be unsuccessful, the city could conservatively expect to be unable to recoup $9.6 million if Skirvin Partners pays the $4 million difference now. But because the city is investing more public funds – secured by a subordinate mortgage as well as the tax increment finance district – the loan/lease payments and building sale proceeds in the same bad outcome reduce the city’s loss to $2.9 million. Bryant said those figures are based on “very conservative” projections of hotel occupancy rates.

“If the city provides the additional funds we stand a better chance based upon current assumptions shown above to recover more of the public assistance financing provided to the project,” Bryant’s staff reported.

Mayor Mick Cornett said he was disappointed in the change, but reiterated that circumstances in the construction industry can’t be helped.

“And it’s an old building,” he said. “Any time you start on an old building, you understand that it’s not an exact science. You don’t know exactly what will be incurred afterwards.”

Cornett said city officials didn’t feel pressured to commit to the increase, “but we felt like it was proper use of the TIF (district) dollars. And our budget department felt it was in the best interest of the city for us to be the ones to put the money in.”

He said the hotel, which had been closed since 1988, is still scheduled to reopen in February.

I say, "Cough up the bucks." :kicking:

I love this Hotel. In the 60's and early 70's a youth group I was in had our yearly convention at the Skrivin over the Thanksgiving weekend, it always seem to rain that weekend. It was always so self contained, so know one had to leave the hotel. That is not easy when you have 2 to 3 hundred young men. I have a lot of great memories of those times, some of the best in my early life.

With the loss of so many of the great old buildings in the down town area, its great to see this one stand the test of time. I see the Skirvin as a real show piece, we will see it as the center of some great future events.

The official date for the grand opening was announced today at the OKC 29 Rotary luncheon. The Skirivn will open on February 26, 2007. The representative for the group restoring it said it is practically finished now, but there will still be a lot to do before opening.

Cool. I'm getting married that weekend. Perhaps we can be the first to stay there then!

Anybody know who is planning to operate the 'signature restaurant' on the ground floor?

It was beautiful space even before the renovation... Sure to be a very special place to dine.

To my knowledge, they haven't announced it yet. It could be their own management group. It's not a "boutique hotel" that is locally owned like the Colcord with Paul Coury and their restaurant Soleil with the Bouthions.

Just got this breaking email from OKCBusiness.com. I'm sure the Daily Disappointment will cover it Thursday.

Skirvin Hilton sets opening date: Feb. 26
By Heidi Rambo Centrella - 1/9/2007


The date is officially set. The 95-year-old, historic Skirvin Hilton will reopen Feb. 26 after undergoing a $55 million renovation.


“That is our day, and we should make that pretty easily at this point,” said General Manager John Williams. “It’s always a horse race at the end and lots of things are still flying in…but I feel very confident that the hotel will be finished, open and operating at a 99-percent level on Feb. 26.”


Williams made the announcement Jan. 9 at the Rotary Club of Oklahoma City meeting.


Furthermore, he announced the hotel will employ an estimated 200 people and will begin hiring at a job fair scheduled from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Jan. 22-27 at the Santa Fe Parking Garage.


The hotel will boast 225 rooms, to include 20 one-bedroom suites, a presidential suite and approximately 18,500 square feet of space comprised of six meeting rooms for larger functions, with capacity for 410 or fewer people, and four board rooms, with capacity for 34 or fewer people.


Rooms, he said, will feature all the bells and whistles from a technology standpoint - to include heated mirrors in the bathrooms. And the 1,800-square-foot health club and swimming pool will be located in the basement.


Room rates will be at the higher end of the Oklahoma City market, around $189-$199 per night for a standard guest room.


“But, you’ve got to keep in mind that the hotel business is a business of supply and demand,” Williams said. “When the market is busy, prices go up. And when the market is not busy, prices go down. But our intent is to operate at a four-star, four-diamond level…and I think people will find great value at that price point.”


The Red Piano lounge will provide live music six nights a week, Williams said, adding that it will be a “very sophisticated, very upscale lounge experience.”


The Park Avenue Grill, he promised, will not be a “stuffy, snooty, formal hotel restaurant.”


“It’s a grill,” he said. “It’s straight-up American cuisine with an Oklahoma twist and a little bit of a Southwestern influence for lunch and dinner.”


