“This certifies that anytime you keep on the Radisson Muehlebach throughout your anniversary month, your room price would be the identical as your unique honeymoon price,” the observe mentioned. “Merely make your reservation prematurely and current this coupon upon your arrival.”
The certificates was dated June 25, 1983 — the day that O’Brien and his spouse Melinda O’Brien had been married. Though their final title was misspelled, the coupon additionally confirmed that the O’Briens had paid $38 to remain for one night time in Room No. 314 on the Radisson Muehlebach Resort.
O’Brien, now 64, mentioned he was shocked that day in late March to search out the voucher contained in the field, together with a marriage scrapbook, letters of congratulations and different mementos.
Then a thought occurred to him, he mentioned. His fortieth wedding ceremony anniversary was developing. What had been the possibilities that the lodge would nonetheless honor that certificates?
“I didn’t even recall them giving it to us,” he mentioned. “However I assumed there was at the very least a 50-50 likelihood that the folks now working the lodge may allow us to apply it to our fortieth anniversary.”
Inbuilt 1915, the Muehlebach in Kansas Metropolis closed in 1986 and the lodge’s rooms had been vacant for 37 years. However the present proprietor of the constructing, Marriott Inns, had made the historic lodge part of Kansas City Marriott Downtown and lately reopened the Muehlebach’s legendary bar, as soon as frequented by author Truman Capote.
O’Brien determined to electronic mail a picture of the certificates to Derek McCann, managing director of the Kansas Metropolis Marriott Downtown, hopeful that the lodge would nonetheless honor the 40-year-old voucher.
McCann mentioned he was shocked when he noticed the date on the coupon.
“Forty years is a reasonably very long time,” he mentioned. “Tim wrote in his electronic mail that it was a protracted shot, however he questioned if there was any chance we might honor the present certificates.”
Marriott rooms much like the one the O’Briens stayed in on their 1983 wedding ceremony night time now price between $200 to $250 an evening, he mentioned, including that “this was undoubtedly one of many extra uncommon requests we’ve ever had.”
However McCann mentioned he instantly thought, “Why not?”
After consulting with lodge supervisor Dustin Holcumbrink, it was determined they would honor Tim O’Brien’s request.
“A fortieth wedding ceremony anniversary is a major milestone,” McCann mentioned. “The truth that they’d discovered the certificates virtually 40 years after they obtained it made it much more particular.”
“Regardless that it was now not attainable for them to remain of their unique room, we thought this is able to be a superb alternative for them to relive some glad reminiscences,” Holcumbrink added.
The O’Briens met in 1978, after they had been every attending the College of Kansas, mentioned Melinda O’Brien, a retired IBM techniques engineer, now 65.
“A mutual pal launched us, and we frolicked in the identical group of individuals nearly as good pals at first,” she mentioned, noting that the couple started severely relationship in 1979.
“She pursued me for years earlier than we acquired engaged,” joked Tim O’Brien, a retired lawyer.
After their wedding ceremony on the Nation Membership Christian Church in Kansas Metropolis, Mo., the couple partied at their reception on the Leawood Nation Membership in Kansas till late into the night time and didn’t test into the Radisson Muehlebach till 3 a.m., Melinda O’Brien mentioned.
Their one-night keep on the Muehlebach was the one honeymoon they might put collectively on the time as a result of Tim O’Brien was getting ready to take the Kansas state bar examination, she mentioned.
“I bear in mind our room was quaint and charming with excessive ceilings,” she mentioned. “Sadly, we didn’t get to remain very lengthy in it, as a result of we’d foolishly organized to satisfy our households for a present opening brunch at 10 a.m.”
The O’Briens settled in Mission, Kan., and ultimately moved to Overland Park, about 12 miles from Kansas Metropolis, to lift three kids, Tim O’Brien mentioned.
“Periodically, we’d return to the Muehlebach for particular occasions,” he mentioned. “Too unhealthy we’d forgotten we had this cool present certificates.”
The Resort Muehlebach has a storied previous and was in actual fact recognized in some circles as President Harry S. Truman’s White House West, Derek McCann mentioned.
“He spent many weeks there, and to this present day, we nonetheless host a big gala occasion on the lodge to lift funds for his presidential library,” he mentioned.
In 1964, the Beatles additionally stayed on the Muehlebach, main lodge workers to remove all of the furniture from the foyer as a result of they feared it is likely to be broken by enthusiastic followers.
Melinda O’Brien famous that no such preparation was required earlier than she and her husband checked in. However she and Tim O’Brien are enthusiastic about utilizing their 40-year-old lodge voucher on Sunday.
“Possibly we’ll test in at 3 a.m. once more after we go to a neighborhood jazz membership,” Tim O’Brien quipped.
McCann mentioned the lodge shall be prepared for them.
“It’s their ruby anniversary, so we’re planning to have a number of purple decorations and different surprises within the room after they arrive,” he mentioned.
The historic Muehlebach bar, now referred to as the Voo Lounge, is closed on Sundays, however the Marriott has invited the O’Briens to return one other night for dinner and drinks, McCann added.
Tim O’Brien mentioned he and his spouse shall be glad to take them up on it.
“However this time, we undoubtedly received’t look ahead to 40 years to redeem the provide,” he mentioned.
