Historic St. James Hotel in Selma announces it’s closing again

The one-of-kind historic St. James Hotel in Selma has announced it will be closing yet again.

The hotel posted the following statement on Facebook:

“We are deeply saddened to share that the historic St. James Hotel will close its doors on August 23rd. Since first opening in 1837, the St. James has welcomed an extraordinary range of guests—from the infamous Jesse James to Civil War soldiers and leaders of the Civil Rights Movement. This was not an easy decision, and our hope remains that one day the St. James will once again be restored to the prominence and legacy it so richly deserves.”

The hotel has been a landmark along the banks of the Alabama River, but as Action 8 News has reported over the years, it has faced a recent history of off-and-on openings and closings.

The hotel had just reopened on May 1. With the reopening, it was no longer a Hilton Hotels property. Crews had spent weeks this spring to refurbish rooms and the lobby, with a full-service bar and restaurant.

It previously underwent a multi-million dollar renovation in 2019-2020. It reopened in 2021 after being closed since 2018. At one time, it was owned by the city of Selma, which was paying $25,000 a month to keep it operating.

Action 8 News is reaching out to various officials to learn more about the latest closing and the hotel’s future prospects.