Once-famous Shelby Hotel now dilapidated decades after hosting presidents

18 August 2023 , 19:04

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The Shelby Hotel, pictured in its heyday (Image: mediadrumimages/Historic Images)

Back in its heyday, the Shelby Hotel was famous for hosting former US presidents, including Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson. It also hosted Al Capone, according to some historical sources.

Today, however, it sits abandoned in the small, unincorporated community of Shelby, Alabama — a quaint town located slightly less than halfway between Birmingham and Montgomery.

New pictures taken by urban explorer Leland Kent, who runs the online blog "Abandoned Southeast," detail the decrepit yet still intact building as it appears today. Dust covers the floors, staircases and other features, though most remain in relatively good condition with minimal deterioration.

The Shelby Hotel has deteriorated since it closed around 50 years ago (mediadrumimages/Leland Kent)

The exterior, however, is rather overgrown, and some of the wood is starting to fall apart, including some of the walls and doors, which are quite literally unhinged.

The two-story hotel, which was originally called the Dannemora Hotel, was constructed in 1863 in the midst of the Civil War. It quickly became a popular tourist destination due to its proximity to the Shelby Iron Works, which had access to a natural spring.

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The ironworks produced pig iron for the Confederate Navy, and the hotel contained around 30 rooms for those workers to sleep in as well as fifteen guest bedrooms, a dining wing, an office, a kitchen and two bathrooms. It was the first facility in Alabama to have electricity and the first to have plumbing that allowed it to have running water.

Former US President Teddy Roosevelt stayed at the Shelby Hotel (Getty Images)

Former US President Woodrow Wilson also stayed at the Shelby Hotel (Getty Images)

For guests, it cost $25 (£20) per month, which, with today's inflation, would equate to around $900 (£707) in 2023. That cost included three meals a day, which were allegedly considered "top notch," Kent's blog states. Locals would often come to dine and gossip.

Throughout the years, the hotel withstood raids, fires and social decline in the town, withstanding an attack that destroyed the ironworks in 1865 but then burning to the ground 1898 only to be rebuilt with more amenities and attractions than ever in 1900.

By 1925, the facility had beds, sinks and dressers in every room, though they were heated by fireplaces exclusively, meaning they were often cold. A new addition was also built to accommodate more guests.

The interior of the Shelby Hotel is dilapidated and falling apart (mediadrumimages/Leland Kent)

The hotel became so popular that reservations far in advance were required to book stays - everyone wanted a taste of the hotel's simplistic vibes or the ornate Honeymoon Room and Company room, known to have been used by two former governors and their wives.

Bridal showers, weddings, honeymoons and local fairs to sell crafted goods were held at the joint, as were games of tennis and bridge. It also featured special access to the springs.

The Shelby Hotel closed in the 1970s after Bernard Rummel and his family had operated it for 20 years, since 1956. They were forced to shut down after the town's tourism declined drastically, leaving vacant rooms frequently.

Jeremiah Hassel