On the corner of 5th Avenue North in downtown Birmingham rises the Redmont Hotel, a landmark that has watched the city change for nearly a century. When it first opened its doors on May 1, 1925, the Redmont was the height of luxury. Each guest room boasted its own private bath and cool water-fed ceiling fans, rare comforts in that era. For Birmingham, the Redmont was more than a hotel — it was a symbol of elegance and progress.
In 1946, businessman Clifford Stiles purchased the property and made his mark in grand style. The following year he transformed the top floor into a private penthouse, complete with its own elevator, terraces, and even a small lawn for his pets. High society parties glittered there, and for a time the Redmont became the place to see and be seen.
By the 1980s, a new set of owners took the reins — a group that included basketball legends like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Their multimillion-dollar renovation breathed new life into the aging hotel. And in 2016, after a careful historic restoration, the Redmont reopened under Hilton’s Curio Collection, blending modern comfort with the charm of its storied past...
But beneath the polish and chandeliers, whispers linger. Guests and staff alike say the Redmont is far from empty when the sun goes down.
One of the earliest tales goes back to 1934, when armed robbers fleeing the law burst through the Redmont’s doors. A shootout in the lobby left one dead, another wounded, and a detective injured. Locals claim that the spirit of the slain man still wanders the halls, trapped in the hotel where his life ended so violently.
The most persistent ghost, however, is said to be Clifford Stiles himself. Though long gone, he seems unwilling to give up his beloved hotel. Guests have reported sheets yanked from beds, cleaning carts knocked over, and the unnerving sense of being watched — as if Stiles is still conducting surprise inspections.
There are gentler spirits too. A phantom dog has been spotted padding softly down the corridors before vanishing into thin air. Some say it was Stiles’ pet, still loyal, still roaming the halls beside its master.
And then there is the legend of Hank Williams. The country music icon spent his final night at the Redmont in 1952 before his fateful last journey. Since then, guests have reported hearing the faint strum of a guitar, or glimpsing the shadow of a man in a cowboy hat drifting through the upper floors.
Add to these stories the countless reports of doors opening and closing on their own, disembodied footsteps echoing down empty corridors, and orbs caught in photographs — and it’s no wonder the Redmont Hotel is known as one of Alabama’s most haunted places.
If You Dare to Visit
Redmont Hotel – Curio Collection by Hilton
Address: 2101 5th Avenue North, Birmingham, AL 35203
Phone: (205) 957-6828