The Disturbing Mystery of Hotel ZaZa's Room 322: Inside Houston's Secret Chamber
The mystery of Room 322 at Houston's Hotel ZaZa has captivated online communities since 2013 when a Reddit user shared unsettling photos of a strangely decorated space. The room features an unusual aesthetic compared to the hotel's typical upscale accommodations: a bed chained to a brick wall, concrete flooring, and bizarre artwork including skulls and a portrait of Jay Koumei, a former executive involved in a Ponzi scheme. When discovered, the front desk clerk reportedly stated that this room "wasn't supposed to be rented."
When media outlets investigated this peculiar space, Hotel ZaZa's marketing team claimed it was simply a themed room called "Hard Times" designed to simulate a jail experience. However, this explanation raised more questions than answers, as the room was never listed on the hotel's website alongside their other themed suites. Verification attempts revealed that official hotel representatives only acknowledge their publicly marketed themed rooms, with no mention of Room 322 or "Hard Times" in any promotional materials.
Key Takeaways
A Reddit post exposed an unsettling hotel room at Houston's ZaZa featuring prison-like decor and mysterious portraits that contrasted sharply with the hotel's luxury image.
Hotel management claimed the space was intentionally designed as a themed "jail experience" room called "Hard Times," despite it being absent from all marketing materials.
The room's unusual features, including the portrait of a disgraced financier and the staff's initial reaction that it "wasn't supposed to be rented," suggest there might be more to the story than the official explanation.
The Perplexing Hotel Enigma
The Disturbing Social Media Discovery
In 2013, a Reddit user named "you'll likes music" shared an unusual experience at Houston's Hotel ZaZa. While staying for business, the user's colleague was assigned to room 322—a room dramatically different from the hotel's typical accommodations. The small, dungeon-like space featured chains securing the bed to a brick wall, concrete flooring, and disturbing decorations including skull imagery and an odd portrait of an older man. When questioned, the front desk clerk appeared surprised, stating the room "wasn't supposed to be rented" and immediately moved the guest to different accommodations.
The Reddit post included photos that quickly gained over 2,600 upvotes. The images revealed a stark contrast between room 322 and the hotel's standard luxury rooms. Many users immediately found the space unsettling and inappropriate for a high-end hotel.
Details of Room 322's Interior
The room's decor featured several concerning elements:
Bed chained to a brick wall
Cold concrete flooring instead of carpet
Skull imagery on the walls
Portrait of Jay Comeaux (former executive at Stanford Financial Group)
Significantly smaller space (approximately one-third the size of standard rooms)
Furniture placement that obstructed the view of both the TV and window
The most peculiar aspect was the portrait of Jay Comeaux, who was connected to a Ponzi scheme shut down by federal authorities in 2009. While no direct financial ties between Comeaux and the hotel were discovered, researchers noted a potential connection: Comeaux belonged to Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity with a chapter called Zeta Zeta—phonetically similar to "ZaZa."
ZaZa Hotel's Concealed Theme Accommodations
When media outlets contacted Hotel ZaZa about room 322, marketing head Kira Koontz provided an unexpected explanation. According to Koontz, the room was intentionally designed as a themed space called "Hard Times" meant to simulate a "jail experience." She mentioned another themed room called "Ship's Cabin" designed to resemble a yacht.
Strangely, neither "Hard Times" nor "Ship's Cabin" appeared on the hotel's website despite the hotel actively promoting their other themed accommodations, including:
Bellavita
Black Label
Fatal Charms
For Your Eyes Only
It Happened One Night
Rockstar Suite
Tycoon
When directly contacted by phone, hotel staff confirmed only the publicly listed themed rooms exist at the property. This contradicts Koontz's statement about the additional themed rooms and raises questions about why room 322 is kept off marketing materials despite supposedly being an intentional part of the hotel's offerings.
Investigative Findings
Connections to Yale's Secret Organization
Research into Room 322 at Hotel ZaZa revealed potential links to secretive organizations. Some online discussions connected the room number to Yale University's historical society founded in 1832. This society operated under the Russell Trust Association, which financial records show still maintained approximately $3.6 million in assets as of 2016. The organization's logo features skull imagery, which parallels some of the decorative elements found in the mysterious hotel room. While these connections seem tenuous, they gained traction in online forums where users attempted to explain the room's unusual aesthetics and restricted status.
Unveiling the Man in the Portrait
A particularly strange element in Room 322 was the portrait of an older man prominently displayed on the wall. This individual was identified as Jay Koumei, a former executive at Stanford Financial Group based in Houston. His notoriety stems from involvement in a Ponzi scheme that federal authorities shut down in 2009. SEC documents through 2017 detail settlements resulting from this financial fraud.
