Motels Band Article

"Oh yes, I can tell you about the murder," Tony Bissen whispers to us. His historical tour, at Honolulu's Sheraton Moana Surfrider, is one of several backstage tours offered at historic hotels around the West, from Yosemite's Ahwahnee to Spokane's Davenport. The tours (all but one open to nonguests) recount a little history and some really good gossip.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Bissen leads us to the 1901 hotel's restored historic section. "This is where staff are said to have seen Mrs. Leland Stanford's ghost," he notes outside room 244. In 1905, Stanford University cofounder Jane Stanford checked in for a vacation, and perhaps to escape a conflict with university president David Starr Jordan.

It's a chilling tale. But it doesn't prevent us from wanting to check into the Sheraton Moana Surfrider for a good long stay.

 BACKSTAGE FAMOUS
HOTEL SECRET GUESTS

DENVER You'll never In what's now
The Brown Palace see a house- called the
Since opening in 1892, this wedge- keeping cart Eisenhower
shaped, red sandstone, Richard- in the hall-- Suite, you can
sonian Romanesque building has housekeepers' still see a dent
hosted Denver's most prominent supplies are that President
visitors: Kings, queens, and taken into Dwight D.
presidents have walked under its each guest Eisenhower is
grand atrium. The Palace's past is so room in said to have
rich, the hotel has its own wicker put in the fire-
historian, Julia Kanellos, who also baskets. place with an
leads the tours. errant golf
ROOMS: From $279 ball.
INFO: 321 17th St.; 
 or 800/321-2599

HONOLULU The laundry Film stars
Halekulani staff's secret from Clark
Tours here are open to guests only-- for getting Gable to Halle
another reason to splurge for a stay. towels super Berry have
The hotel's oldest section is a 1930s white: three stayed here.
plantation-style mansion, and its rinse cycles. During WWII,
most famous attraction may be the the hotel
hotel pool, shimmering on the bottom hosted military
with a cattleya orchid fashioned from brass like
more than a million Italian glass Admiral William
tiles. (Bull) Halsey.
ROOMS: From $325
INFO: 2199 Kalia Rd.; www.
 or 800/367-2343

HONOLULU Pineapple As a young
Sheraton Moana Surfrider is served in adult in the
Along with mysteries, tours highlight spears instead 1940s, Shirley
wonderful artifacts from the Moana's of slices Temple stayed
early years: a historical video of because it here; strolling
surfer Duke Kahanamoku canoeing; ripens from on Waikiki
photos of singers on the radio show the bottom Beach, she
Hawaii Calls, which was broadcast up, and a met her future
from the hotel's Banyan Court between lengthwise-cut husband.
1935 and 1975. spear is less
ROOMS: From $270 likely to be
INFO: 2365 Kalakaua Ave.; www. entirely
, 888/488-3535, or under-or
808/922-3111 overripe.

RIVERSIDE, CA The glocken- Richard and
Mission Inn spiel clock Pat Nixon
Begun in 1876, the domed and turreted over the married here
mission revival style palace is like Spanish patio in 1940 in the
a misty dream of early California's has five Presidential
hacienda days. Its St. Francis Chapel turning Suite. Ronald
was designed around a massive 18th- figures and Nancy
century Mexican altar and 20th- showing early Reagan
century Tiffany stained-glass California honeymooned
windows. images. They here in 1952.
ROOMS: From $225 move on the
INFO: 3649 Mission Inn Ave.; www. Quarter-hour.
, 951/784-0300 (for
hotel), or 951/788-9556 (for tours)

SPOKANE, WA Beds are Early guests
The Davenport Hotel triple sheeted included
The 1914 grande dame was saved with Irish Charles
from demolition in the 1980s; a $38 linens from Lindbergh. Singer
million restoration, which included Liddell, the Neil Diamond
its grand ballrooms, was completed same company liked his bed
in 2002. For years the hotel was the the hotel has so much, he
main local landmark; when Spokane used since bought one.
residents said, "Meet me at the fire- 1914 (which
place," it meant the grand fireplace also supplied
at the Davenport. linens for the
ROOMS: From $169 Titanic).
INFO: 10 S. Post St.; www.
 or 800/
899-1482

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, CA The Ahwahnee Queen Elizabeth
The Ahwahnee only looks II, Prince
The fabled 1927 hotel has three as though Charles, and
wings, each oriented toward a it's made out John F.
major feature of the park: Half of redwood: Kennedy.
Dome, Glacier Point, or Yosemite Because Lucille Ball
Falls. The hotel is named for the builders were filmed a
Ahwahneechee, a local band of worried about movie in the
Native Americans. fire, the park with Desi
ROOMS: From $367 facade is Arnaz and
INFO: 1 Ahwahnee Rd.; www. actually kept fellow
 or 559/252-4848 texturized, guests up
 stained singing around
 concrete. the piano with
 Judy Garland
 in the Great
 Lounge.

