Call 936-336-3832 to make your reservation TODAY
Reserve Your Haunted Room Today!
The Haunted
Historic Ott Hotel
UPSTAIRS HAPPENINGS
Fall 2002
WHEN THE UPSTAIRS WAS
CLOSED FOR REMODELING,
SEVERAL OF THE DOWN
STAIRS GUEST COMPLAINED
ABOUT THE UPSTAIRS DOORS
SLAMMING ALL HOURS OF
THE NIGHT. THEY ALSO
REPORTED HEARING LOUD
ARGUMENTS BETWEEN A MAN
AND A WOMEN. THEY ALSO
REPORTED THAT DURING
THIS TIME THERE WAS HEAVY
WALKING AND LOUD
KNOCKING. THE DOOR WAY
LEADING TO THE UPSTAIRS
STAIRCASE WAS PADLOCKED
AFTER HOURS DURING THE
RENOVATION. AFTER
SEVERAL TRIPS TO CHECK
THE UPSTAIRS BY THE
MANAGEMENT, THEY FOUND
OPEN DOORS AND NO ONE
ON THE SECOND FLOOR.
MANAGER STELLA
GUEST EDWARD
GUEST TINA
Owner Kelly D.
Reported that on one afternoon
while working on the renovation
he saw a floating half body of a
lady wearing a white night gown
towards the eastern end of the
upstairs.
MANAGER SUSAN
REPORTED THAT ONE
EVENING WHILE SITTING
DOWN STAIRS SHE KEPT
HEARING WALKING IN THE
ROOM ABOVE HER.( WHICH
HAPPENS TO BE THE ROOM
AT THE TOP OF THE
STAIRCASE). THIS ROOM WAS
VACANT AT THIS TIME. NO
ONE SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN
THIS ROOM. SUSAN WENT TO
CHECK THE ROOM AND ALL
WAS FINE. ABOUT AN HOUR
LATER MANAGER SUSAN
HEARD THE CHAIR SCRAP
AGAINST THE FLOOR AND
THE SOUND OF GLASS
BREAKING. ONCE AGAIN
MANAGER CHECKED THE
ROOM. ALL WAS FINE. A
THIRD TIME MANAGER HEARD
LOUD ARGUMENT AND HEAVY
FOOT STEPS IN THE ROOM
ABOVE HER. THIS TIME
MANAGER TIPTOED UP THE
STAIRCASE AND LISTENED TO
THE HEATED ARGUMENT
COMING FROM THE ROOM.
WHEN SHE OPENED THE
DOOR TO THE ROOM ALL
WAS SILENT.
GUEST JACKIE
REPORTED THAT A MAN WAS
STANDING AT THE END OF
HER BED EVERY NIGHT OF
HER STAY.
GUEST RAY
REPORTED THAT WHILE
LIVING ON THE 1ST FLOOR
HE HEARD A WOMEN'S VOICE
AND DOOR KNOCKING FROM
THE ROOM ABOVE. THE
ROOM WAS EMPTY AT THE
TIME.
GUEST ZACK
REPORTED A SHADOW
WOULD APPEAR ACROSS HIS
ROOM . THE LIGHTS IN THE
ROOM WOULD FLICKER OFF
AND ON.
GUEST LEROY
REPORTED THAT THE
BATHROOM DOOR IN HIS
ROOM WOULD OPEN AND
CLOSE ALL BY ITS SELF.
GUEST JOSE
REPORTED THAT SOMEONE
WAS IN HIS ROOM. JOSE
COULD SMELL THE PERSON
BUT NOTHING WAS MISSING.
GUEST OF A GUEST
SMALL 6 YEAR OLD BOY
CAME WITH HIS PARENTS TO
PICK UP HIS GRANDPARENT
THAT WERE STAYING AT THE
HOTEL.. AS THE BOY AND HIS
MOTHER WALKED DOWN THE
SECOND FLOOR HALLWAY
THE SMALL BOY TOLD HIS
MOTHER ABOUT THE DARK
FIGURE WALKING DOWN THE
HALLWAY BEHIND THEM. THE
MOTHER DID NOT SEE
ANYONE. THE SMALL BOY
TELLS HIS GRANDMOTHER
ABOUT THE SCARY MAN IN
THE HALLWAY. THE GRAND
MOTHER BROUGHT THE BOY
TO THE MANAGER TO
REPORT THE SIGHTING.
