Orton's Pool Room
On any pool players bucket list, Orton Billiard and Pool Rooms in Wilmington, North Carolina. This is the nation's oldest pool hall, established in 1888. The building was the Orton Hotel, it burned down in 1949, but the basement with the laundry, pool hall, and the barber shop were the only areas untouched. Don't be fooled by it's age, they have a lot of regulars and young professionals who play here.Fun Fact: In 1953, Mosconi set a world record here for pocketing 365 balls!
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Orton+Billiard+%26+Pool+Rooms
Forum Post by Doodysquat:Recently returned from a trip to Wilmington, NC where I visited Ortons Pool Room. They claim to be "America's Oldest Pool Room". It is located on Front Street in downtown Wilmington right on the boardwalk. You would hardly know it is there except for the sign above a single door leading to the basement where the Orton Hotel stood...built in 1888. The Hotel burned to the ground back in the '40's, but the basement pool room is there still. Tons of local stories about it being haunted including people who have taken pictures with shadowy pictures in the background. I took several pics, but no apparitions!
Neat place, but time changes everything and it has become a bit of a dive, with tons of college kids and live music several nights played on a stage built back at the end of the room. Its a piece if pool history that is worth a visit!
https://forums.azbilliards.com/threads/oldest-surviving-pool-hall-in-usa.367194/page-2
1888
Architect, J. A. Wood of New York
Look at that old phone number! RO was the two letters that identified the telephone exchange nearest to Wilmington and then the five digits were for Orton's
World's pocket billiard record run of 365 Balls Established on this table by Willie Mosconi - November 13, 1953
| Highest Runs | ||
|---|---|---|
| Only the 356 run was at Orton's | ||
| November 13, 1953 | Willie Mosconi | 365 |
| March 19, 1954 | Willie Mosconi | 526 |
| May 27, 2019 | John Schmidt | 626 |
| January 18, 2022 | Jayson Shaw | 714 |
Orton Pool Room Haunting:
The Orton Pool Room is the only remaining structure from the Orton Hotel, which was Wilmington's first five-star hotel. The Orton was built in 1886 and burned to the ground in 1949 leaving only the basement. Making it the oldest continually operated billiards parlor in America. The only victim of the tragic fire is still there, playing pool and having a good time with patrons. Make sure you say Hi to Willie when you get there.
On any pool players bucket list, Orton Billiard and Pool Rooms in Wilmington, North Carolina. This is the nation's oldest pool hall, established in 1888.
