Across the Decades

For nearly a century, the Pontchartrain has been part of the story of New Orleans. Through changing decades, unforgettable guests, celebrated restaurants, and moments that shaped the city, it has remained a place where history isn’t just remembered—it’s still being written.

Explore the moments, memories, and milestones that transformed the Pontchartrain into one of New Orleans’ most enduring landmarks.

Across the Decades

 

1920s — The Opening

A New Address for New Orleans Society

The Pontchartrain opens in 1927 as a luxury residential hotel on St. Charles Avenue, bringing apartment-style living to the Garden District. Designed in Spanish Revival style, it quickly becomes one of the city’s most elegant addresses.

 

1930s — The Depression Years

Staying Open When Others Couldn’t

Despite the Great Depression, the Aschaffenburg family perseveres, maintaining the hotel and preserving its identity when many grand properties struggled. The Pontchartrain becomes a symbol of quiet resilience.

 

1940s — Birth of the Caribbean Room

From Apartments to a Legendary Hotel

As wartime travel increases, apartments begin converting into hotel rooms. In 1948, the Caribbean Room is born, transforming the Pontchartrain into a destination for dining and hospitality.

 

1950s — Hollywood Arrives

Where Stars Came to Stay

Frank Sinatra, Rita Hayworth, José Ferrer, and Mary Martin frequent the hotel. Named suites and impeccable service cement the Pontchartrain as one of America’s great grand hotels.

 

1960s — The Writers’ Hotel

Tennessee Williams Finds Inspiration

Tennessee Williams spends time at the Pontchartrain and works on A Streetcar Named Desire. Artists, actors, and intellectuals make the hotel part of New Orleans’ cultural fabric.

 

1970s — The Last Stop

The Doors’ Final Encore

Jim Morrison and The Doors stay at the Pontchartrain after what would become the band’s last performance. The hotel bridges old New Orleans glamour with a new era of music and counterculture.

 

1980s — The Family Legacy

After Six Decades, a Family Legacy Changes Hands

The Aschaffenburg family sells the hotel after more than 60 years of stewardship. Generations of New Orleanians had come to view the Pontchartrain as an extension of the city itself.

 

1990s — Closing the Doors

Beloved by Locals

Even as hospitality trends change, the Bayou Bar, Silver Whistle, and Caribbean Room remain fixtures of New Orleans life. The Pontchartrain becomes less a hotel and more a neighborhood institution.

 

2000s — A Fight for Survival

Closed, But Never Forgotten

Following Hurricane Katrina and years of uncertainty, the hotel closes in 2007. Plans emerge to convert the property into senior residences, leaving many wondering whether the Pontchartrain’s story had ended.

 

2010s — A Grand Revival

New Orleans Falls in Love Again

AJ Capital Partners restores the property and reopens the Pontchartrain in 2016. Bayou Bar returns, Hot Tin debuts, and the hotel is reintroduced to a new generation while honoring its past. In 2019, Jack Rose earns USA Today’s title of Best Hotel Restaurant in America.