Williams said he hopes to hold a grand opening the day prior to its official opening, but that has yet to be confirmed.


Later this week, he said, the Hilton Web site should be reconfigured to show availability for booking during the March Big 12 men’s and women’s basketball tournaments, however, as of the time of announcement, the Web site still showed reservations are not being accepted until May.


“That’s the plan,” he said. “Hopefully, by the end of the week, you’ll be able to go to the Hilton 800 number or the Hilton.com Web site and book us for Big 12.”


To date, Williams said the hotel already has between 131-133 rooms booked by teams and for associated meeting planners.


“The pre-booking has been great,” he said. “And our wedding activity has been phenomenal. It’s amazing how many people want to have their wedding receptions here.”


Plans also include one small “high-end, upscale” retail shop. However, because the lease has not yet been fully executed, he could not disclose the name of the tenant.


Meeting space at the Skirvin Hilton consists of 18,500 square feet, including:


Meeting Rooms

The Grand Ballroom: Capacity, 410

The Centennial Ballroom: Capacity, 140

Historic Venetian Room: Capacity, 180

Historic Continental Room: Capacity, 100

The Founders Room: 1,444 square feet

The Crystal Room: Capacity, 120


Board rooms

William Skirvin Room: Seats 17

Perle Mesta Room: Seats 14

Overholser Room: Seats 14

Hilton Honors Lounge: Seats 34

Ante rooms for private meeting and billiards room


Pamela Grady contributed to this report.



OKCBusiness is celebrating Oklahoma's Centennial with a Centennial Web Special! Get 100 days of online promotion for $1000. Contact jlynn@okcbusiness.com


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OKCBusiness, Copyright © 2007, All Rights Reserved.

Room rates will be at the higher end of the Oklahoma City market, around $189-$199 per night for a standard guest room.

That's very reasonable for such a nice, full-service hotel.

However, I bet there won't be many days available at that rate, as demand is sure to be very high.


I absolutely can't wait to see the lobby, the meeting rooms (epspecially the big one on the top floor), the restaurant and the lounge. This is going to be one of the best things to happen OKC in a while.

The Red Piano lounge will provide live music six nights a week, Williams said, adding that it will be a “very sophisticated, very upscale lounge experience.”


The Park Avenue Grill, he promised, will not be a “stuffy, snooty, formal hotel restaurant.”


“It’s a grill,” he said. “It’s straight-up American cuisine with an Oklahoma twist and a little bit of a Southwestern influence for lunch and dinner.”


For our grand historic hotel, I actually would want something snooty and stuffy. I understand wanting to appeal to a wide range of diners, but come on, this is supposed to be OKC's best. This isn't the Marriott on Northwest Experessway or Meridian, it should be the pinnacle of culinary hospitality. The "signature restaurant" should be more than what can be normally found elsewhere in the city. We'll see; I like that it is Oklahoman and Southwestern. I like the description of the piano lounge as well.

Cool. I'm getting married that weekend. Perhaps we can be the first to stay there then!


No kidding? Congratulations, Metro!

---------------------------------------------

Thanks writewranger.

Ahem. I recall someone on the Tulsa Now forum in 2004 told me they doubt the Skirvin project would ever get off the ground, and that the Mayo in Tulsa would be reopened as a hotel before the Skirvin.

Umm... HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !

For our grand historic hotel, I actually would want something snooty and stuffy.

I agree, floater.

If the Skirvin is to be the best hotel in town (and perhaps the entire state) why not have an upscale restaurant?

There are tons of casual dining options very near the hotel -- we need more nice places.

well said floater and Malibu, we don't need another casual restaurant, we need more snooty high style places to raise our outsider image. what better place to raise that image than a high end hotel where outsiders will be staying.

Look for the upscale boutique to be a local upscale player...

*cough*Balliet's*cough* ;)

Interesting. They have a location at the Broadmoor in Colorado Springs I believe.

Skirvin Hilton slates Feb. 26 opening day

By Steve Lackmeyer
Business Writer

Reservations won't be available for another week, but the general manager of the Skirvin Hilton promised Tuesday the landmark will celebrate its grand opening Feb. 26.
General Manager John Williams also hinted to the Oklahoma City Rotary Club the hotel may entertain an open house the day before the opening — if arrangements can be made with the Hilton Hotel Corp.

