“Look up,” I hear a woman say as we walk into the grand lobby of Hotel Bentley in Alexandria, Louisiana. She was talking to her companion, but I looked, too, and saw a grand crystal chandelier— not one, but several lighting the 10,000-square-foot lobby.
Legend has it that the hotel, constructed in 1907 by Joseph Bentley, began when Bentley was turned down for a room at the former Ice House Hotel. So, he built his own, much more elegant than the Ice House Hotel. A native of Pennsylvania, Bentley made his fortune in the Central Louisiana lumber industry.
The hotel opened August 10, 1908. For Bentley, this wasn’t enough. In 1933, he built an eight-story wing, adding 80 rooms and a residence for himself, a large apartment on one of the top floors.
After I registered, I proceeded past several WWII displays to the elevator. I would later find my answer as to why they were here from a historical plaque in front of the hotel.
Central Louisiana was chosen for 1941 military maneuvers to prepare American forces for possible involvement in war in Europe—the training of approximately 400,000 troops. The Army conducted smaller-scale maneuvers in 1942 and 1943. The 1944 exercises were canceled to allow troops to participate in the D-Day invasion of Europe.
Dwight Eisenhower and George Patton were two of the military personnel headquartered at the hotel.
My room, as you can imagine, was beautiful. It has, after all, been considered one of Central Louisiana’s finest hotels since it began accepting guests.
The history and traditions of the Hotel Bentley are steeped in gracious hospitality. It is easy to recommend this opulent hotel for your business and pleasure home away from home.
For more information about the hotel or to make a reservation, click here. For more information about Alexandria and nearby Pineville and all their many attractions, click here.