HOTEL FUN FACT TOURS

DENVER Actor Steven Historical
The Brown Palace Seagal asked tours (meet
Since opening in 1892, this wedge- the concierge outside the
shaped, red sandstone, Richard- to store an hotel tavern;
sonian Romanesque building has elk that he free) are at
hosted Denver's most prominent bagged on a 2 . Wed
visitors: Kings, queens, and successful and Sat.
presidents have walked under its hunting trip. Ghost tours
grand atrium. The Palace's past is so (free,
rich, the hotel has its own reservations
historian, Julia Kanellos, who also required;
leads the tours. 303/297-3111 ext.
ROOMS: From $279 3104) are at 1
INFO: 321 17th St.; . Tue-Sat.
 or 800/321-2599

HONOLULU It has its own The Back of
Halekulani bake shop, the House
Tours here are open to guests only-- flower shop, Tour (hotel
another reason to splurge for a stay. laundry, print guests only;
The hotel's oldest section is a 1930s shop, and free) takes
plantation-style mansion, and its chocolatier place at
most famous attraction may be the (you get a 10 . Fri.
hotel pool, shimmering on the bottom sample on
with a cattleya orchid fashioned from the tour).
more than a million Italian glass
tiles.
ROOMS: From $325
INFO: 2199 Kalia Rd.; www.
 or 800/367-2343

HONOLULU Afternoon tea Historical
Sheraton Moana Surfrider in the Banyan tours (free)
Along with mysteries, tours highlight Court (1-4:30 are at 11 and
wonderful artifacts from the Moana's Mon--Sat, 5 Mon, Wed,
early years: a historical video of 3-4:30 Sun; and Fri.
surfer Duke Kahanamoku canoeing; $25,
photos of singers on the radio show reservations
Hawaii Calls, which was broadcast suggested;
from the hotel's Banyan Court between 808/931-
1935 and 1975. 8383) is
ROOMS: From $270 elegant.
INFO: 2365 Kalakaua Ave.; www. Choose from
, 888/488-3535, or eight tea
808/922-3111 blends, each
 in a silver
 dish.

RIVERSIDE, CA An oversize Tours (10-3
Mission Inn chair, built daily, start
Begun in 1876, the domed and turreted in 1909 to times vary;
mission revival style palace is like accommodate $10, reservations
a misty dream of early California's 335-pound required)
hacienda days. Its St. Francis Chapel President depart from
was designed around a massive 18th- William the adjacent
century Mexican altar and 20th- Howard Taft, Mission Inn
century Tiffany stained-glass sits in the Museum
windows. lobby. (entrance
ROOMS: From $225 at 3696
INFO: 3649 Mission Inn Ave.; www. Main St.).
, 951/784-0300 (for
hotel), or 951/788-9556 (for tours)

SPOKANE, WA During the Pick up a
The Davenport Hotel Davenport's brochure
The 1914 grande dame was saved first 50 at the front
from demolition in the 1980s; a $38 years, "Silver desk for a
million restoration, which included John" Ungari self-guided
its grand ballrooms, was completed shined up tour (free;
in 2002. For years the hotel was the silver coins 509/789-6808).
main local landmark; when Spokane for use in the
residents said, "Meet me at the fire- hotel--up to
place," it meant the grand fireplace $10,000 daily.
at the Davenport.
ROOMS: From $169
INFO: 10 S. Post St.; www.
 or 800/
899-1482

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, CA In the 1940s, Free tours are
The Ahwahnee the Ahwahnee offered about
The fabled 1927 hotel has three was used as three times
wings, each oriented toward a a Navy a week--for
major feature of the park: Half convalescent times, check
Dome, Glacier Point, or Yosemite hospital. The the concierge
Falls. The hotel is named for the hotel was desk, park
Ahwahneechee, a local band of renovated bulletin
Native Americans. shortly after boards, or the
ROOMS: From $367 the war ended. park's newspaper.
INFO: 1 Ahwahnee Rd.; www. tours fill
 or 559/252-4848 quickly; book
 through the
 concierge desk
 (209/372-1426).