Property Description

First as the Grunewald, then as The Roosevelt and now The Fairmont New Orleans, the legendary hotel has created an enduring tradition of hospitality in New Orleans. The tradition began in 1893, when the Grunewald Hotel, a 200-room, six-story hotel named for owner Louis Grunewald, opened on Baronne Street near the fabled French Quarter. Grunewald added a 400-room, 14-story annex in 1908, now the hotel's main entrance. He also opened what is believed to be America's first nightclub. Called The Cave, this subterranean supper club featured waterfalls, stalactites and chorus girls dancing to Dixieland jazz. The hotel was later sold to a syndicate of New Orleans business leaders who renamed the hotel The Roosevelt in honour of Theodore Roosevelt. During this period, the hotel acquired the rights to the Ramos Gin Fizz, as well as the Sazerac Cocktail, a creation of The Fairmont New Orleans' Sazerac Restaurant and Bar. During its reign as The Roosevelt, the hotel flourished under the leadership of owner and general manager, Seymour Weiss. Weiss was an elegant Cajun who became friends with famed politician Huey P. Long. Long established his campaign headquarters in the hotel and moved in shortly after winning the election. Governor Long spent so much time at the hotel, Louisiana lore has it that he even built a 90-mile highway directly from the state capital in Baton Rouge to The Roosevelt. Even today, a right turn upon leaving the hotel will put you on Highway 61 straight to Baton Rouge. The Roosevelt became known as The Fairmont New Orleans in 1965. The Fairmont New Orleans continued the tradition of a grand hotel, pampering its guests with gracious hospitality. Adding to its already colourful history, the hotel served as the inspiration for Arthur Hailey's best-selling novel Hotel. Employees at the hotel during that era remembered Hailey taking copious notes throughout the hotel and could even identify some of the characters written about in the novel.