The Old Glories of the Hotel Green
The center of Old Pasadena is home to the historic Hotel Green. The hotel would come to accommodate not just throngs of wintering families from the East, but also the famous Valley Hunt Club. The Valley Hunt Club, or course, was the organization that initiated the now world famous Tournament of Roses Parade. Fitting that the Hotel Green would spawn the Rose Parade.
Though named after its owner, George Gill Green, the hotel was designed by Frederick Roehrig to reflect a new, distinct western architectural style. Green, a former colonel in the Union Army, had comes into his fortune vis–vis Greens August Flower syrup. Sold as a cure-all, his syrups were incredibly popular and made him a millionaire. Of course these elixirs were predominantly made of laudanum, so its not surprising they were so popular.
The hotel was originally known as the Woodbury Hotel. Mr. Woodbury, however, went bankrupt and had to sell the hotel to Green in the late 1860s. Green was soon compelled to build another annex to accommodate the hundreds of resort guests flowing in during the winter. He ensured the second building was built near the railroad depot, ensuring his hotel was the first sight many vacationers saw. He understood early on the old real estate adage: location, location, location.
Colonel Green decided to further capitalize on the tourism and built even more permanent residences within his hotel empire. A third building was soon underway in 1887 and would be available to guests who wished to rent an apartment for a week, month, or even a year. It was decided a bridge should straddle Raymond Avenue to allow guests to move between the Castle Green Apartments and the new Hotel annex.
Both buildings featured large ballrooms and dining rooms, a gentleman’s smoking salon, a woman’s salon, lovely foyers, crystal chandeliers, and a grand staircase hewn from marble. By 1900, Pasadena boasted more than fourteen resort hotels, of which the Hotel Green was perhaps the most famous. Standing over Pasadenas Central Park, visitors could enjoy the parks rose gardens, fountains, zoo, alligator and ostrich farms. That same spirit of accommodation reigns in Pasadena and guests are welcome to choose from the panoply of fine Pasadena hotels.