Topeka Kansas

Senate Luxury Suites Hotel

Built in 1920 for Senators and Assembly Representatives while they were in session in Topeka.

Topeka legend claims that this Hotel has spirit residents…

Shadows may be seen walking in various places.

DESCRIPTION

“It Feels Like Home.” “More like a bed and breakfast!” “Wonderful, attentive service.”

Wow! Tom and I visited this property and were most impressed with its architecture and landscaping. It earns its praise as one of the most beautiful historic buildings in Topeka!

Inside, the Luxury Suites are lovely, quaint, classy, and historic places with lots of space, including balconies. They were built for politicians and others who expected top accommodations. One guest described them as suites with ample space and delightful features as well. “My room had a walk-in closet (plus another closet) and a separate sitting area with a love seat, table and chairs, fridge, and microwave.” This guest even had french doors leading to her balcony.

The Senate Luxury Suites Hotel offers a newly remodeled Fitness Center with “a wide variety of workout equipment.” They also have a lovely banquet/event room with a separate lounge. On their website they state “The banquet hall is perfect for rehearsal dinners and receptions, offering flexible food and beverage rules to allow for outside catering, and a friendly staff who pledge to exceed your expectations. In addition to the main event space, we also offer a separate lounge, equipped with couches, chairs and tables, tv’s and a bar area. This space is perfect for bridal showers, baby showers, and other intimate gatherings.”

HISTORY

The Senate Luxury Suites Hotel was built in 1920 with the purpose of being a collection of long-term stay luxury apartments for Senators and Assembly Representatives while they were in session at the Topeka Capitol building. Important visitors with business at the Capitol building stayed here as well.

They began as very high end apartments with common meeting spaces plus all the amenities that important people would expect. They were built to be very spacious, with walk-in closets, in-door bathrooms, electric lights, separate sitting areas, balconies, tables and chairs, small kitchens and some sort of refrigerator (either butane or electric). Bedrooms were spacious and appealing.

The property has been kept up with modern amenities and maintained throughout its nearly 100 year history because it has been in constant use by its intended clientele. Even though the neighborhood is now mostly lower income, the location of the hotel remains desirable.

At some time in their history the building’s owners changed its name to The Senate Luxury Suites Hotel to account for the fact that they had begun to serve everyday travelers as well.

Some former guests now in spirit form are suspected of still staying for free, with perhaps a few dedicated spectral employees looking after them.

HISTORY OF MANIFESTATIONS

Topeka legend claims that the hotel has spirit residents, perhaps former guests and spectral employees not on the payroll. While no facts about these supposed hauntings have been published online that I could find, there are some possible candidates worth mentioning.

Politicians and other people involved in state governments have often liked to stay in accommodations near their state capitols. In various places away from official offices and listening ears, politicians have always been drawn to private spaces to go over new political ideas or moves.

Perhaps the spirts of politicians are still discussing strategies because they enjoyed doing so while alive.

Many high-class hotels offered the services of call girls under the table during the early part of the 20th century. Government folks no doubt brought prostitutes back to their apartments for a roll in the hay. By the same token, many prostitutes met a premature death via botched abortions, illness, or at their own hands.

Perhaps the spirit of a prostitute who died while working is not ready to stop working just yet, or is lstill ooking for the man who wouldn’t leave his wife for her.

Public servants who die suddenly (be it by accident, murder or illness) often don’t want to retire because they have important work to do, or they just love their job and are not ready to move on just yet.

Representatives who’ve died before important speeches may still be preparing them in their rooms. Sometimes spirits loved their work so much they decide to stay and continue doing what they used to do the best they can in spirit form. Perhaps the same could be said of maids, bellhops, cooks or concierges in their old occupations.

MANIFESTATIONS

Possible Activity

Perhaps spirits have been seen meeting in one of the common areas, or in a former apartment which is now a suite. Chairs may be found in circles, as if a discussion was going on.

The usual signs of spirit activity may be present: lights and doors have minds of their own, footfalls and disembodied voices from unseen presences are heard, objects may move around rooms by themselves.

Shadow apparitions may be seen walking in various places, going about their business.

STILL HAUNTED?

Unknown – No personal experiences or hard evidence has been shared in either written form or on the internet.

But, these Senate Luxury Suites have had a haunted reputation for a long time, and there may be truth in this Topeka Legend. Many old historic buildings are likely to have visiting or resident spirits haunting them. Perhaps spectral inhabitants are still trying to accomplish unfinished speeches, enjoy political discussions, or are still enjoying their jobs at the hotel.