Skirvin Hilton Hotel
The Skirvin Hotel opened on the 26th of September 1911 with 224 rooms in a ten-story two-winged tower. William Balser "Bill" Skirvin built the structure to serve Oklahoma City's growing population. A third 12-story wing arrived in 1925 to accommodate more guests. In 1929 and 1930 all three wings rose up to 13 floors. This expansion brought the total room count to 525 rooms. The hotel became the city's oldest and remains listed on the National Register of Historic Places today.
Local hotelier Dan James purchased the Skirvin Hotel and Skirvin Tower in 1945. He added air conditioning and a new swimming pool to attract tourists visiting Oklahoma. New furniture replaced older pieces throughout the property over several years. Low occupancy forced the hotel to close its doors in 1988. For the next 19 years the building sat abandoned while owners struggled to find a buyer. The decline marked a stark contrast to its early prosperity under Skirvin's original vision.
Oklahoma City Mayor Kirk Humphreys appointed a Skirvin Solutions Committee in 1999 to evaluate saving the historic building. The committee toured other restored hotels before recommending a public-private partnership in October 2000. Oklahoma City acquired the structure for $2.875 million in May 2002. Partners in Development submitted a proposal to renovate the building for $42.1 million as a full-service Hilton-branded hotel. John Weeman led this firm and bought the building from the city in 2005. Public sources including tax increment financing and historic tax credits funded about $51 million of the renovation project. The hotel reopened in 2007 with historically accurate windows and reconfigured guest rooms.
A joint venture between Ortus Hotel Investments LLC and Chickasaw Nation Sovereign Properties Holdco LLC purchased the hotel in 2022. This group included local investors working alongside the sovereign nation's property division. A major $22 million update completed in 2025 brought new life to the property. Marcus Hotels & Resorts continues managing operations under the Hilton brand today. The recent investment reflects ongoing confidence in the building's future despite its turbulent history.
Rumors of haunting persisted long enough that professional basketball teams began citing them after losses. The New York Knicks blamed their defeat against the Oklahoma City Thunder on paranormal activity in 2010. Chicago Bulls players reported doors slamming shut and strange sounds outside their rooms during their stay. Miami Heat guests experienced similar reports while staying for the NBA Finals in June 2012. Baylor Lady Bears lost 82, 81 to Louisville in the regional semifinals of the 2013 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament after staying at the Skirvin. Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving announced a feature film project about the purported paranormal activity in January 2019.
Room 1015 is rumored to be the most haunted room in the hotel according to popular stories. The tale claims original owner W.B. Skirvin locked maid Effie inside after an affair led to pregnancy. She supposedly jumped out a window killing herself and the baby to protect his reputation. Hotel staff report objects moving by themselves and hearing strange noises at night over the years. Steve Lackmeyer and Jason Kersey from The Oklahoman noted no real-life evidence supports the Effie story. Skirvin's family believed he had an employee named Mabel Luty who was also his mistress but she outlived him. Historical records show Skirvin was known as a notorious womanizer and drinker with gambling incidents on the 10th floor.
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Common questions
When did the Skirvin Hotel open and how many rooms did it have initially?
The Skirvin Hotel opened on the 26th of September 1911 with 224 rooms in a ten-story two-winged tower. William Balser Bill Skirvin built the structure to serve Oklahoma City's growing population.
Who purchased the Skirvin Hotel in 1945 and what changes were made?
Local hotelier Dan James purchased the Skirvin Hotel and Skirvin Tower in 1945. He added air conditioning and a new swimming pool to attract tourists visiting Oklahoma while replacing older furniture throughout the property over several years.
How much did Oklahoma City pay for the Skirvin Hotel in May 2002?
Oklahoma City acquired the structure for $2.875 million in May 2002 after the city mayor Kirk Humphreys appointed a Skirvin Solutions Committee in 1999. Partners in Development submitted a proposal to renovate the building for $42.1 million as a full-service Hilton-branded hotel before John Weeman bought the building from the city in 2005.
Which basketball teams claimed paranormal activity at the Skirvin Hotel during their stays?
The New York Knicks blamed their defeat against the Oklahoma City Thunder on paranormal activity in 2010 while Chicago Bulls players reported doors slamming shut and strange sounds outside their rooms during their stay. Miami Heat guests experienced similar reports while staying for the NBA Finals in June 2012 and Baylor Lady Bears lost 82, 81 to Louisville in the regional semifinals of the 2013 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament after staying at the Skirvin.
What is the story behind Room 1015 being the most haunted room in the Skirvin Hotel?
Room 1015 is rumored to be the most haunted room in the hotel according to popular stories claiming original owner W.B. Skirvin locked maid Effie inside after an affair led to pregnancy. She supposedly jumped out a window killing herself and the baby to protect his reputation although historical records show no real-life evidence supports the Effie story.