Tridecaphobia to Blame for No 13th Floor in Historic Abilene Hotel?
By: Gina Benitez
Updated: January 13, 2012
You may not be the superstitious type, but today is Friday the 13th and many in our area may be surprised to find out that one of Abilene's most historic landmarks has no 13th floor.
Officials at the Hotel Wooten say the reason is based primarily on past superstitions, but no one knows for sure.
Tridecaphobia is the fear of the number 13.
The historic building has an elevator that quickly rises to the 12th, skips the 13th and goes directly to the 14th floor.
The hotel's manager says most don't complain about the issue but says there is another superstition that plagues the building.
"We do have a female resident ghost. She's very nice," says Hotel Wooten's Community Director Kim Dodd. "She loves to ride the elevators. Often she comes down to the lobby."
Dodd says the elevators travel up and down, the doors mysteriously open and close and no residents enter or exit.
Officials at the Hotel Wooten say the reason is based primarily on past superstitions, but no one knows for sure.
Tridecaphobia is the fear of the number 13.
The historic building has an elevator that quickly rises to the 12th, skips the 13th and goes directly to the 14th floor.
The hotel's manager says most don't complain about the issue but says there is another superstition that plagues the building.
"We do have a female resident ghost. She's very nice," says Hotel Wooten's Community Director Kim Dodd. "She loves to ride the elevators. Often she comes down to the lobby."
Dodd says the elevators travel up and down, the doors mysteriously open and close and no residents enter or exit.