Interestingly, Koumei graduated from LSU and belonged to the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity, specifically its Zeta Zeta chapter - phonetically similar to "ZaZa." Within this fraternity existed an obscure group called "the Friars" that reportedly used skull and crossbones symbolism. While this creates an intriguing coincidental connection to the room's decor, concrete evidence linking Koumei directly to the hotel remains elusive.
When media outlets investigated the room following its viral Reddit post, ZaZa's marketing director Kira Koontz claimed it was a themed space called "Hard Times" designed to simulate a jail experience. Despite this explanation, the room does not appear in any official hotel marketing materials, unlike their other themed accommodations.
Investigative Findings
Connections to Yale's Secret Organization
Research into Room 322 at Hotel ZaZa revealed potential links to secretive organizations. Some online discussions connected the room number to Yale University's historical society founded in 1832. This society operated under the Russell Trust Association, which financial records show still maintained approximately $3.6 million in assets as of 2016. The organization's logo features skull imagery, which parallels some of the decorative elements found in the mysterious hotel room. While these connections seem tenuous, they gained traction in online forums where users attempted to explain the room's unusual aesthetics and restricted status.
Unveiling the Man in the Portrait
A particularly strange element in Room 322 was the portrait of an older man prominently displayed on the wall. This individual was identified as Jay Koumei, a former executive at Stanford Financial Group based in Houston. His notoriety stems from involvement in a Ponzi scheme that federal authorities shut down in 2009. SEC documents through 2017 detail settlements resulting from this financial fraud.
Interestingly, Koumei graduated from LSU and belonged to the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity, specifically its Zeta Zeta chapter - phonetically similar to "ZaZa." Within this fraternity existed an obscure group called "the Friars" that reportedly used skull and crossbones symbolism. While this creates an intriguing coincidental connection to the room's decor, concrete evidence linking Koumei directly to the hotel remains elusive.
When media outlets investigated the room following its viral Reddit post, ZaZa's marketing director Kira Koontz claimed it was a themed space called "Hard Times" designed to simulate a jail experience. Despite this explanation, the room does not appear in any official hotel marketing materials, unlike their other themed accommodations.
Alternative Theories and Company Statements
Possible Connection to Delta Kappa Epsilon
The mysterious Room 322 at Hotel ZaZa in Houston has sparked numerous theories, with one focusing on potential fraternity connections. Some internet sleuths noted possible links to Delta Kappa Epsilon, a fraternity with chapters across the United States. This connection emerged partly because Jay Comeaux, whose portrait hangs in the room, graduated from LSU and belonged to this fraternity.
The chapter Comeaux joined was called "Zeta Zeta," which bears phonetic similarities to "ZaZa" - the hotel's name. This coincidence raised eyebrows among those investigating the room's unusual design and purpose.
Alleged Secret Societies
The fraternity angle deepens with references to "the Friars," a little-known group within the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity. Almost no public information exists about this organization, adding to the mystery surrounding Room 322.
Some online theorists point to Yale University's "Order 322" as another potential connection, noting the room number might reference this secretive group. The Order, established in 1832, operates under the Russell Trust Association, which financial records show still maintained approximately $3.6 million in assets as recently as 2016.
The skull imagery found in Room 322 fueled these speculations, as skull symbolism appears in various secret society iconography. However, this common motif appears in many contexts, making definitive connections difficult to establish.
The Skull Imagery Dead End
The skull decorations that feature prominently in Room 322 initially seemed significant to investigators, particularly given the alleged connections to secret societies. However, skull imagery is extremely common in decorative contexts and appears in numerous organizations' symbols.
Despite initial excitement about this visual clue, researchers found this element created more confusion than clarity. The seemingly random assortment of decorations in the room - including chains, concrete flooring, and the portrait of Comeaux - don't form a coherent theme that clearly points to any specific organization.
When media outlets contacted Hotel ZaZa about the room, marketing representative Kira Koontz offered a straightforward explanation. She claimed Room 322 was simply a themed space called "Hard Times" designed to simulate a jail experience. According to Koontz, the hotel maintains another compact themed room called "Ship's Cabin" resembling a yacht, with both overlooking the pool area.
Despite these explanations, neither "Hard Times" nor "Ship's Cabin" appeared anywhere on the hotel's official website at the time, unlike their other themed accommodations which were prominently featured in marketing materials.
The Design Mismatch
Room 322 at Hotel Zaza in Houston stands out as a bizarre anomaly among the hotel's otherwise luxurious accommodations. This room features chains holding the bed to a brick wall, concrete flooring, skull decorations, and an inexplicable portrait of Jay Komeye, a former executive involved in a Ponzi scheme through Stanford Financial Group.
The stark contrast between Room 322 and other rooms is immediately apparent. While standard rooms at Hotel Zaza are described as "swank" with rates ranging from $200-500 per night, this room appears deliberately designed to create discomfort. The space is approximately one-third the size of normal rooms, with furniture awkwardly positioned to block the television, bed, and window.
