Location St. Louis, Missouri Architect Preston J. Bradshaw | Floor count 28 | |
 | ||
Address 212 North Kingshighway Boulevard Opening September 29, 1922; 94 years ago (1922-09-29) | ||
The Chase Park Plaza is a historic hotel complex located at 212 N. Kingshighway Boulevard in the Central West End, St. Louis, Missouri, USA. It consists of two buildings - the Chase Hotel, built in 1922 by developer Chase Ullman, and the Art Deco-style Park Plaza tower, built in 1929 and today housing condominiums. The complex also features a cinema and several restaurants and bars. The hotel replaced nearby the Buckingham Hotel as the most luxurious hotel in the city. From 1990 through 2001, The Chase was closed for remodeling. The Park Plaza stayed open.
Contents
The National Trust for Historic Preservation has accepted Chase Park Plaza Hotel to be part of the Historic Hotels of America.
Jackie Robison and desegregation
Jackie Robinson, was an American Major League Baseball (MLB) second baseman who became the first African American to play in the major leagues in the modern era. Robinson broke the baseball color line when the Brooklyn Dodgers started him at first base on April 15, 1947.
In 1953, Robinson openly criticized segregated hotels and restaurants that served the Dodger organization. A number of these establishments integrated as a result, including the five-star Chase Park Hotel in St. Louis.
Wrestling at the Chase
The Chase was also famous for hosting a wrestling program called Wrestling at the Chase (1959–1983), produced and televised by KPLR-TV channel 11, whose operations were in the hotel and the adjoining Chase Apartments, all owned by Harold Koplar. Many famous wrestlers, including St. Louis native, Lou Thesz, and Buddy Rogers wrestled on the program.