If walls could talk, the old walls of the Stanhope House (c.1794), the Last Great American Road House, would have some serious stories to tell. The club was the stomping grounds and post-show hangout of a massive array of loved blues legends.
Imagine, the late, great Stevie Ray Vaughn scrubbing dishes in the kitchen after a late night, jam packed gig. Picture Muddy Waters‘ deep, grainy voice trading chicken recipes with former club Matron, Mama Wrobleski or the original Hoochie Coochie Man, Willie Dixon stopping by for Thanksgiving dinner. All of it happened at The Stanhope House, one of the last great blues bastions left in America.
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If walls could talk, the old walls of the Stanhope House (c.1794), the Last Great American Road House, would have some serious stories to tell. The club was the stomping grounds and post-show hangout of a massive array of loved blues legends.
Imagine, the late, great Stevie Ray Vaughn scrubbing dishes in the kitchen after a late night, jam packed gig. Picture Muddy Waters‘ deep, grainy voice trading chicken recipes with former club Matron, Mama Wrobleski or the original Hoochie Coochie Man, Willie Dixon stopping by for Thanksgiving dinner. All of it happened at The Stanhope House, one of the last great blues bastions left in America.
The former private home, stagecoach stop, general store, post office, tavern, rooming house (some say brothel) and hotel became well-known in the early 1970s for featuring a list of performers that reads like a who’s who of Blues-Rock history. Paul Butterfield, Charlie Musselwhite, Dr. John, Luther “Guitar Jr.” Johnson, Billy Branch, Lonnie Mack, Son Seals, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Hubert Sumlin, Johnny Copeland, Richie Havens, John Lee Hooker, Albert Collins, Albert King and Buddy Guy rocked the stage, most more than once.
This honky tonk is also rumored to be home to an entirely different kind of “soul“. With over two hundred years of history to pull from, it’s no surprise that there have been whispers about the Stanhope House Ghost, a spirit that has made unexpected visits to the club and caused more than one midnight manager a bit of uneasiness. There have been stories of doors randomly opening and closing and unexplained footsteps. Apparently though, this ghost is the helpful sort – employees have arrived to find glasses that were left dirty and in disarray the night before, clean and neatly put away.
So, whether trying to mingle with ghosts or blues, come on down and experience the history. Taste our all-American home cooking, have a drink and see the best in blues, rock, soul and more on a stage of legends. The Stanhope House is officially back in business!
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The Stanhope House