When confronted about the unusual space, hotel management provided a perplexing explanation. They claimed it was a themed room called "Hard Times" designed to simulate a "jail experience." Despite the hotel being known for its concept suites, this particular room was conspicuously absent from their website and marketing materials.
The staff's reaction further deepens the mystery. When a guest accidentally received this room, the front desk clerk appeared surprised, stating that "room isn't supposed to be rented" before immediately relocating the guest. This contradicts the marketing department's later assertion that the room is available for booking.
Online speculation has connected various elements of the room to secret societies:
The room number 322 resembles Yale's Skull and Bones society (Order 322)
The portrait subject was a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity, which had a chapter called Zeta Zeta (similar to "Zaza")
The skull imagery potentially connects to "The Friars," a secretive group within that fraternity
While these connections remain tenuous, the deliberate design choices create a jarring inconsistency with the hotel's luxury brand. The fact that a representative confirmed the existence of both this room and another themed "Ship's Cabin" room while neither appears in official listings raises significant questions about their intended purpose.
The Hotel's Official Statement
Hotel Zaza Houston has addressed inquiries about Room 322, explaining that it is actually a themed accommodation called "Hard Times." According to Kira Koontz, the hotel's head of marketing, the room is designed as "a play on a jail experience" and features one of the hotel's largest balconies overlooking the pool area.
The hotel maintains that Room 322 is not secret or restricted from being rented to guests. They clarified that another compact themed room called "Ship's Cabin," designed to resemble a yacht, exists on the opposite side of the hotel and also overlooks the pool area.
When contacted by media outlets following online speculation, hotel representatives emphasized that both rooms are part of their themed accommodation offerings. However, these particular themed rooms differ from the hotel's prominently advertised luxury suites such as the Magnificent Seven Suites and Concept Suites, which are featured on their website and marketing materials.
The statement came in response to photos of Room 322 appearing online, showing unusual decor elements including a bed chained to a brick wall, concrete flooring, and various unconventional artwork. The room's distinctive styling sparked considerable discussion when a hotel guest unexpectedly received the accommodation and shared images online.
Media Involvement and Coverage
The mystery surrounding Room 322 at Hotel ZaZa in Houston gained significant attention after a Reddit post in 2013. A user shared photos of the unusual room, describing it as a "goth dungeon closet" with chains holding the bed to the wall, concrete flooring, and strange decorations including skull imagery and an unexpected portrait.
The post quickly gathered over 2,600 upvotes on the Houston subreddit, sparking widespread speculation. Media outlets took notice of the viral story and began their own investigations. Houston Press was among the publications that contacted the hotel for clarification.
When questioned about Room 322, the hotel's head of marketing, Kira Koontz, provided an explanation to the press. She claimed it was a themed room called "Hard Times" designed to resemble a jail experience. Koontz also mentioned another compact themed room called "Ship's Cabin" on the opposite side of the hotel.
The marketing representative insisted that neither room was secret or kept from being rented. However, neither "Hard Times" nor "Ship's Cabin" appeared on the hotel's website, which listed their other themed accommodations. This discrepancy raised further questions about the hotel's transparency.
Media coverage highlighted several peculiar elements that fueled public interest:
The bed chained to a brick wall
Cold concrete flooring
Seemingly random photographs and decorations
A portrait of Jay Comeaux, a Houston executive connected to a Ponzi scheme
When the original poster contacted the front desk, they were told the room "wasn't supposed to be rented" and their colleague was immediately moved to different accommodations. This staff response contradicted the official statement later given to the media.
The unusual design choices in Room 322 stood in stark contrast to the hotel's other luxurious accommodations, which typically cost between $200-$500 per night. This disparity made the room's existence even more puzzling to both guests and journalists investigating the story.
Unraveling the Mystery of Room 322
Room 322 at Houston's Hotel ZaZa stands as a peculiar anomaly that has sparked intense online speculation since 2013. This unusual space, which a Reddit user accidentally encountered, features distinctive elements that starkly contrast with the hotel's standard luxury accommodations: a bed chained to a brick wall, concrete flooring, skull imagery, and a portrait of Jay Kosmoe, a former executive involved in a Ponzi scheme.
When confronted about this strange room, the hotel's marketing team claimed it was actually a themed room called "Hard Times" designed as a "jail experience." They also mentioned another compact themed room called "Ship's Cabin." Curiously, neither of these rooms appears in any of the hotel's marketing materials or website listings, despite the hotel being known for its elaborate themed suites.
The front desk's initial reaction—stating the room "wasn't supposed to be rented"—adds another layer to the mystery. When calling the hotel directly, staff only acknowledge their officially advertised concept suites and specialty rooms, with no mention of Room 322. This disconnect between the room's existence and the hotel's public offerings continues to fuel speculation about its true purpose and why it remains hidden from the hotel's promotional materials.
