Glen Ferris Inn

Glen Ferris Inn is a historic hotel in Glen Ferris, Fayette County, West Virginia, positioned on the bank of the Kanawha River with views toward Kanawha Falls. The property is significant both as an inn and as a surviving building associated with the transportation, military, industrial, and hydro-electric development of the Kanawha Valley. The building may date to as early as 1815, although the precise construction date is not established. Its historic identity is reflected in several names used over time, including Stockton's Inn, Stockton's Tavern, and Hawkins's Hotel. During the nineteenth century, the property served as a stagecoach stop, placing it within the region's early overland transportation network. Its location beside the river and near the falls made it a practical stopping point for travelers moving through the valley. During the American Civil War, the inn was used as a Union quartermaster's depot. This military role added another layer to the property's history and connected the building to wartime logistics in western Virginia. In the first half of the twentieth century, the inn was associated with the industrial transformation of the area. It housed managers, supervisors, and workers involved in efforts to expand local manufacturing and hydro-electric capacity, demonstrating how the property functioned not only as lodging for travelers but also as accommodation connected to regional economic development. Architecturally, Glen Ferris Inn is a T-shaped brick structure made up of two principal sections. One is a three-story painted-brick dwelling, while the other is a two-story red-brick wing measuring approximately 140 by 40 feet. A wraparound porch supported by 13 stuccoed brick columns is one of the building's most recognizable features. The combination of its setting, scale, brick construction, and surviving porch contributes to its historic character. The property was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1991. That designation recognizes the inn as an important historic resource rather than merely a conventional lodging business. Its appeal therefore rests on the combination of overnight accommodation, architectural heritage, river scenery, and association with the Kanawha Valley's transportation and industrial past. Tom Willis and Harrison Gilliam acquired the inn in 2017. Following restoration or operational preparations, the property reopened and was reported to be accepting reservations by December 16, 2018. Publicly available reference material does not establish the inn's current ownership structure, operating scale, room count, pricing, or broader market footprint. The brand is best understood as a locally rooted heritage hospitality property whose identity is anchored in place, historical continuity, and preservation.

Glen Ferris Inn stands beside the Kanawha River at Glen Ferris in Fayette County, West Virginia, overlooking Kanawha Falls. The property's origins may reach back to approximately 1815, but the exact construction date has not been firmly established. Its historical importance comes from the continuity of its use within the Kanawha Valley and from the physical survival of a substantial brick building in a prominent river setting. The inn has been known by several names, including Stockton's Inn, Stockton's Tavern, and Hawkins's Hotel. These names indicate that the site was associated with successive proprietors or operating periods before the modern Glen Ferris Inn identity became established. In the nineteenth century, the property served as a stagecoach stop. At a time when overland travel depended on scheduled stopping places, an inn located near the river and falls could provide lodging and services to travelers moving through the valley. The building also acquired a military function during the American Civil War, when it served as a Union quartermaster's depot. This use connected the property to the supply and administrative infrastructure supporting Union operations in the region. The inn therefore represents more than a hospitality business; it is also a surviving witness to the logistical importance of the Kanawha Valley during the conflict. In the first half of the twentieth century, the property accommodated managers, supervisors, and workers involved in developing local manufacturing and hydro-electric capacity. This period reflected the valley's transition toward industrial and energy production. The inn's role evolved accordingly, providing housing connected to the people responsible for building and operating the area's industrial and hydro-electric facilities. Architecturally, Glen Ferris Inn is a T-shaped brick building composed of two principal sections. A three-story painted-brick dwelling forms one part of the structure, while a two-story red-brick wing extends approximately 140 feet by 40 feet. The building's wraparound porch, supported by 13 stuccoed brick columns, is a defining visual feature. Its setting beside the river and facing Kanawha Falls reinforces the relationship between the building and the landscape that shaped the community's development. The property was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1991. The listing formally recognized its architectural and historical significance. In 2017, Tom Willis and Harrison Gilliam purchased the inn. After a period associated with the change in ownership and renewed operations, the property had reopened and was accepting reservations by December 16, 2018. Available reference material does not provide a detailed account of later renovations, management changes, financial performance, room inventory, or current operating arrangements.

• 2018

  Reopened for reservations

  [1]Glen Ferris Innen.wikipedia.org

  By December 16, 2018, the inn had reopened and was accepting reservations.

• 2017

  Acquired by Tom Willis and Harrison Gilliam

  [1]Glen Ferris Innen.wikipedia.org

  Tom Willis and Harrison Gilliam purchased the historic inn.

• 1991

  Listed on the National Register of Historic Places

  [1]Glen Ferris Innen.wikipedia.org

  Glen Ferris Inn received recognition through listing on the National Register of Historic Places.

• 1815

  Possible early construction date

  [1]Glen Ferris Innen.wikipedia.org

  The inn may have been built as early as 1815, although the precise construction date remains uncertain.

• Nineteenth-century stagecoach stop

  [1]Glen Ferris Innen.wikipedia.org

  During the nineteenth century, the property operated as a stagecoach stop serving travelers in the Kanawha Valley.

• Civil War quartermaster's depot

  [1]Glen Ferris Innen.wikipedia.org

  During the American Civil War, the building was used as a Union quartermaster's depot.

A historic, locally rooted lodging property combining heritage architecture, river and waterfall scenery, and the history of the Kanawha Valley.

• Hotel lodging

  Historic guest accommodations

  The inn's core offering is overnight lodging within a historic brick building beside the Kanawha River. Its hospitality proposition is closely tied to the property's heritage, architectural character, and setting overlooking Kanawha Falls. Public reference material does not specify the number, configuration, or amenities of individual rooms.

• Destination lodging

  Riverside and waterfall-view stays

  The inn offers a location-based lodging experience centered on views toward the Kanawha Falls and access to the historic landscape of Glen Ferris. The riverfront setting differentiates the property from ordinary roadside accommodation and supports its positioning as a heritage destination.

• 2018

  Return to guest operationsStrategy

  Background

  Following the 2017 ownership change, the historic property moved toward renewed operation as an inn.

  Action taken

  Glen Ferris Inn reopened and began taking reservations.

  Aftermath

  The reopening restored the property to active hospitality use, according to the available reference material.

  Source

• 2017

  Acquisition by new ownersM&A

  Background

  The historic inn changed ownership during a period when its future operation and preservation were significant concerns for the property.

  Action taken

  Tom Willis and Harrison Gilliam purchased the Glen Ferris Inn.

  Aftermath

  The property subsequently reopened and was accepting reservations by December 2018.

  Source

1. 1Glen Ferris Innen.wikipedia.org