An El Paso Penthouse Briefly Became Elizabeth Taylor’s Home

In 1950, one of the biggest stars in the world one Downtown El Paso hotel home.

Elizabeth Taylor, who died Wednesday in Los Angeles, briefly lived in the penthouse of the Plaza Hotel, formerly known as the Hilton Hotel, after she married Conrad “Nicky” Hilton, Jr.

“She was a beautiful lady,” recalls Leonardo Pineda. “Nice. Kind. Not like other movie stars.”

Pineda was just 17 years old when he started working at the hotel 1953. He said he has seen many celebrities come in and out of the building, but none as pretty as Taylor.

“She was gorgeous,” Pienda said.

Taylor lived in the penthouse on the 18th floor.

“She had the whole floor to herself,” Pineda said.

Pineda said his favorite movie of Taylor’s was “Cleopatra.”

“She looked so beautiful in that thing, that costume, with her crown and everything,” Pineda said.

Years later, Pineda still remembers the time she squeezed his shoulder and the beautiful clothing she wore. Pineda said Taylor had so many Sun City admirers he had to sneak his way into work.

“I used to go to the elevator in the alley,” Pineda said. “They used to take us to the basement and then i’d go around and take the elevators up to the floors.”

The hotel is may now be empty, but Pineda is full of memories from Taylor’s time there.