THE SECURITY VIDEO TAPE
OF THE UP STAIRS HALLWAY
AND STAIRCASE DOOR.
SHOWS THAT THE
STAIRCASE DOOR WILL BE
SHUT AND NO ONE WILL BE IN
THE HALL AND THE DOOR
WILL OPEN AND CLOSE IT
SELF ALL HOURS OF THE DAY
AND NIGHT.
THE SECURITY AUDIO TAPE
FROM UPSTAIRS HALLWAY
HAS RECORDED VOICES AND
ARGUMENTS IN THE
HALLWAY, BUT NO ONE IS IN
THE HALL NOR ARE THE
ROOMS BY THE CAMERAS
OCCUPIED.
DOWNSTAIRS DRAMA
GUEST GENTLEMAN
REPORTED THAT WHILE HE
WAS PLAYING WITH HIS NEW
CELL PHONE/CAMERA HE
ACCIDENTALLY SNAPPED A
PICTURE OF THE WALL.
WHILE LOOKING AT THE
PICTURE HE NOTICE A FIGURE
OF A WELL DRESSED LADY
APPEARING IN FRONT OF
THE WALL. SEEING THAT HE
WAS BY HIMSELF AT THE
TIME, HE CAME TO THE
OFFICE WITH HIS CELL/PHONE
CAMERA VERY UPSET AND
SHOWED SEVERAL GUESTS
AND THE MANAGEMENT THE
PHOTO ON THIS PHONE. THE
MANAGEMENT TRIED TO
DOWNLOAD THE CELL PHONE
PICTURE TO THE OFFICE
COMPUTER BUT IT DID NOT
WORK. SO A GUEST
( WHO IS A COMPUTER GUY)
TRIED TO DOWNLOAD IT TO
HIS CELL PHONE BUT IT ALSO
DID NOT WORK. TWO DAYS
LATER SOMETIME IN THE
MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT SAID
TENANT, HIS WIFE, AND
DAUGHTER LEFT. LEAVING
ALL THEIR POSSESSIONS,
FOOD, AND CLOTHING.
MRS. SUSAN, ZACK, MR.
WILLIAM
WHILE RENOVATING A
DOWNSTAIRS APARTMENT
MRS. SUSAN ZACK, AND MR.
WILLIAM REPORTED SEEING
A HALF BODY APPARITION OF
A MAN WEARING A BLUE
SHIRT. THE GHOST CAME
THROUGH THE KITCHEN.
ZACK SAW HIM FIRST AND DID
A DOUBLE TAKE, MRS. SUSAN
ASKED DID HE SEE WHAT SHE
THOUGHT SHE SAW ? . ZACK
REPLIED HE THOUGHT HE DID.
HE ASKED WHAT DID SHE
SEE? MRS. SUSAN REPLIED
THAT SHE SAW A NICE
LOOKING MAN IN A BLUE
SHIRT WITH NO LEGS. ZACK
TURNED PALE BECAUSE HE
SAW THE SAME THING.
1983 - 2001 OTT HOTEL MANAGERS: JIM & VIRGINA
REPORTED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS HEARING LOUD ARGUMENTS IN THE UPSTAIRS
HALLWAY. KNOCKING ON DOORS ALL HOURS OF THE NIGHT. MRS. VIRGINIA HAS
REPORTED TO BE AN EYE WITNESS TO A TALL FIGURE WITH A BLACK HAT AND COAT IN
THE STAIRCASE AS WELL AS THE UPSTAIRS HALLWAY. BOTH JIM & VIRGINIA HAVE
REPORTED SEEING A YOUNG WOMEN IN A WHITE GOWN STANDING AT THE TOP OF THE
STAIRCASE. SEVERAL REPORTS FROM RESIDENTS TO THE MANAGERS OVER THE
YEARS INCLUDE: DOOR KNOCKING ALL HOURS OF THE NIGHT, ARGUMENTS IN THE HALL,
AS WELL AS DOOR SLAMMING.
