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The BooMont Hotel - History

At the turn of the century, the visionary oil tycoon and electrical inventor, Rupert B. BooMont, opened a unique and opulent hotel inspired by his extensive travels across the globe.  Tailored to his exacting standards, no expense was spared in the creation of the BooMont Hotel – imported teak, exquisite Venetian glass, European furnishings, and groundbreaking elevators designed by BooMont himself.  It was the first hotel in Texas to boast full electricity, powered by BooMont’s own patented designs.  The BooMont Hotel opened its doors on September 5th, 1901, to great fanfare and sensational guests.  Early visitors included Hollywood film stars and US Senators, quickly earning The BooMont a reputation as one of the world’s finest luxury hotels.

For 23 sweet years, The BooMont Hotel enjoyed its immense success until one unfortunate night in 1924.  On October 13th, a lightning storm of unnatural violence rolled across the Texas sky and descended upon the BooMont Hotel.  What many described as “blue fire” shot down from the clouds, causing an unprecedented electrical event at the hotel.  Tragically, many registered guests, including Mr. BooMont himself, were never seen again.  Despite this harrowing incident, the hotel continued to operate for a few months.  However, guests began reporting unusual, dreamlike experiences, often feeling as though they had stayed for prolonged periods, despite only being there for a single night.  Others described clocks with unusual behavior and claimed to stumble upon rooms of indescribable imagination.  The BooMont Hotel ultimately, quietly, closed its doors in the summer of 1925.

After remaining untouched for over 100 years, we are thrilled to announce the grand re-opening of the BooMont Hotel! It has been meticulously updated while retaining the original charm that made it legendary.  Be among the first to experience the BooMont Hotel in a century.  We are certain Mr. BooMont would be delighted for you to stay with us, for a while.

Who was Rupert B. BooMont: An American Business Magnate

Rupert B. BooMont (1868-1924), affectionately known as “Boo,” was a formidable American business magnate who amassed immense wealth in the oil and electrical industries. Born in Amarillo, Texas, BooMont’s entrepreneurial journey began at the tender age of 11, when he started working in his father’s oil business. By the age of 16, he had built his own oil pump, quickly earning a reputation for his sharp engineering acumen. In the 1890s, BooMont’s focus shifted to the burgeoning electric industry following a pivotal meeting with Emerald Jennings, a young woman who was quickly becoming a leading figure in the exploration of alternative uses for electricity. Their professional collaboration blossomed into a personal one, and Rupert and Emerald married in October 1889.

Together, the BooMonts embarked on an ambitious project: creating one of the world’s most technologically advanced hotels. For over 10 years, they meticulously worked on every detail, maintaining extreme secrecy. They hired many contractors to ensure no single party understood the full scope of the project. The few that did speak of the project said BooMonts lovingly refer to the hotel as “the machine.”

On September 5, 1901, The BooMont Hotel officially opened, with Mr. BooMont famously proclaiming, “Today marks the great technological achievement of mankind!” Tragically, just weeks after the opening, Emerald died on October 13th, 1901, during a routine electrical test at the hotel.

Despite the hotel’s incredible success, Mr. BooMont became a recluse, rarely seen by staff or friends, often working in various private offices. In the rare instances he was seen, staff reported him saying, “She is still here.” On another fateful October 13th, during the Great Lightning Storm of 1924, Mr. BooMont disappeared amongst many other hotel guests, sparking much debate about his fate.