Skirvin Hotel

The Skirvin Hotel is one of Oklahoma City's most enduring symbols of early twentieth-century ambition. Opened in 1911 by oilman W.B. Skirvin, the hotel quickly became a center of business, politics and social life. It expanded over time to hundreds of rooms and hosted presidents, entertainers, athletes and other notable guests during the city's growth. The building's history includes both glamour and decline. After decades as a premier hotel, it closed in 1988 and stood empty for nearly two decades before a major restoration returned it to use in 2007. The property has since undergone additional renovations while retaining the historic character that made it a downtown landmark. The Skirvin is also famous for ghost lore, particularly the story of a maid named Effie. Researchers have found little evidence for the legend as commonly told, but it remains deeply embedded in the hotel's popular identity. Even without the supernatural stories, the Skirvin offers a remarkable window into Oklahoma City's oil-boom era, civic life and preservation history. Its lobby and public spaces make it possible to experience a genuine historic hotel that has survived repeated cycles of prosperity, abandonment and revival.