As of early 2012, the Hotel Bentley remains closed. Work continues on plans for restoraton and re-opening.
This web site deals with the history of the hotel, and is in no way connected with its ownership and operation. |
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The Hotel
Bentley on Third Street in downtown Alexandria, Louisiana has been the "flagship" hotel of central Louisiana upscale lodging since its opening in 1908.
The hotel stands as a architectural monument to excellence and high standards in luxury travel and elegant lodging.
As recently as the 1980s, the Bentley was designated a four star hotel, the only four-star hotel in Louisiana outside of New Orleans. In the late 1990s, the hotel changed ownership and became affiliated with the Radisson chain, and known as the Radisson Hotel Bentley.
The hotel is the
namesake of Joseph A. Bentley, a local lumber mogul
who had moved from Pennsylvania, by way of Texas, to Rapides Parish
in 1892.
The Hotel Bentley experienced visits during the WWII Louisiana Maneuvers by several military notables, including Major General George Patton, Lieutenant Colonel Omar Bradley, Colonel Dwight David Eisenhower, and Second Lieutenant Henry Kissinger. Various entertainers and Hollywood stars have been registered guests at the Bentley over the years, including John Wayne and Roy Rogers. Sadly, the hotel was closed in 2004.
This Web site celebrates the elegance of the travel industry and lodging in the
past, and hopefully will serve as a place where
all of us can recall
memories of this magnificent hotel.
The site is an extension of the
Web sites of the Louisiana
History Museum and the Alexandria
Retrospective. Included are photographic
images, postcards, and Bentley
artifacts.
If you are looking to read reviews or make reservations at currently open hotels & motels in Alexandria, please visit our Alexandria Hotel Listings.
 November 2010 - The Louisiana History Museum announces availability of Hotel Bentley 1908 DVD, featuring previously unpublished photographs, and the music played during the hotel's dedication.
Click for more information about the DVD, and how to order
City
of Alexandria - Agreement Reached in
Downtown Hotels Initiative - December 2, 2009 
City
of Alexandria (Consolidated) Initial Report on the Hotel
Bentley - October 28, 2008
Hotel Bentley sign falls on July 1, 2011:
· Story at Examiner.com
· Photos by Charles Ward at the CenlaMar blog
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