Albuquerque New Mexico
Wool Warehouse Theater
Renovations of the building activated a spirit.
Further renovations increased spiritual activity; most is friendly, some not so nice.
DESCRIPTION / HISTORY
The Wool Warehouse Theater, a National Historic Landmark, is a two story brick building, which was originally a wool warehouse. The building was built in 1929 by wool industry bigwig, Frank Bond, to act as his grand headquarters in New Mexico, as he had extensive sheep ranching interests in the state. It’s Egyptian structural ambiance was due to its main architect, T. Charles Gaastra, who had just gotten back from a trip to Egypt, which obviously influenced his work on this building. Through the years, the building was passed down to various Bond Family members, until 1974, when the city of Albuquerque used the building as a records warehouse.
In 1984 it was bought by Betty and George Luce, who turned the second floor into a theater restaurant, as it was still a classy place, perfect for an upscale dinner theater, as it “recalls an era of casual elegance, with “massive columns featuring Egyptian motifs and Roaring 20s art deco appointments.” This building became The Wool Warehouse Theater Restaurant.
As of 2004, we find that The Wool Warehouse Theater Restaurant building had been bought by Double Tree Hotels, as it is only a block away from the Double Tree Hotel on Marquette Avenue They spruced up both floors of the building, modernizing it with the latest amenities “to create Albuquerque’s premier facility.” They are using it as a rental for weddings, holiday and theme parties, corporate functions, seminar, or conferences.
The second floor still is the home of The Wool Warehouse Theater, which still has dinner theater activities, as well has hosting weddings and other special events in need of a stage. It encompasses 5000 sq. feet and holds up to 350 people, 250 for dinner theater.
HISTORY OF MANIFESTATIONS / MANIFESTATIONS
The Luce’s renovations of the building activated a spirit hanging around the building, which often happens after old buildings are renewed structurally. Further renovations in the coming years increased the area of spiritual manifestations felt in the building, even in stair case leading to the basement area. Though mostly were friendly occurrences, a few were not so nice.
Experiences with known Male Spirit
Spirit of owner of original business located here is a theater enthusiast! He is though to be one of the men of the Bond Family.
1985 – During the first production presented in this theater, Stage Manager, Vicki, at first kept seeing a cream-colored thing go past her.
Then at intermission, she went to check something on the left side of the stage, and there before her, she saw the apparition of a very clean, very pleasant looking man who was wearing a cream-colored, double-breasted suit, standing right by the prop table, happily watching what was going on, very pleased with the theater production.
Yes indeed! We’re Here
In the following years, employees and guests have felt hot and cold spots, and have actually felt a presence among them, watching them.
Objects in the theater have gone missing, only to reappear in other places in the building.
It’s Mine! Stay Out!
A territorial, mean spirit monitors the back stage stairs and basement.
Employees avoided going down the stairs behind the stage area to the basement, unless they really had to go there.
It was reported that employees have felt a push from unseen hands while attempting to go down the stairs and had something grab at their ankles.
Strange sounds have been heard coming from the walls as well.
STILL HAUNTED?
YES INDEED!
It seems that the pleasant Mr. Bond is still watching the living, pleased that the building has been kept up and being put to good use! Another not so nice entity seems to be hanging around the basement area and is hostile to those who are brave enough to go down the stage steps.
On October 31, 1998, Cody Polston and Buck McCombs from the Southwest Ghost Hunter’s Association investigated the main lobby and theater on the second floor, with some interesting findings and some revealing pictures.
LOCATION
Double Tree Hotel
201 Marquette Avenue
Albuquerque, NM 87102
(505) 247-3344
The Wool Warehouse Theater stands on 520 1st St. NW, near the railroad line in Albuquerque, located one short block east of the Doubletree Hotel Albuquerque.
SOURCES INCLUDE
- The Ghostly Register, A Guide to Haunted America, By Arthur Myers, Dorset Press, 1986
- Double Tree Albuquerque – Pictures and some text.
- Southwest Ghost Hunter’s Association
- The National Directory of Haunted Places, Dennis William Hauck, Penguin Books, 1996
Our Haunted Paranormal Stories are Written by Julie Carr
