User:Ggribble/TheFairmountHotel

Designed by locally prominent architect Leo M. J. Diehlmann and constructed in 1906, the Fairmount Hotel was originally used by commercial travelers, appropriate for its location between the city’s downtown area and the Southern Pacific Railroad passenger station. The Fairmount made international history in 1985, when it was moved four city blocks from the site of Rivercenter Mall at Bowie and Commerce Streets to a new location on South Alamo Street. The hotel is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the largest building ever moved on pneumatic tires. During its historic trip, which lasted four days, the building traveled on Commerce Street and crossed the bridge over the River extension.

The facade was donated to the San Antonio Conservation Society Foundation by the partners of the Fairmount Hotel Company, Mr. Thomas Wright, Ms. Virginia Van Steenberg and Mr. B. K. Johnson, in 1986. Restored and enlarged by a new addition, the building is now one of the city’s finer small hotels. By agreement between the Society and the original owner, the facade easement was not transferred to a new owner, in lieu of partial payment of the note owed the Society.

In 1984, the city struggled with the fate of The Fairmount. Developers were preparing to erect a major new retail center and hotel that would one day be known as Rivercenter Mall and the Marriott Rivercenter Hotel. Public improvements for that project called for the widening of Bowie Street, but The Fairmount stood in the way.

Historic Move of The Fairmount Hotel

In 1984 the fate of The Fairmount was in debate, one option being the demolition of this nearly century old building to make room for new retail and lodging space; however, the city of San Antonio has long had strong ties to the past and therefore opted to move the entire structure to a new home next to La Villita National Historic District.

Six days later on April 4, 1985 at an approx cost of $1 million to complete this monumental task, the 3.2 million pounds of brick and mortar was lifted onto rollers, trussed with bands of steel and moved five blocks to its present location where it settled onto it’s new home ground. The move was national and international news featured in more than 30 foreign countries.

The Guinness Book of World Records noted it as the largest structure ever moved on wheels. The hotel reopened on September 5, 1986 with an addition to the original structure creating the 37 accommodations it has today. It’s recent past includes ownership by B.K. Johnson of King Ranch and management by Patriot American Hospitality and Wyndham Grand Heritage Hotels.