"This is a Hilton brand standard: a representative of the Hilton Hotel Corporation has to be actually standing in the hotel, inspecting it, doing a final walk though the morning we open,” Williams said. "I can't open the hotel unless they are with me. It's one of the things they do to protect their brand, and if I owned the brand, I would do the same thing.”

Williams said the Hilton reservations system is expected to start taking reservations within the next week for the Big 12 Basketball Tournament in March.

He also announced the hotel will seek to fill more than 200 positions with a job fair Jan. 22 through Jan. 27 at the adjoining Santa Fe Plaza.

Roy Williams, president of the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber, praised the effort, calling the Skirvin "the most stunning” hotel to be opened downtown. He reminded Rotary members downtown was home to only one hotel seven years ago.

He said the Skirvin played a key role in the city luring the Big 12 tournament and its expected fan base of thousands to downtown's Ford Center and the Cox Convention Center.

"Instead of one hotel to choose from, you will soon have six with more than 1,400 rooms,” Roy Williams said.

The Skirvin is a historic downtown landmark, opened in 1911 and closed in 1988. A $55 million renovation started in 2005 includes a restoration of the facade, lobby and 14th floor Venetian and Continental banquet rooms. All of the room floors were gutted, and contractors replaced all electrical, plumbing, heating and air systems.

Construction was evident throughout the hotel after John Williams' speech. Restoration and duplication of mosaic tiling in the hotel's old coffee shop appeared complete Tuesday, though workers still were completing the future dining room and kitchen. Several of the room floors were virtually complete, and John Williams reported furniture will arrive later this month.

"People don't understand how these things come together on the eleventh hour and 59th minute,” John Williams said. "It's a horse race. We're there.”

I would love to check out the open house if they do it.

General Manager John Williams also hinted to the Oklahoma City Rotary Club the hotel may entertain an open house the day before the opening — if arrangements can be made with the Hilton Hotel Corp.

Not to rain on the parade as I am excited about this as everybody else, but maybe Hilton should be reminded about how many MILLIONS of dollars that taxpayers put into this project. I would think - at the least - they can "arrange" an open house.

As an aside, there was a time when the idea of taxpayer funds going to things like hotel renovations for a private interest would have been looked on as scandolous. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad the Skirvin is reopening, but wow, have things changed.
-------------------

If they have an open house can we get Paris Hilton there? Grrrrrrrrr!

Man I hope not traxx. cause that's not hot.

And I believe that the OKC Rotary met at the Skirvin before it closed, so its more of a welcome home for them so don't feel bad.

And I believe that they are supposed to be selling out rooms for March Madness as soon as they open, so they may not even have the place ready for an open house....just trying to make sure things are good for their first guests....hiring and training staff and getting the flow down and stuff.

It's been my very good fortune to be invited to tour the inside of the Skirvin Hilton on Friday, 1/26/07. A preliminary post in my blog about that is here ... hopefully there will be lots of pics that I can (with permission) post here over the weekend ... Doug Dawgz Blog: Skirvin Hilton Preview (http://dougdawg.blogspot.com/2007/01/skirvin-hilton-preview.html)

Sweet!

Even if you can't post pictures right away I really look forward to your update.

I was down there shooting some video this afternoon and it is looking so nice. Kudos to Marcus Hotels and their partners.

Skirvin taking shape
by Kelley Chambers
The Journal Record
1/26/2007


OKLAHOMA CITY – Exactly one month before its reopening, it is hard to find a nook or cranny at the Skirvin Hilton where someone is not engaged in some construction and restoration aspect of the nearly century-old hotel.

In a speech a few weeks ago, John Williams, the hotel’s general manager, announced that the hotel would officially open on Feb. 26 and that it would be about 99-percent ready at that point.

This week he said he’s sticking by that number.

“I always say 99 because something isn’t going to work,” he said. “Ninety-nine is a good number.”

Williams said work is progressing on schedule for the most part, despite delays caused by the recent winter weather.

He said while the weather halted exterior work, crews have been engaged in making up time to complete the entryway and sidewalk in front of the hotel.

