The Story

The origin story of a grand hotel is often misplaced by history. Not so with Hotel Greene.  

Hotel Greene was built in 1905 in an Eastern European city. It was the dream of Emil Gorski, a local entrepreneur who wanted to bring a world class hotel to his town. He was infatuated with British hotel names (Carlton, Savoy, Bristol) and the combination of luxury and solidity they conferred. To that end Hotel Greene was born. 

No expense was spared in Gorski’s design; Persian carpets, crystal chandeliers, Moroccan tiles and a smart lobby bar in the latest fashion. Gorski reportedly boasted to all who would listen of the whopping 600,000 Zlotys it cost to transport by boat and then truck the portrait of an African lion he commissioned from a painter in Rome. He went broke and skipped town just prior to the grand opening. Rumor has it Gorski eventually made it to America and, ever the visionary, recognizing the emergence of car culture made a fortune with a chain of modestly priced motels with adjacent mini golf courses.

Hotel Greene’s glory years were the 1920’s and 30’s. Foreign dignitaries, artists, actors, spies and saboteurs danced and whispered beneath Gorski’s lion. Anastasia Romanova was rumored to have stayed several months incognito. 

During the war years Gorski’s palace was taken over and used as offices by the local Nazi party. After the Liberation Hotel Greene became a hospital and then a mental institution. It was demolished in 1973.

The Storytellers

Andrea and Jim

Owners, designers, and finders of The Lion

In a better-planned life Andrea Ball and Jim Gottier would have gone to design school and properly pursued their passion. As it is, they took different paths and now delight in being enthusiastic amateurs. To refer to, rather than replicate, is the guiding principle that animates both Hotel Greene and Greenleaf’s Pool Room. Andrea and Jim love their city, their cats, and each other.

No faux-hotel, highfalutin’ mini golf course worth its salt is possible without a hearty band of creatives. Mad props to ours:

Rick Araluce

Creator of all that is Romance, Mystery and Unease

After seeing Rick Araluce’s exhibit at the Renwick Gallery in DC, we sent an email that started “We are building an indoor miniature golf course. Please keep reading.”  We are so much more than thankful that he did. In Rick’s own words:

I was born in Southern California. Growing up I can scarcely recall a moment where I wasn’t painting, building or creating. Although I’ve no formal academic training, and am essentially self-taught, I have attained a number of grants, awards, and prestigious commissions, including a room-sized immersive installation at the Smithsonian’s Renwick Gallery in Washington DC. As well, I was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship in 2015. This was a thrilling and affirming event to a person who has always followed his own path and avoided art fashion and trends, even when disadvantageous to do so. For many years now I have introduced technological elements in many of my works. Yet, technology and digital solutions aside, I am at heart a builder, a creator of physical and sensual experience. For over 20 years I worked as a lead scenic artist and sculptor for Seattle Opera, until the company closed its scene shop. I continue to seek out new artistic ventures and challenges and to develop my craft to its utmost. With Hotel Greene, I was tasked with bringing my vision to a new audience, which has only widened the public’s interest in my artwork. It was a thrill and joy to a be part of the team that brought this unique, captivating—and downright fun—venture to life. Enjoy!

Leslie Herman

The mind and pen behind the whimsy of Hotel Greene

Leslie Herman is an illustrator living in Richmond, VA. He has been awarded several times by The Society of Illustrators, American Illustration and others for his hand-crafted poster art, design, typography, brand identity and commercial illustration. He graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2009, studied at the Illustration Academy and The Art Department before going on to a career in freelance illustration and design while also working as a professor at VCU from 2014-18. He spends the days with his two dogs and two cats working out of his home studio in Westover Hills.

Steve LaRose

Finest Hellmouth painter since the middle ages

Steven LaRose lives and plays in Seattle, WA. He received his MFA from the Claremont Graduate University, and a BFA from Whitman College. He has had solo exhibitions in Seattle, Chicago, Los Angeles, Portland, and Ashland. His work has been discussed in the Los Angeles Times, ARTnews, The New Art Examiner, The Chicago Tribune, and on the Internet.

Sandra Newman

Professional apologist and apology-seeker

Sandra Newman is the author of the novels The Heavens, The Only Good Thing Anyone Has Ever Done, shortlisted for the Guardian First Book Award, Cake, and The Country of Ice Cream Star, longlisted for the Baileys Women’s Prize for Fiction and named one of the best books of the year by the Washington Post and NPR. She is the author of the memoir Changeling as well as several other nonfiction books. Her work has appeared in Harper’s and Granta, among other publications. She lives in New York City.

Madeline Honig

Animator and director of our animatic

When she is not working diligently to complete her Masters in Art Direction at VCU Brandcenter, she is often found sporting her red blazer at the front desk of Hotel Greene. Her careful and charming eye for the details of our faux hotel are found in abundance in her visual take on our story.

Nina Diab-Ghanem

Designer of this beautiful website

Nina’s background is in web and product design, user experience, and digital marketing and has worked with notable brands like Ralph Lauren as well as scrappy tech startups. She’s from The Gambia but lives in New York City with a tabby named Tobiko.

Taryn Kosviner

Summoner of ghosts

Taryn is a New York based writer, director and cinematographer. Her work has won numerous awards, including the CP-E/ SHOTS Young Director’s Award at Cannes and Best Drama at Cape Fear Independent Film Festival. Born and raised in South Africa, Taryn now lives in Brooklyn with her partner and baby.

Bob Horwath

Maze builder

Bob Howarth has built over 150 miniature golf courses throughout the Western world. He is a one-stop, amazing shop.

Conquest Moncure and Dunn

Blood, sweat and excruciating minutiae

Contractors extraordinaire.

Architecture Design Office | ADO

Hey! You try shoehorning an ADA-compliant mini golf course into this space

Todd, Kelsey, Copeland, you're like kinda gods or something.