Group of 15 hotels includes two former castles, a fire station and handful of local landmarks
"Staying at a Historic Hotels of America member is all about the experience," said Thierry Roch, executive director of National Trust Historic Hotels of America. "These 15 new members enhance our collection and offer travelers even more alternatives to commonplace lodging. The travel journey is even better when staying at a hotel or inn with local flavor or tradition."
A handful of the new hotels were originally built for another purpose, and later converted to lodging, an example of adaptive use. Altering a building's function often allows it to remain viable as the economic needs of a community change. The adapted properties include two castles in New York state-one is the second largest private residence in the United States; a century-old fire station; the first women's dormitory built in Arkansas; a Napa Valley mill; a quaint village and guest house designed by a female architect in 1923; and a Blue Ridge Mountain hunting lodge with a tradition dating to the Civil War. As the economy in these communities changed, so did the use of the building. In many cases, preservationists rallied to save the buildings and convert them into hotels.
Many historic hotels have a history as the cornerstone of business and social activity in the community. This is especially true in cities such as St. Louis, Seattle and New Orleans where five new members of Historic Hotels of America have seen guests ranging from politicians and famous entertainers to countless local brides and prom-attending high school students walk through the door.
A program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Historic Hotels of America is a marketing association. To qualify for membership, hotels must be at least 50 years old, listed in or eligible for the National Register of Historic Places or recognized locally as having historic significance. Established in 1989 with 32 original hotel members, Historic Hotels of America recognizes and promotes these hotels for their historic integrity, architectural quality and outstanding preservation efforts made by owners and managers.
Representing more than 35,000 rooms, Historic Hotels of America ranks as the 16th largest consortia in the world, according to Hotels magazine (July 2003).
National Trust Historic Hotels of America New Members: 2004
Inn at Carnall Hall, Fayetteville, Ark.
Located on the University of Arkansas campus, Carnall Hall was the first women's dormitory built in the state. The 1905 building was designed by noted Arkansas architect Charles Thompson and named for Ella Carnall, one of the first female professors at the university. Last used as a dormitory in the 1960s, Carnall Hall subsequently housed various academic departments and even a fraternity house before falling into disrepair and closing in 1991. A painstaking restoration has preserved much of the building's primary materials, including the first floor staircases, pine flooring and dramatic columns that flank the entrance. In addition to fifty guest rooms, the Inn at Carnall Hall contains a classroom and teaching kitchen that will serve as a living laboratory for students at the university's Hospitality and Restaurant Management program. (50 guest rooms; rates from $85)
Napa River Inn, Napa, Calif.
Located in the picturesque Napa Valley, the Hatt/Napa Mill buildings are the last vestiges of Napa City's once-thriving Main Street industrial commercial center. When completed in 1886, the Hatt buildings included a second-story skating rink, outfitted with tongue-and-groove, White Rock maple planking from Chicago. In 1901, the Hatt Hall was a popular public gathering space, finished with pressed-tin wall coverings and moldings. These features were restored to a magnificent hand-painted gold and the space once again welcomes guests for elegant functions and events. In 2000, the Hatt buildings and the Historic Napa Mill were renovated into an upscale hotel and multifaceted, two-and-one-half acre entertainment complex on the banks of the Napa River. The Napa River Inn is the cornerstone of this ambitious project that is designed to showcase the finest Napa Valley attractions from dining and shopping to river trips and festivals. (65 guest rooms and one suite; rates from $159)
The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe, Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.
The history of Rancho Santa Fe began more than a century ago when Juan Osuna, San Diego's first alcalde- or mayor-was awarded a Spanish land grant as a token of gratitude. The family subsequently sold 6,000 acres to the Santa Fe Railroad for the planting of a Eucalyptus forest to be used for railroad ties. When the wood was deemed unsuitable, the railroad commissioned a young, female architect named Lilian Rice to design a quaint village and guest house that would entice prospective land buyers. The town became Rancho Santa Fe and the guest house became known as La Morada, or "home with many rooms." The Spanish Colonial Revival style used by Rice in 1923 became the hallmark of California architecture. The original guest house and surrounding cottages blend harmoniously into the 20 acres of lush gardens, lawns and meandering pathways. (86 guest rooms and suites; rates from $175)
The Spa at Norwich Inn, Norwich, Conn.
