Historic St. James Hotel in Selma planning to reopen this month
St. James Hotel in Selma is a pre-Civil War landmark – Photo from WAKA Action 8 News
SELMA, Ala. (WAKA) – The historic St. James Hotel on the banks of the Alabama River in Selma is scheduled to reopen later this month as a Marriott property.
The hotel posted this announcement on its Facebook page:
“We are rooted in this special place we call home and in the people who make it so special. The St. James Hotel is working hard to reopen this month, and we are getting very close to confirming our official opening date. There are still a few moving pieces, but we can’t wait to share the news and welcome you back soon. Stay tuned. We’re almost there.”
According to a report from the Black Belt News Network, the hotel has set a tentative reopening date of September 15, pending final approval from Marriott.
The hotel is already listed on the Marriott Hotel website.
The hotel has been a landmark along the banks of the Alabama River since opening in 1837, but as Action 8 News has reported over the years, it has faced a recent history of off-and-on openings and closings.
St. James Hotel in Selma is a pre-Civil War landmark – Photo from WAKA Action 8 News
The hotel last closed in August 2025 after having reopened on May 1 of that year. With that reopening, it was no longer a Hilton Hotels property. Crews had spent weeks to refurbish rooms and the lobby, with a full-service bar and restaurant before that short reopening as an independent property.
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.
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. It is the only riverfront pre-Civil War era hotel still that still exists. The hotel sits near the Edmund Pettus Bridge on the banks of the Alabama River.
ACTION 8 NEWS ARCHIVES: SAVING THE ST. JAMES HOTEL (from 2020)
