To Whom it May Concern:

My husband and I spent two nights at the Rogers Hotel in June, 2005, and we really enjoyed the historic ambience of the hotel.

I grew up in Ellis County and I used to drive by the hotel wanting to stay there but feeling I had no practical reason to since I lived about five minutes from there.  In the summer of 2004, I relocated to the East Texas area and this finally gave me a reason to stay at the Rogers Hotel on a trip back "home" to visit family.  Even before the hotel was restored, I was always intrigued by the Rogers Hotel.  I was excited to finally see the inside of it, and I definitely saw more than I ever expected!

My husband, who is a law enforcement officer, put his badge and gun in the nightstand next to our bed in room 404. 

We unpacked and settled in for the night.  During the night, around two a.m., I was awakened.  Our room, of course, was dark and quiet.  I looked over at my husband, and he was sleeping soundly.   However, I was quite amazed to see an apparition, standing by my husband's side of the bed. 

There was a man dressed in very old western wear.  He had on a floppy, worn-out looking cowboy hat, and he had a droopy handle bar moustache.  He was standing there, pointing a gun at my husband and me.  Even in the dark room, his eyes were very clear to me.

Startled, I immediately glanced at the other side of the room (to orient myself and figure out where I was), and I looked back quickly, and the figure was gone.  This occurred in a matter of seconds.

The next day my husband asked me why I didn't wake him up since I was "so scared."  I told my husband, "That's the thing though - I wasn't scared.  I looked at the figure and thought - you've got to be kidding!"  I later think back to that night with surprise since one would expect me to have been terrified.  I remember, once I realized the apparition was gone, going immediately back to sleep. 

My husband and I are both Christians, and I have always scoffed at so-called "ghostly encounters."  However, I know that the figure beside our bed that night was very vivid.  The skeptic inside me keeps asking - could that have been a dream?  I don't think so.

Sincerely,

A Former Guest of the Rogers Hotel

(name withheld by request)