Newly independant and sharing the historical beauty as a Boutique Inn. The Bolling Wilson Hotel was originally built in 1927 as the George Wythe Hotel where it operated until the mid-1970s. When the property first opened, rooms rented for $1.50 for a single and $2.50 for a double. There have been many weddings and celebrations held in the old George Wythe Hotel some 40 years ago. Since its closure as a hotel in the 1970’s, the building has enjoyed numerous lives as a bank. When the last bank moved and the building became available, it was purchased in 2010 by Bill and Farron Smith, local Wytheville residents. Bill Smith, born and raised in nearby Pulaski, had long admired the building and wished to see it brought back to its original grandeur in a more modern way. He was emboldened by an old postcard of the George Wythe Hotel in 1931 that was found by a visitor. The postcard message read, “Wytheville hasn’t changed in 20 years. They need someone to come here and wake them up and put this place on the map!” And that is exactly what he aimed to do…wake up Downtown Wytheville. When considering the design of the property, there seemed to be no better choice than to pay homage to Wytheville’s most prominent citizen, Edith Bolling Wilson, wife of President Woodrow Wilson. Wilson, a direct descendant of Pocahontas, was born and raised across the street from the hotel in a commercial building with the Bolling Family Home located above the storefronts. Wilson had a fascinating life full of intrigue, fun, and fancy! The building where she was born houses the Edith Bolling Wilson Birthplace Museum. The street-level museum features interesting artifacts about her life “From Wytheville to the White House,” while the upper level of the building offers a glimpse of her birthplace and childhood home where the family lived from 1866 – 1899. Wilson’s last visit to Wytheville was in 1960 when she returned to dedicate a stained-glass window at St. John’s Episcopal Church. On that visit, she stayed at this hotel…and then walked across the street to climb the steps one last time to her childhood home – the home that shaped her life and prepared her for the challenges she would face as First Lady. The following year in 1961, Edith Bolling Wilson passed away at the age of 89 on Woodrow Wilson’s birthday. Today, utilizing the historic nature of the hotel building and adding a cosmopolitan feel through the interior design, the Bolling Wilson Hotel offers an elegant addition to Downtown Wytheville’s Main Street. Graze on Main, the on-site restaurant, offers a casual but elegant dining experience featuring Southern-inspired dishes; The Perch, a seasonal rooftop bar and event space, offers views of downtown Wytheville and the Blue Ridge Mountains; The Courtyard is perfect for outdoor events; The Vault, our private dining room is ideal for a small group looking for a little privacy; and the Hotel Bar features a selection of local beers, fine wines, craft cocktails and mixed drinks.