19830
1990 - 2002 MANAGER STELLA
REPORTED A MAN STANDING IN THE HALLWAY UPSTAIRS LATE AT NIGHT. STELLA
STATED THAT SHE WAS COMING DOWN THE HALLWAY AND CAME FACE TO FACE WITH
A FIGURE OF A TALL MAN IN BLACK. IT HAS BEEN REPORTED TO MANAGER STELLA
THAT A COOL MIST WAS IN THE STAIRCASE . THIS WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF AUGUST
WHEN IT WAS TOO HOT FOR MIST.
GUEST TINA
REPORTED TO MANAGER SHE HAD SEEN A GREY/BLACK MIST IN THE STAIRWAY HALL.
GUEST LINDA REPORTED NOISES AND HEAVY WALKING IN THE UPSTAIRS HALLWAY.
GUEST MARY
REPORTED SEEING A TALL BLACK MAN AT THE FOOT OF HER BED. NOT JUST ONCE
BUT THREE DIFFERENT TIMES.
GUEST ALANNA
REPORTED KNOCKING ON HER DOOR AND WALL WAS KEEPING HER AWAKE. HER
ROOM WAS UPSTAIRS. NO ONE WAS IN THE HALL OR OCCUPYING THE ROOM WHERE
THE KNOCKING WAS COMING FROM AT THE TIME.
GUEST GLORIA REPORTED TO THE OFFICE THAT PEOPLE WHERE TALKING OUTSIDE
HER ROOM ALL HOURS OF THE NIGHT. BUT WHEN SHE WENT TO OPEN THE DOOR
EACH TIME NO ONE WAS THERE.
GUEST KATHY
REPORTED TO THE MANAGEMENT THERE WAS TALKING, WALKING, AND SLAMMING
DOORS IN THE HALL. WAY AND UPON INVESTIGATING NO ONE WAS IN THE HALL..
GUEST ROBERT
REPORTED HEAR A GUN SHOT BLAST OUTSIDE HIS DOOR. HE JUMPED UP TO SEE IF
SOMEONE WAS HURT BUT NO ONE WAS IN THE HALL.
GUEST BRANDI
REPORTED SOMEONE KNOCKING ON HER DOOR. WHEN SHE CHECKED ONE IN THE
HALL.
GUEST JOSE
REPORTED THAT ON THE SAME DAY JUST AS REPORTED EARLIER BY GUEST ROBERT
HE TOO HEARD A GUN SHOT IN THE UPSTAIRS HALL BY THE STAIRCASE.
DAUGHTER OF THE OWNERS, MARINA RAE
REPORTED TO THE OFFICE LOUD NOISES IN THE HALL ANS LOUD VOICES IN THE
UPSTAIRS HALL.(that 's you babe)
GUEST JIMMY AND PATTY
REPORTED TO THE MANAGER THAT THERE WAS A COUPLE, A MAN AND A WOMEN
FIGHTING IN THE HALL WAY UPSTAIRS. BUT WHEN THEY WENT TO SEE WHAT THE
PROBLEM WAS NO ONE WAS IN THE HALL.
GUEST KATHY REPORTED SHE WAS STANDING BY HER HEATER WHEN A VERY HARD ,
LOUD KNOCK WAS HEARD ON HER DOOR, SHE WENT TO ANSWER THE DOOR AND NO
ONE WAS IN THE HALL.
GUEST BRANDI
REPORTED SEEING A LITTLE MAN IN THE HOTEL COFFEE SHOP. HE WALKED BEHIND
THE COUNTER AND DISAPPEARED INTO THE WALL BY THE COFFEE CUPS.
GUEST JAN
REPORTED TO THE OFFICE THAT WHEN SITTING IN HER ROOM WATCHING TV SHE FELT
A HAND ON HER SHOULDER. MRS. JAN ALSO REPORTED THAT SOMETHING WOULD SIT
ON THE SIDE OF HER BED. ALONG WITH THE DOOR KNOCKING AND THE ARGUMENT S IN
THE HALL WAY.