The hotel, which is a Hilton Hotels Corp. franchise, must gain the approval and meet Hilton standards before it officially opens.

Williams said representatives from Hilton will come to the hotel Feb. 20 for a final architectural and design review. The final commission inspection of the hotel will happen the morning of Feb. 26 when the hotel is set to open.

Inside, the lobby is taking shape and both the Red Piano Lounge and the Park Avenue Grill on the lobby level are being set up with the necessary amenities.

In the kitchen, most of the equipment is in place and waiting to be hooked up.

Most of the guest room floors are also completed and awaiting furniture.

On the 14th floor, work is under way on two ballrooms including the Venetian Room, which is in the process of being repainted as workers install a handmade wood parquet floor.

Perhaps two of the biggest recent improvements include a working elevator and renovations to the basement level of the building.

In the basement, workers have taken an open cavernous space and put up walls for offices and the health club and restored the swimming pool and hot tub.

With everlasting thanks to Dan Mahoney who works with the Gooden Group public relations firm, my 1/26/2007 Skirvin Hilton tour was a thriller for me! My Skirvin Hilton Preview blog post, containing 56 images, is done: Doug Dawgz Blog: Skirvin Hilton Preview (http://dougdawg.blogspot.com/2007/01/skirvin-hilton-preview.html).

In the blog post, images are 490 px wide (like those shown below), but in the blog article you can click on such images for a larger view, usually 1024 px wide. I'm including a sampler of the 56 blog pics below, without other description here:


http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/skirvin/04entrancelookingups.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/skirvin/05entrancelookingups.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/skirvin/07entrancelookingwests.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/skirvin/09bredpianolounges.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/skirvin/10entrancelookingeasts.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/skirvin/11parkavegrills.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/skirvin/12parkavegrills.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/skirvin/15parkavegrills.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/skirvin/18elevators.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/skirvin/19elevators.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/skirvin/21secondfloors.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/skirvin/22ballroomentrys.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/skirvin/25mainballrooms.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/skirvin/26mainballrooms.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/skirvin/31venetians.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/skirvin/32venetians.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/skirvin/39eleventhfloors.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/skirvin/41eleventhfloors.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/skirvin/44presidentials.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/skirvin/46suites.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/skirvin/49suites.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/skirvin/54hottubs.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/skirvin/56pools.jpg

A gala grand opening will occur in late February, open to the public. Watch the news and BE THERE! And be sure to read tomorrow's (Sunday's) Oklahoman!

Thanks so much, Doug.

You can clearly see the amount of detail in the millwork and tile...

To me, this reopening will be the most important and exciting of everything that's taken place to date.

Thanks so much, Doug.

You can clearly see the amount of detail in the millwork and tile...

To me, this reopening will be the most important and exciting of everything that's taken place to date.

Yes, I agree. Have a look at these 1024 px wide views of the entrance to the Park Avenue Grill, the hotel's restaurant ...

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/skirvin/10entrancelookingeast.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/skirvin/10aentrancelookingeast.jpg

The Skirvin Hilton will clearly be the "class" of downtown hotels, and taking its rightful place as such, imo, but, more, it will bring our past forward to and join with our present and will tie it all together so wonderfully well! Bill Skirvin would be proud! No disrespect at all to the very fine Colcord Hotel, but there really is no comparison in a historical perspective. Talk about "Vanished Splendor"? The Skirvin Hilton tells us that that is NOT the case!

A gala "Grand Opening" is apparently planned, open to the public, with some "special" things happening at that time. I can't wait!

Can anyone say, Grandiose?

This will be a great way to impress all the Big XII big-wigs. Looks amazing!

Very nice Steve Lackmeyer articles in yesterday's and today's: Here's the link to today's article (http://www.newsok.com/article/3004872/?template=business/main)


Legacy that refused to end
Even at age 84, hotelier W.B. Skirvin was thinking about the future

By Steve Lackmeyer
Business Writer

W.B. Skirvin was ready to celebrate. At age 84, he was an hotelier, again.
For six years, he had been battling his children over control of his landmark Skirvin Hotel, and the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals had reversed an earlier ruling against him that had placed the hotel in receivership of a Dallas hotel operator.