At the end of a long, tree-lined lane in southeastern Connecticut sits an impressive red brick Colonial-style manor house, the Norwich Inn. Built in 1929 as a civic project by the residents of Norwich, the inn quickly became a haven for the famous, including George Bernard Shaw, Frank Sinatra and Edward, Prince of Wales. Following World War II, the community, and the inn, fell on hard times. At one point, the inn became a "holding tank" for the police department, and then a boarding house. Following a succession of owners, the inn was acquired by the Mashantucket Pequot Indians in 1994. A $14 million restoration in 1999 reduced the number of guest rooms and enhanced its European-style spa. Private villas are equipped with wood-burning fireplaces and balconies overlooking the manicured lawns and the 17th tee of the adjacent Norwich Public Golf Course. (49 guest rooms and 54 villas; rates from $125)
The Peninsula Inn and Spa, Gulfport, Fla.
Nestled on the Gulf of Mexico near St. Petersburg, the quaint, brick-lined streets of Gulfport transport visitors back to a more tranquil time. The Peninsula Inn and Spa, which dates to 1905, is the area's oldest building and sits at the center of Gulfport's revitalized waterfront historic district. Remodeled as an inn in 2002, its elegant British Colonial décor exudes the exotic flavor of Bali. The traditional furnishings in each of the property's distinctive suites were hand-crafted from kiln-dried mindi, a plantation grown hardwood similar to oak. Indonesian artisans used centuries-old techniques to carefully bring out the natural glory of the wood. The property's signature spa, Seven Springs, was inspired by the fabled seven healing springs of nearby Boca Ciega bay. (11 suites; rates from $99)
The Fairmont, New Orleans
A tradition of hospitality began in 1893 when the 200-room Grunewald Hotel opened on Baronne Street. In 1908, another 400 rooms were added, along with what is believed to be American's first nightclub. Known as "The Cave," this subterranean supper club was a feast for the senses, complete with waterfalls, stalactites and chorus girls dancing to the sounds of Dixieland jazz. Following its sale in 1923, the hotel became known as the Roosevelt and was a favorite hangout of the colorful politician Huey P. Long, serving as the headquarters for his successful gubernatorial campaign. Local lore has it that Long spent so much time at the hotel, he built a 90-mile highway directly from the state capital in Baton Rouge to the door of the hotel. Renamed the Fairmont New Orleans in 1965, the hotel has continued to maintain a legacy of gracious hospitality and was even the inspiration for Arthur Hailey's best-selling novel Hotel. A recent $55 million restoration had returned one of the South's oldest hotels to its original splendor. (701 guest rooms including 92 suites; rates from $125)
The Kendall Hotel, Cambridge, Mass.
Beginning in 1895, the red brick building known as the fire department's Engine 7 Station faithfully served the citizens of Cambridge for nearly a century. Vacated in 1993, the property remains the oldest building in the Kendall Square area, known as the center of the technology industry in the Boston vicinity and home to Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The original Victorian firehouse is now home to the hotel's restaurant, which is full of firehouse memorabilia, and eleven guest rooms which are housed on the second and third floors, once the firefighters' dormitory. A newly constructed seven-story tower houses additional guest rooms and meeting space. The hotel's owners were honored by the Cambridge Historical Commission for the quality of their efforts and for conserving and protecting the city's architecture. (65 guest rooms including 11 in the original firehouse; rates from $129)
Chase Park Plaza Hotel, St. Louis
The Chase Park Plaza Hotel brings together two St. Louis landmarks: the Chase, built by and named for Chase Ullman in 1922, and the Park Plaza which was constructed by legendary hotelier Sam Koplar seven years later. The Depression delayed the construction of the Park Plaza until 1931. During that time Koplar served as general manager of the Chase Hotel, which he eventually purchased. For decades, the elegant Art Deco property played host to celebrities and world leaders including every president from the 1920s to the 1980s. The Chase was the scene of big band broadcasts that were heard nationwide and its exclusive Chase Club hosted some of the most famous entertainers of the date, including Frank Sinatra, Jerry Lewis and Bob Hope. The 1950s saw the addition of an outdoor swimming pool, completed just in time to host the 1956 Miss America contest. By 1989, the hotel had deteriorated from neglect and disrepair and was forced to shut down. A $100 million renovation has restored these properties to grandeur showcasing the towering ceilings, marble hallways and exquisite crystal chandeliers. (251 guest rooms and suites; rates from $189)
Renaissance Grand Hotel, St. Louis
By the 1920s, St. Louis had boomed into a thriving metropolis, enjoying a vibrant economy. The city's reputation made it the perfect locale for the country's fourth prestigious Statler Hotel, a sure sign that St. Louis had achieved national importance. The 20-story hotel, designed by George C. Post, was the first air-conditioned hotel in the country and a model of elegance in every conceivable way. It boasted opulent public spaces, including a stunning two-story rooftop ballroom that overlooked the city skyline. Over time, the hotel's Washington Avenue neighborhood fell upon hard times and suffered neglect. Recent renovations costing more than $300 million have sought to restore the hotel's legendary glory. The Renaissance Grand Hotel combines the original Statler hotel with a new 23-story tower to offer guests every modern luxury with historic ambiance. (918 guest rooms including 43 suites; rates from $129)
Renaissance St. Louis Suites Hotel, St. Louis
This 1929 artistic landmark, originally known as the Lennox Hotel, has been renovated into an all-suite luxury hotel while maintaining its architectural integrity. Through the years, the hotel's Washington Avenue neighborhood fell upon hard times and suffered neglect. Now, thanks to the bustling America's Center and the efforts of Historic Restoration Inc. and Kimberly-Clark Corporation to revitalize both this hotel and its sister property, the Renaissance Grand Hotel, the area is once again a hub of activity. (165 one-bedroom suites; rates from $139)
Oheka Castle, Huntington, N.Y.