GUEST KIMBERLY
REPORTED TO THE OFFICE THAT FOR THE PAST SEVERAL NIGHTS SOMEONE IS
BEATING ON HER DOOR. SHE ANSWERS THE DOOR BUT NO ONE IS THERE.
GUEST RACHEL & CODY
REPORTED TO THE MANAGER THAT WHILE IN THE OTT COFFEE SHOP THEY BOTH SAW
AN IMAGE OF A MAN HANGING BY A NOOSE IN THE DOORWAY OF THE COFFEE SHOP.
GUEST JONATHAN
REPORTED TO THE OFFICE THAT ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS HE HAS BEEN
AWAKENED BY KNOCKING AT HIS ROOM DOOR EARLY IN THE AM HOURS. MR.
MARKHAM OPENS THE DOOR NO ONE IN THE HALLWAY.
THE HOTEL CUSTODIAN MR. WILLIAM, MS. AMANDA , AND MRS. SUSAN
ALL REPORTED THAT THEY HEARD THE BACK FIRE DOOR SLAM OPEN. MRS. SUSAN
WENT TO SHUT THE DOOR. WHEN SHE RETURNED FROM SHUTTING THE DOOR TO THE
LOBBY OF THE HOTEL, THE THREE HEARD THE DOOR SLAM HARD ONCE AGAIN.
AMANDA SAID SHE SAW A MAN IN A BLUE SHIRT WALK AROUND THE CORNER TOWARD
THE FIRE DOOR. MR. WILLIAM RAN DOWN THE HALL TO THE DOWNSTAIRS FIRE DOOR.
MRS. SUSAN RAN UP THE FRONT STAIRCASE AND OUT THE UPSTAIRS FIRE DOOR TO
FIND THE MAN IN THE BLUE SHIRT, BUT TO NO AVAIL . STILL NO MAN TO BE FOUND IN
THE BLUE SHIRT.
ONCE AGAIN FOR THE THIRD TIME SAME OUTCOME.
More Eyewitness Accounts of
the Strange and Unusual.
CHECK THIS OUT
Watch the orb progress right to left in these three pictures.
The orb starts out to the far right in the hallway and as the sequence of the
shots progress the orb makes it way to the left wall. The space of time in
the three shots is about 3 minutes.
Pause for ORBS....
Can you find the ORBS ?
These are actual eyewitness accounts from residents from the Historic Ott
Hotel. Strange phenomenon continues all the time. Most of the residents say
it actually doesn't bother them. Most will admit it's the live ones you have to
be afraid of, not the ghosts.
March 2007 - An older man and a younger man visited the Hotel one afternoon and brought
their digital recorded and were being shown around by Mrs. Susan They were upstairs in the
hallway talking about the lovers murder and recording the conversation, When the tour was
over they went home to check out their recording. While listening they heard a man's voice in
the background calling to the younger man " Justin, you're gonna like it here?" Mrs. Susan
was not even aware of the younger mans name.
April 2007, Four guest of rooms 214 & 216 came with digital cameras ans evp recorders and
elctro-magnetic sensors and booked the rooms for the weekend to do some Ghostbusting.
The elctro-magnetic reading were off the wall the readings can be altered by microwaves or
cellphones, The time was 2:30am and the cellphones were off. While taking readings in room
216, one of the female team members reached under the bed and claimed that a cold hand
touched her, She FREAKED OUT !!!! They checked out the next morning..
Jan. 20070
Two investigators heard about the Ott Hotel and came
for a tour of the building. While on the tour the older man
was standing in the back hall way and he was pushed.
Manager asked him to move to the other wall. As the manager
and guest investigators where walking back from the back of the
building they stopped to talk in the hall way where the man was
pushed once again.
Guest Zachary
Jan. 2007
Reports that he was walking down the staircase and he felt
someone pull his coat. He turned to made sure his coat was
not caught on anything. It was not. He started down the stairs
again and he felt his coat being pulled back up the stairs.
most recent eyewitness
accounts of the
unusual.