Skirvin still had so many things left to finish. He had always planned to add another 14 floors to the Skirvin Tower. Maybe he could still convince family and friends to pool their resources for one last venture. They had accomplished so much together over the decades, including huge oil strikes at Spindle Top in Texas, starting a town from scratch, and of course, the hotel.

But on March 12, 1944, business would have to wait; Skirvin decided to join his friend, bar owner Earl Saxon, for a celebratory Sunday afternoon drive.

Heading west along NW 63 in Oklahoma City, their excursion was violently cut off by a hit-and-run driver who forced them off the road and into a creek bed near Grand Boulevard. Skirvin went through the windshield, leaving him badly injured with a cracked skull, broken ankle and fractured right arm. Skirvin's daughter, the internationally renown "hostess with the mostest,” Perle Mesta, rushed back to the city and discovered the old man stubbornly confident in his recovery.

"When I get out of this damn-fool place, I'm going to head straight for Arizona and get into the cattle business,” Skirvin told Mesta and sister Marguerite Tyson three days after the crash — according to Mesta's biography. Marguerite responded that a ranch was for sale next to one she owned along the Hassayampa River in Arizona. Skirvin's face brightened and he quizzed his son, William, about the property's geology. Maybe they would pool together their resources, and strike oil one more time.

Throughout his life, Skirvin was a risk-taker.

Skirvin was a farm-implements salesman from Michigan who created a new town, Alta Loma, about 18 miles north of Galveston. According to a published family history, Skirvin distributed pamphlets showing a big red strawberry to friends and families in "frozen” Michigan, inviting them to "the sunshine in Texas.”

Skirvin sought similar opportunities in Oklahoma Terrority when it was opened to settlement. He and his brother-in-law Orrin Shepherd boasted they rode "on top” of the first train car into Guthrie and staked some of the town's first lots.

"Father's 300-room hobby”
Just as Oklahoma was becoming a state, life for the Skirvin family was about to be turned upside down.

Skirvin's wife, Hattie, died and Perle was forced into the position of taking care of her younger siblings, Marguerite and William. And a call from Col. Ned Green, son of a New York financier, prompted Skirvin to consider venturing into the hotel business. Green had surveyed all of Oklahoma City and determined four lots owned by Skirvin at First (now Park Avenue) and Broadway would be the ideal site for a hotel.

"The offer was substantial and father was almost ready to agree to the sale when Green happened to mention that his mother planned to build the biggest hotel in Oklahoma City on the land,” Mesta later wrote. "When father heard this he immediately turned down the offer.”

"That Hetty Green is no dumbbell,” Skirvin told his daughter. "If she thinks that's a good site for a hotel, then it probably is.”

Skirvin called a friend, architect Solomon Layton, and within a week they were working on plans for a six-story hotel.

"One night in September, father went over to Sol Layton's office to celebrate the completion of the fifth floor framework,” Mesta wrote. "One drink led to another, and Sol kept insisting that at the rate Oklahoma City was growing, a six-story hotel would be far too small. By 3 a.m., father thought so, too, and the next day he increased his order to obtain enough of the Malakoff brick to cover eight stories.”

Several weeks later, the pair celebrated again with similar results. When the hotel opened, it was 10 stories high with two towers and 300 rooms.

Family strain
As time passed, Skirvin continued to add onto the hotel, increasing it to 14 floors and adding a third tower. Meanwhile, his daughters went abroad to seek their own fortunes while son William stayed close by to help oversee the hotel and oil interests.
Perle married wealthy businessman George Mesta. Marguerite went to New York and drew positive reviews as a stage and screen actress before abandoning acting and marrying Robert Adams. When that marriage ended in divorce, Marguerite returned home and lived at the hotel for several years with daughter, Betty.

"Granddad had a marvelous sense of humor,” Marguerite's daughter, Betty Ellis, said last week from her Maryland home. "He was always in the lobby, or in the coffee shop. He would say to run a hotel, it's important to know your guests.”

When Mesta returned to visit, the head-strong socialite sometimes clashed with her equally stubborn father.

"He referred to her as ‘the General,' which she didn't like at all,” Ellis said.