In the early 1900s, financier and philanthropist Otto Herman Kahn constructed a magnificent 126-room French Chateau on Long Island's famed Gold Coast and named it Oheka (Otto HErman KAhn). Upon its completion in 1921, Oheka was-and remains today-the second largest private residence in the United States. Kahn, a noted patron of the arts and benefactor of the Metropolitan Opera, lavishly entertained luminaries such as Enrico Caruso, Arturo Toscannini, Helen Hays and George Gershwin. After Kahn's death in 1934, the estate changed hands several times until it was purchased by real estate developer Gary Melius in 1984. For the next twenty years, Oheka underwent the largest residential restoration in America. No details were overlooked from the roof tiles that came from the same quarry as the originals to the recreation of Frederick Law Olmstead's original landscape and refurbishment of the elaborate faux boix, a plaster painted to resemble wood. (26 guest rooms; rates from $339)
Castle on the Hudson, Tarrytown, N.Y.
Perched high atop a bluff overlooking the scenic Hudson River Valley sits the majestic Castle on the Hudson. Built at the turn of the last century, the castle replicates the Norman architecture of medieval Europe with its massive stone façade and imposing towers and turrets. The interior features rich wooden embellishments, elaborate stained glass, crystal chandeliers and plastered ceilings. The castle was the dream of Howard Carroll, a well-respected newspaperman, playwright and businessman who oversaw its construction in 1910. Despite its grand scale, the Carroll family considered the castle to be their home and lived and entertained there until 1940. After leaving the family's ownership, the property served as a boy's boarding school and later, home to an investment business. In 1996, the castle was transformed into a luxury hotel, offering every modern convenience in a grand historic setting. (31 guest rooms and suites; rates from $295)
High Hampton Inn, Cashiers, N.C.
The Hampton family were South Carolinians who traveled to the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains each year to escape the Low Country's oppressive summers. Wade Hampton III had a deep love of the area and constructed the Hampton Hunting Lodge prior to the Civil War. After serving as a Confederate general during the war, Hampton retreated to the lodge to rebuild his spirit. It was on the lodge's front porch that he received the news that he had been elected governor of South Carolina. In 1890, the property passed to Hampton's niece Caroline and her husband, noted physician Dr. William Halsted, who renamed it High Hampton after his family's ancestral estate in England. In 1922, High Hampton was purchased by E.L. McKee who constructed a two-story mountain inn. Although destroyed by fire, the inn was rebuilt less than a year later. (120 guest rooms; rates from $92)
Hotel Elliott, Astoria, Ore.
At the convergence of the Columbia River and the Pacific Ocean sits the historic town of Astoria, Oregon. The Hotel Elliott, the only hotel in the heart of the National Historic District, was constructed in 1924 and was the center of local society. The Art Deco property has undergone a faithful renovation and is spurring further revitalization of Astoria's downtown area. Many original features have been retained, including the wooden windows, hallway floors and the elegant front desk that greets guests in the lobby. On the side of the hotel a 79-year-old painted sign proclaims "wonderful beds." Remaining true to the advertising, the Hotel Elliott is known for sumptuous appointments-including down comforters and Egyptian cotton sheets. Each bathroom features heated stone floors and spa tubs. (32 guest rooms and six suites; rates from $105)
The Fairmont Olympic Hotel, Seattle
Located in the heart of Seattle's business, financial and entertainment district, The Fairmont Olympic Hotel has been a leading player in the city's cultural and social evolution since its opening in 1924. The Olympic Hotel was recently acquired by Fairmont from another hotel company. An 11-story addition in 1929 doubled the size of the property and added an impressive new porte cochere and a magnificent ballroom that soon made it the city's preferred choice for gatherings and celebrations. The Italian Renaissance-style building underwent a major renovation in the early 1980s, restoring its public spaces and reducing the number of guest rooms to provide more spacious accommodations. (450 guest rooms and suites; rates from $205)