ROOM 109 A VERY WELL DRESSED RED HEADED LADY FROM ABOUT NINETEEN THIRTY. HAS BEEN SEEN IN THE LIVING ROOM OF THIS APARTMENT. THIS ROOM ALSO HAS ONE CONFORMED DEATH.
SEVERAL GUEST IN THIS ROOM DO NOT STAY LONG. SOME LEAVE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. MOST ALL LONG TERM GUEST IN THIS ROOM DON'T LIVE HERE FOR LONG.
ROOM 103 GUEST OF THIS ROOM CAME TO THE OFFICE OF THE HOTEL TO TALK TO THE MANAGER. GUEST HAD HER BABY MONITOR WITH HER. HER BABY WAS ASLEEP IN THE ROOM. WHILE IN THE HOTEL OFFICE SPEAKING TO THE MANAGER A MANS VOICE WAS HEARD ON THE BABY MONITOR. THE GUEST AND MANAGER WENT TO THE ROOM TO CHECK ON THE BABY. NO ONE WAS IN THE ROOM AND THE BABY WAS STILL ASLEEP. A FEW MINUTES LATER GUEST AND MANAGER HEAR BABY AND A MAN TALKING ON THE MONITOR. ONCE AGAIN ROOM WAS CHECKED BABY WAS AWAKE.
ROOM 106 MALE GUEST STAYING IN THE ROOM REPORTED A WOMEN'S VOICE IN THE BATHROOM. GUEST SAID WOMEN WOULD TELL HIM HE DID NOT NEED A SHOWER.
FEMALE GUEST STAYING IN THIS ROOM REPORTED THAT WHILE GETTING READY FOR A SHOWER THE WATER IN THE SHOWER WOULD TURN OF. GUEST HEARD A WOMEN'S VOICE TELLING HER "NO WATER " GUEST TURNED AROUND TO SEE A YOUNG WOMEN IN A WHITE CORSET IN THE BATHROOM. MALE GUEST REPORTED WOMANS FIGURE IN WINDOW.
ROOM 203 REPEATED REPORTS OF LOUD BOOMS AND FOUL SMELLS ALWAYS AFTER MIDNIGHT IN THIS ROOM. BLACK SHADOWS IN CORNER OF ROOM. PHOTOS OF BLACK SHADOW IN THIS ROOM.
ROOM 204 REPEATED ORBS AND LITTLE GIRLS VOICE.
ROOM 212 VIDEO, EVP AND PICTURES OF STRANGE THINGS AND VOICES IN THIS ROOM. GUEST REPORTED SOUND OF COWBOY BOOTS WITH SPURS WALKING BY THE BED. GUEST REPORTED BLACK FIGURE STANDING AT END OF BED.
ROOM 205 SEVERAL REPORTS OF GLASS BREAKING AND ARGUING ALL HOURS OF THE NIGHT IN THIS ROOM.
ROOM 214 INVESTIGATORS REPORTED HIGH ENERGY WAVES IN THIS ROOM AS WELL AS COLD SPOTS. ONE PARANORMAL GROUP WAS STAYING IN THIS ROOM. THEY PLACED A RECORDING MACHINE UNDER THE BED. WHEN THEY WENT TO RETRIEVE THE MACHINE SOMETHING GRABBED THEIR ARM UNDER THE BED.
|
May 2007
During our most recent paranormal investigation The Haunted Historic Ott Hotel hosted the
Gulf Coast Paranormal Society to the haunted hotel.
Joel, Buddy, James & Dale were the investigators and they brought everything that is need
to "catch" a ghost. They had infrared video cameras, heat sensors, digital photo, recording
equipment and a lot of hopes of finding something worth while, And find it they did.
Around midnight the place started jumping. We turned off the hallway lights and talked to
the building, yes, I didn't studder. After that it was catch all the orbs you want. For the first
time ever we have documented video of activity in one of the rooms. The video and audio
recordings of that evening are being analyzed and we will definitely have them for you as
soon as they are made available to us. The whole night was one to remember. All it cost
them was their own time and fuel. If you would like to book a haunted tour just go to the
contact us link on our website and we will gladly set up a time for you to come and see what
ghost bustin' is all about. We stay booked up so if you plan to spend the evening make sure
to book way early.

