Hotel Roberts was a historic hotel located in central
Provo,
Utah,
United States, that was formerly listed on the
National Register of Historic Places.
Description
The former hotel, which was built in 1882, was located at 192 South University Avenue (
US-189).
The
Mission-style
The Mission Revival style was part of an architectural movement, beginning in the late 19th century, for the revival and reinterpretation of American colonial styles. Mission Revival drew inspiration from the late 18th and early 19th century ...
hotel was a famous landmark and a center of Provo social activity for much of the early 20th century.
Following its construction, Hotel Roberts was considered "the most luxurious hotel in the
Utah Territory."
It also served briefly as the Language Training Mission (now called the
Missionary Training Center) for
the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the Church).
In December 1919 the hotel was purchased by Mark Anderson who would later serve as Mayor of Provo and the namesake of the Provo power plant, "The Mark Anderson Utility Center." The hotel remained in the family for many years and was run by Anderson's son, Mark Anderson Jr, until he retired in 1995 at the age of 76 when the family sold the hotel because the upkeep was too much.
In later years, Hotel Roberts fell into serious disrepair, with profound structural and water damage, and was largely known as a residence for transients.
Neglect by the owners and lack of community support to maintain the building led to its demolition in November 2004.
The hotel had been added to the National Register of Historic Places July 26, 1979, but was removed on April 28, 2005.
In December 2010 the nearby
Provo Tabernacle (located a
block to the north and was built one year after the construction of the Hotel Roberts) was nearly completely destroyed by a fire. That structure was later refurbished into the Church's
Provo City Center Temple
The Provo City Center Temple. is a temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) on the same site as the former Provo Tabernacle in Provo, Utah. Completed in 2016, the temple utilizes much of the external shell of th ...
. The site of the former hotel was sold to the Church and became the southernmost part of the grounds of the temple, with a single-level
parking garage
A multistorey car park (British and Singapore English) or parking garage (American English), also called a multistory, parking building, parking structure, parkade (mainly Canadian), parking ramp, parking deck or indoor parking, is a build ...
built below ground level.
See also
*
References
External links
1905 photo of Hotel Roberts- Editorial about the historic significance of Hotel Roberts
{{Provo, Utah
Hotel buildings completed in 1882
Properties of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Demolished hotels in the United States
Hotels in Utah
Former buildings and structures in Provo, Utah
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Utah
Buildings and structures demolished in 2004
Defunct hotels in the United States
Demolished buildings and structures in Utah
Former National Register of Historic Places in Utah
1882 establishments in Utah Territory
2004 disestablishments in Utah