Welcome to the Inferno
Courtesy Wilkinson Rhodes
“'Tis now the very witching time of night,” and 550 revelers decked in frightful attire descend upon a “haunted” hotel in San Antonio for an All Hallow’s Eve celebration of “Sinners and Saints.”
Guests had six hours to travel through the underworld of the damned in the hotel’s main floor and wait to be forgiven in purgatory on the rooftop of the hotel.
The revelers are welcomed into this afterlife in true San Antonio style--by mariachis, colorful spiders with mammoth webs, and a haunted hedge wall where guests could pick their “poison” from the hands on the hedge wall.
View of the hedge wall
Courtesy Wilkinson Rhodes
Helpful hands hand out drinks
Courtesy Wilkinson Rhodes
Helpful hands hand out drinks.
Guests at the hedge wall
Courtesy Wilkinson Rhodes
Guests at the hedge wall.
Welcome to Dante's World
Courtesy Wilkinson Rhodes
After celebrating the “day of the dead” with the mariachis, guests venture into the hotel to discover an inferno worthy of Dante.
They are greeted by a floating genie to help grant them wishes during their travels.
In the lobby, hundreds of yards of red drape cover the walls, standing candelabras and plants are covered in spider webs, tables are dressed in red linens with glittering skull candelabra centerpieces, and the fireplace is decorated with an evil witch amidst sparkling black and purple decor.
Scary photo opp
Courtesy Wilkinson Rhodes
The lobby
Courtesy Wilkinson Rhodes
A long view of the lobby.
A closer look
Courtesy Wilkinson Rhodes
Frightening fireplace
Courtesy Wilkinson Rhodes
That's one frightening fireplace.
Ghoul Band
Courtesy Wilkinson Rhodes
The Ghoul Band plays in the lobby.
Butt Sketch artist
Courtesy Wilkinson Rhodes
Red Witch
Courtesy Wilkinson Rhodes
'Soul food' buffet
Courtesy Wilkinson Rhodes
Guests can savor an incredible display of “soul food” from the “third circle” of Hell.
This frightful display includes “rotten zombie and bloodshot eggs” (bacon jalapeno deviled eggs), a scary carved pumpkin with spinach-artichoke dip and orange, purple and black chips protruding from its mouth, deep fried “intestines” (sausage) in a skeletal cavity, and voodoo chicken sacrifices (Buffalo chicken with ranch and aioli sauces).
The dramatic entrance to the Anacacho Ballroom
Courtesy Wilkinson Rhodes
The dramatic entrance to the Anacacho Ballroom.
Makeover of ballroom
Courtesy Wilkinson Rhodes
The iconic Anacacho Ballroom gets a stunning makeover.
Dancers, Roonie G
Courtesy Wilkinson Rhodes
Demons and devils draw quite the crowd in the ballroom with their custom dance routines.
Interspersed between these routines is hit video DJ Roonie G. He plays tunes and provides the perfect spooktacular backdrop among the red lounge furniture, creating a club atmosphere.
Dessert bar with werewolf
Courtesy Wilkinson Rhodes
In the center of the Peraux Room, a werewolf stands on a platform surrounded by a circular dessert bar.
Scary dessert bar
Courtesy Wilkinson Rhodes
The sweet and spooky fare includes mummy truffles, witch hat cookies, and newt’s eye chocolate pretzels.
Spooky Last Supper
Courtesy Wilkinson Rhodes
On the back wall, a masked version of a Last Supper Halloween feast takes place over the glowing bars.
Dinner table close-up
Courtesy Wilkinson Rhodes
Close-up of a dinner table.
Another close-up
Courtesy Wilkinson Rhodes
Skeleton at the bar
Courtesy Wilkinson Rhodes
Bar vignette
Courtesy Wilkinson Rhodes
The bedroom of the Bride and Groom
Courtesy Wilkinson Rhodes
The bedroom of the Bride and Groom.
The Garden of Good and Evil
Courtesy Wilkinson Rhodes
Later in the evening, an opportunity for redemption comes.
Guests take an elevator up to the rooftop pool area and are greeted in Purgatory at the Garden of Good and Evil by Eve.
She offers sinfully delicious candied apples to all the lost souls. An angelic woman in a bubble dances over the fountain of youth. A band provides the perfect lively music to get all of the souls dancing as they wait for their judgment to be rendered.