At a time when the trains where moving west and a weary traveler wanted a good bed, a hot
meal, and a warm bath, the OTT Hotel meant civilization.
The OTT Hotel is the oldest remaining building on Travis Street in Liberty, Texas. Liberty is
located in the southern part of Liberty County at the gateway of the Big Thicket and Seven
Pines area.
Liberty Texas the home of the OTT Hotel is the third oldest city in Texas. Liberty, Texas was
established on March 30, 1831 five years before Texas declared it's independence from
Mexico. Liberty's original name under Mexican rule was "ATASCOSITO".
The land that the OTT Hotel sits on today was originally owned by Old Mexico.
The OTT Hotel was built in 1928 by contractor Eliza Burch. Eliza Burch died on November 11,
1957 in Liberty County. Mr. Burch built the OTT Hotel for Mr. John Joshua Ott and his wife
Mrs. Salie Wiggins Ott.
John Joshua Ott was born February 13, 1867 in Louisiana to Mr. Isxic Isaha Ott (father) and
Mrs. Sara Mizelle Ott (mother). Salie Wiggins Ott was born on May 22, 1874 in San Jacinto
County, Texas. Salie was six years old on the 1880 U.S.A. Census Report.
John and Salie where married in March 15, 1894.
John Joshua Ott was laid to rest on March 7, 1939 at Lourel Lynn Cemetery in Dallas, Texas.
Salie Wiggins Ott was laid to rest on July 18, 1963. She was buried next to her husband at the
Lourel Lynn Cemetery in Dallas, Texas.
In 1831, Mr. James B. Woods purchased block # 31 lot # 3 in the down town district of the City
of Liberty, Liberty County, Texas. In 1903 there was great excitement in Liberty over the
Batson oil boom. Tycoons ans oil speculators came from North,South, East, and West. There
was no train to Batson. It was located in the southwestern Hardin County, and Liberty was
one of the nearest train stops and the quickest route to the new discovery of "liquid gold".
The travel to and through Liberty was a sizable increase in local business for hotels,
restaurants, hacks and other enterprises. In 1914 B.M. O'Brien owned lot # 3 until 1919 when
Mr. E.W. Pickett also purchased part of block # 31 lot # 3. Both of these men held ownership
of this land until 1926. When Block # 31 lot # 3 was sold to Mr. A.L. Kayser.
On January 27, 1928 the land was purchased by Mr. John Joshua Ott and Mrs. Salie Ott. Then
block # 31 lot # 3 was cleared for construction of the Ott Hotel. An article was printed by The
Houston Press Newspaper out of Galveston, Texas along with a photo of the new "Modern"
50 room Ott Hotel on August 8, 1928. Showing the finishing touches to the front of the Ott
Hotel.
The Ott Hotel was built in 1928 because of the "boom town" growth Liberty and Liberty
County where experiencing. The population of Liberty was on the incline in 1920, with 1117
listed on the U.S. Census Report. In 1925 oil in commercial quantities was discovered in
South Liberty, centered on a high sandy ridge atop a coastal salt dome about four miles
south of the courthouse on the league of land granted by Mexican government to Matthew G.
White in 1831.Only a few landowners, including the Allen Barretts and the large Mitchell
family, lived in the area at the time, but within a few months at least fifty frame buildings
lined the streets. On a small scale, it was another overnight town like Spindle Top, Sour
Lake, and Batson. The field is still producing from the original sands and through deeper
development in more recent years. By 1973, it had produced 74,087,103 barrels of oil, making
it one of the most prolific salt dome fields on the Gulf Coast of Texas. The first well was
drilled by Liberty Oil Company was sunk in the fall of 1903. Mr. Pickett was president of the
oil company.
On June 30, 1942 Price Daniel ( Governor of the State of Texas) purchased part of block # 31
lot # 3 in the City of Liberty. Mr. Dainiels held block # 31 lot # 3 until November 30, 1956.