It was also Perle Mesta who filed the first lawsuit. The pair had invested together in oil fields in Oklahoma City in 1930 and discovered wells that had the potential of producing up to 40,000 barrels a day. But in 1944, Skirvin wanted to again expand the hotel — this time with a new tower across Broadway. He envisioned a 28-story tower, but construction was delayed years and the building was capped off at 14 floors as the economy worsened in the depth of the Depression.

Mesta wrote the lawsuits began with "heated and prolonged” arguments over Skirvin's desire to reinvest proceeds from their oil properties. He resented Mesta hiring an attorney to settle their disputes.

According to a 1949 Time article, heirs may also have been concerned that Skirvin had plans to divert their inheritance to a personal secretary. Skirvin lost the first round of court battles, and the hotel was placed into receivership while the dispute was to be heard at the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Time reported one judge lectured the entire clan: "You Skirvins ought to be ashamed of yourselves.”

The 10th U.S. Circuit judges' ruling, issued on March 11, 1944, rejected arguments W.B. Skirvin, and his advanced age, was responsible for the hotel's misfortunes a decade earlier, and noted the entire economy was depressed throughout the 1930s.

"Age alone of an owner or manager of a property is not enough to warrant the appointment of a receiver or the continuation of an existing receivership,” the judges stated. "W.B. Skirvin is more than 80 years of age and if the properties are restored their owners, he may again become the active manager.”

Lying in his hospital bed, Skirvin showed no animosity toward the children he just vanquished in court. Mesta's biography said she begged for forgiveness, her sister, Marguerite, and brother William at her side.

"I've forgiven you,” she quoted him as saying. "There's nothing but love in my heart for all three of you children; you're all I have.”

Two weeks after the crash, Skirvin was dead. Despite never having taken an interest in religion, he had struck up a friendship with William Alexander, the minister at First Christian Church. The minister spoke at the funeral of Skirvin's generosity, his spirit and wit. And he shared how Skirvin — dying — demanded a nurse help him shave so he could take her out for a night on the town.

"As Reverend Bill told the story, many of the people in the chapel nodded their heads,” Mesta wrote. "Yes, indeed, this was their old friend Bill Skirvin speaking — himself to the end.”

Yesterday's article: Here's the link (http://www.newsok.com/article/3004696/)


Former workers return to hotel
Skirvin hires more than 200 at job fair

By Steve Lackmeyer
Business Writer

Ronda Smith has been waiting years for the moment to apply for a job at the Skirvin Hilton and a chance to return to the kitchen where she first got the "bug” to be in food service operations.

With the hotel's job fair ending today, 232 have been hired after being interviewed personally by General Manager John Williams. Two of those hires — Smith and Larry McNeal — are well acquainted with the 96-year-old downtown landmark.

McNeal worked at the hotel in 1969 while in high school as a busboy, and then between 1979 and 1981 in the banquet department. He will be returning as the hotel's morning banquet captain.

Smith, on the job Friday, was a teenage room-service clerk and cashier, and was at her post when the hotel closed in 1988.

Rumors abounded that year the hotel was in distress.

"There were employees who would say to cash your check quickly, or it wouldn't clear,” Smith said. "One morning they called everybody into the ballroom and said the hotel was closing ... the staff was in tears.

"There's nothing like the atmosphere downtown at night, the lights down, employees in the kitchen joking with each other, and then it's a performance in the dining room,” Smith said. "There was an ambiance you don't see in this city.”

Smith, who later worked with parents managing McDonald's restaurants in Yukon and at various banquet operations, said she began eyeing opportunities to return to the Skirvin several years ago when city leaders first looked at how to reopen the hotel.

She first contacted Williams' office in September, and was in line at the job fair Monday morning at Santa Fe Plaza.

Now she's facing a full calendar of events that include 50 weddings, and is impressed with the $54 million renovation.

"It's amazing what they've done,” Smith said. "It's still beautiful.”

Retail has been announced for the Skirvin, I think they could/should of done better. She has a shop in Bricktown already that only appeals to a certain niche, don't flood the market, plus she might scare people away with her clown costume.


Painted Door will open in Skirvin Hilton
By Heidi Rambo Centrella - 2/1/2007


It’s official. The boutique gift shop opening in the Skirvin Hilton this month has been decided.