The Houston Press Newspaper from Galveston Texas reported Mr. And Mrs. Ott were from
Conroe, Texas. This is only half true. The Ott had purchased a boarding house in Conroe,
Texas some time before the Ott Hotel was built. It was also said that Mr. Ott owned a small
hotel in Dallas, Texas as well. The Ott Hotel has a variety of on site managers over the years.
The Ott estate was divided between their grandchildren, Patricia Lee O' Dell , Walter B. Lee
III of Harris County, Texas and Ann Hardy Prince of Spring , Texas. Granddaughter Ann
Prince purchased the other grand children's shares of the Ott Hotel. Ann Prince of the
Woodlands became sole owner in 1997.
On January 11, 2002 Mr. Kelly David and Susan Elaine Mc Cain purchased the Ott Hotel. The
Ott Hotel went into major restoration. The Ott Hotel Has been restored to the 1928 interior.
The hotel is a prime example of 1920's modern architecture, a favorite style used during the
development of South Texas. The hotel is a two story ship lap structure with high 10 foot
ceilings, and five column porch that covers the main entrance. But one of the most
distinctive external features is the building's fifty eight rectangle windows placed for air flow
( remember the Ott Hotel did not have air condition until 1980). So travelers could enjoy the
breeze and watch the bustling train depot from the windows of the grand front porch.
The interior of the hotel reflects the past with airy ten foot ceilings, original wall trim, wall
color, and wooden floors. The upstairs contains hotel rooms, and a bath at the middle of the
long hall. One bath for the men and one for the ladies. Most of the furniture from the early
years of the hotel is here, reflecting years of hard work. The second floor is accessible by a
staircase from the first floor lobby. The downs stairs area featured a spacious lobby with the
original 1928 front counter along with original hotel registers, still in existence, record for
posterity the names of train crews, oil field workers, salesman, and governors - a microcosm
of the history of the area and mini museum of the history of the Ott Hotel along with history,
photos of Liberty, Texas from the past and artifacts left from travelers from years ago. More
rooms, a washroom, and office space round out the first floor. The dining room was closed
as the oil boom brought many restaurants to the town. Family style meals gave way to the
newer style eatery. The need for rooms was great so there fore, the dining room was
portioned into a small apartment. The parlor was turned into an office.
The Ott Hotel is distinguished for it's historical significance and architectural design.
Historically, it is a vivid reminder everyone especially to many in the community of Liberty
of the enterprising spirit of the pioneers who came to South Texas. As for today, the Ott
Hotel still stands and operates as the original design it was built for. Thee Ott Hotel is still a
functioning train hotel. The Ott Hotel Still stands only 14 feet from the railroad tracks and 150
feet from the original train depot ( which is still standing today) the hotel radiates a distinct
aura of the past. You can almost hear the old steam engine and smell the coal, and step back
to a time when the innocence was still innocent to that so special place that Norman
Rockwall took us with his art work.
Maybe not all innocence was lost, because today as well as in 1928 when the OTT Hotel
opened it's doors, you can still stand on the grand five column porch and watch the trains
travel past 20 times a day and know the past and the present are not all that different.
HISTORY 101 HOW THE OTT HOTEL CAME TO BE ?
|
Some new happenings at the Ott .
It's been reported that while washing dishes, one of the
female residents was alone in her kitchen when someone
poked her in the back and blew in her ear. It upset her so
much she left her apartment and went next door to the
neighbors apartment.
# 101
Resident # 103
has complained about the noise in the hall way all hours
of the night and the bad smell in her bedroom that comes
and goes. She says it smells like old cigars.( We are a
none smoking building.)
Repair man, Has reported seeing small girl walking in the
shadows while in the Hotel office. Not just once but
several times.
Fall 2007
October reports.
As you have read. The hotel is once again under renovation. And
once again we have upset our non- paying residents.
Reported by construction crew:
A maid seen in apt. # 107 making the bed. Only one problem with
this. There is no furniture in the room. It's being painted.
Maintenance Man:
Apt. 107
While laying a new floor in this apt. Crew kept seeing legs of a
women walking around the corner into the second bedroom.