Avis Scaramucci will open a second Painted Door just a few blocks away from her existing location, which will have opened almost two years ago to the day, Feb. 11, 2005.


Leasing approximately 500 square feet in the historic hotel, Scaramucci says she will offer some of the same merchandise as is already available at her current space, but also will offer exclusive Skirvin merchandise to her new inventory. Said items include the Skirvin bed throw with its history and photo weaved into the fabric.


Scaramucci also will offer a line of jewelry not available in her current location, in addition to clothing and made-in-Oklahoma products, which are available in the Bricktown store.


“I can’t think of a more opportune time to show some of the wonderful things that we in Oklahoma do in such a famous hotel, and we’re blessed to have that reopening occurring when it’s our 100-year birthday,” she said. “What a better time?”


While Scaramucci would not disclose the dollar amount attached to the build-out and inventory of her Skirvin boutique, she did confirm it would be a considerable financial commitment.


“I have already made such a financial commitment to Oklahoma City in the business that I currently do, and I have seen what I have done grow, and I see Oklahoma City continuing to grow, so there was really not any hesitation to continue investing in our city,” she said. “If I had had bad experiences, why would I have moved forward? So this is just a continued investment of money, my heart and my time.


“And this is a unique opportunity unlike any other retail opportunity in the entire metro area because there is just one Skirvin.”


The new Painted Door will employ three people and open the same day as the hotel, Feb. 26. Hours of operation will be 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and the boutique will be closed Sundays.


In addition to serving her local customers, Scaramucci says she looks forward to mingling with visitors to the Oklahoma City area.


“All of my career, I’ve never had the opportunity to be right there in place among the traveler in our city,” she said. “Although I believe there will be lots of locals in that hotel because it’s such a local memory and everybody is so excited about it and will be glad to once again come to the Skirvin, the traveler will be staying there in the rooms. So I’ll be right there in the middle.”

Somebody had metioned Balliets and that would have been a great fit IMO.

They could easily just sell perfumes, some jewerly and some clothing gift items. I wonder if they ever seriously considered it.

Oh well. Seems like if there's just one retail space it should just be gift shop, as opposed to a clothing store like Balliets.

What were you hoping for, Metro?

Thanks, Doug. I can't wait to see the place fully furnished. As for The Painted Door, a gift shop is appropriate, but I hope she stocks more merchandise for men, MIO products, and some OKC clothing that actually looks good. A magazine stand would with nice vending goods and traveler necessities would also be in order.

I hope the MIO stuff and Oklahoma souveniers are not trashy or cheesy. That wouldn't fit The Skirvin or it's guests.

Somebody had metioned Balliets and that would have been a great fit IMO.

They could easily just sell perfumes, some jewerly and some clothing gift items. I wonder if they ever seriously considered it.

That was the early word that I heard mumblings of...

I'm sure the Skirvin Painted Door will be very nice, as is everything Avis is a part of.

There is room under the Skirven in the Underground. However, the Skirven has no plans to reopen this area. I think they should put Starbucks, a gift shop, and a high-end clothing store in this space. Good for business in the Underground, the Skirven, and the Business District.

Eh, I'm pretty sure they've converted it to office space for the hotel, and I doubt a high end clothing store wants to locate in the basement of a hotel. A basement's a basement no matter how much you fix it up. Nowhere near enough visibility for something like that. Little cafes and shop are one thing, but we won't see high-end retail in the Underground any time soon.

There is room under the Skirven in the Underground. However, the Skirven has no plans to reopen this area. I think they should put Starbucks, a gift shop, and a high-end clothing store in this space. Good for business in the Underground, the Skirven, and the Business District.
The Skirvin's offices, pool, hot tub, and workout rooms are located in the basement. I don't remember seeing any unused space.

Ok, well it could have changed since I read that about 4 months ago. It could be office space now. I don't know.

ETL, I'm pretty sure that I showed these in my post last Saturday. Here's the basement, again.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/skirvin/52basementofficess.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/skirvin/51basementofficess.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/skirvin/54hottubs.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/skirvin/56pools.jpg

Not shown are workout rooms and locker areas and a shower or 2, I think. Larger images are available in my blog post.

Ok, thanks.