Elise Tyler talks about bringing The Colonial Inn back to life!
BEFORE
BEFORE AND, ALMOST, AFTER!
A BIRD”S EYE VIEW OF THE PROJECT
AND, A RENDERING OF THE COLONIAL INN UPON COMPLETION!
A Revival in Hillsborough, NC!
Hillsborough, North Carolina is my home. It is where I live with my family, where I work, where our son goes to school, and where I have made many friends that I hold near and dear to my heart. In short, I am proud to be a Hillsborough-ite!
Hillsborough is also home to The Colonial Inn, which was, when we moved here, an old, dilapidated property on King Street right off the main drag. The old Inn has been in desperate need of a savior for many years. Our town was losing hope that it would ever happen, and now, the Colonial Inn is on the verge of a modern day revival! As a historic building in a historic town, the Inn holds a rich history. Many here are waiting with anticipation to see The Colonial Inn, and its added spaces, open its doors and come back to life.
I recently had a personal tour with Elise Tyler, the Colonial Inn's General Manager. It was fun to see and hear firsthand about the attention to detail and thoughtfulness that has gone into reviving this one of a kind place. Elise is extremely knowledgeable about the Inn, and, as she toured me around, I could also feel her passion for it.
On that note, here is my conversation with Elise Tyler of The Colonial Inn. As always, enjoy the read!
Thanks, Elise, for taking the time to chat with me. First of all, I know that the community in Hillsborough is excited about The Colonial Inn, but how excited are you?
Heather, there are no words. This dream was built over many years and quiet whispers of prayer until some truly incredible people stepped up and said, “Yes!”. When someone listens to a vision, sees and supports that vision, and then invests in that vision to make it a reality...there is no greater compliment or connection. I wake up every morning folding and unfolding, tinkering and weighing all of the pieces of this project in my mind. This project in and of itself is all of the caffeine I need to move mountains to make the doors of The Colonial Inn open again. Pair that with the support and love from this incredible Hillsborough community, and “excited” doesn’t begin to describe how I feel. I literally think about it every minute of every day, there are no weekends and no vacations without the inn’s presence and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Thankfully, my family has fallen in love, too, and are behind me 100%. The day we open is just the beginning!
Can you share a little history on The Colonial Inn and what the plans look like for the revived Inn?
Absolutely! The Inn is a spectacular specimen of historic beauty that has survived everything from civil war soldiers literally on our doorsteps to withstanding restoration amid a global pandemic. Deeds date the Inn to 1838 but massive oak beams uncovered during the removal of plaster and metal lathe are thought to be dated much earlier. We hope to have a dendrochronologist come out to date the beams and give us a long-awaited concrete year to tie to the Inn's proud history.
When the Inn reopens we will be a multi-use facility with a bar open to the public, multiple event spaces and a 28 room boutique hotel. Although we will not be a restaurant, we will be using our event space to host meals for the community each week to ensure our beloved locals can once more enjoy fried chicken and family-style dining!
Tell us about the event space at the Inn! How many guests will it accommodate? What will be some of its unique features?
The indoor event space sits just beyond the historic lobby area and was rebuilt in the same footprint of the former dining room. The room seats close to 150 people and overlooks a brick patio area with storefront glass windows and majestic double doors. Overhead is a lovely coffered ceiling with subtle but stunning flush mount and hanging chandeliers, while underfoot is 24x48" ivory tile with amber veining chosen to compliment the natural wood of the Inn and provide bright and customizable space for any couple or host.
Just outside, on our lawn, celebrations can reach close to 300 guests. The landscape is layered in using quintessential southern flora and fauna and expertly designed by a Hillsborough local to blossom and bloom with pops of color and richness all four seasons.
Wrapping around both our indoor and outdoor space are multiple options to mosey off for a quiet conversation or spread out before packing the dance floor. The Inn has seating on the first and second story porch, a cozy patio section with a firepit right off of King St. and the brick courtyard between the buildings to bounce between all of the action.
Needless to say, there is a lot to look forward to and space and style for any event vision within this historic gem.
In addition to weddings, will The Colonial Inn be open to holding other types of events?
Most certainly, we already have birthday parties, anniversaries, bridal luncheons, rehearsal dinners, and more booking up! One of the most wonderful aspects of The Colonial Inn is that it is versatile and welcoming. We are open to share and celebrate any event you can dream up and make it a memory to last a lifetime.
How many overnight rooms will the Inn have upon completion? Are there other lodging options close to the Inn for event guests?
We have a total of 28 rooms on the property. That number includes our luxury/honeymoon suite which is an entire wing of the original building accessed by a private entrance on the second story porch, complete with a jacuzzi tub and overlooks the lawn. Other rooms include single king bedrooms for an economical option to stay-over, double queen bed suites, some adjoining room options, and two ADA rooms.
We happily sit next to The Inn at Teardrops which has four lovely appointed rooms for guests to stay and warm and welcoming smiles for all of their guests. Owner, Tom Roberts, has been nothing but kind to us during our restoration efforts.
Are there any unique amenities planned for the Inn?
Our most unique amenity is our commitment to guest service you’ve never experienced. Our focus on anticipatory service is unprecedented. We are implementing care calls that go out to our guests that will be arriving in the coming days to collect their preferred room temperature, an order for their favorite Hillsborough inspired cocktail to have ready upon their arrival, if they would like a firm or soft mattress, a request for extra towels or pillows, perhaps the TV channel written on a small tent card so there’s no searching for the big game, you name it, we’ve thought of it. The goal is to build authentic, sincere connections and have shared memories with both guests and event hosts/attendees alike.
What is your favorite detail about the venue and the property? How about the event space?
My favorite details are (really many details) of the inn that are reflected in our business...how we operate, look, and feel have all been born out of the unique history of the building and the character and uniqueness of Hillsborough. I guess the detail I appreciate most is the effort that has been made to incorporate the inn into everything that we are from our logo (which has visual elements from the front porch) to repurposing all of the wood and stone that we can; everything has been about keeping the inn and the people who love the inn as a focal point of our future and the foundation upon which that future is built. We recognize how spectacular the inn is, but we are also committed to highlighting the many beautiful historic and natural landmarks of Hillsborough and supporting the eclectic arts culture and small businesses in town. We have initiatives in place and areas of the inn that showcase all of these facets and it’s these little details that I love most!
The Colonial Inn is in downtown Hillsborough and close to some homes in the area, will there be any noise restrictions or other restrictions?
Great question! The town is currently reviewing their noise ordinances and we attended the meeting to speak on behalf of the inn and voice our needs as a business. We really landed in a moderate position between the polarity of the discussions. We have made many internal efforts to control noise on our property already including our insulation choice and installation methods as well as our building and landscaping layout. We will always be thoughtful of our neighbors and understand downtown is home to both commercial and residential properties. We feel that we can mitigate noise issues by communicating from a place of respect and setting clear expectations that will be based on the town ordinances. The only other restrictions we have in place are select options for send-off paraphernalia. Sparklers and 200 year old buildings just can't be friends! We have many options listed to couples including eco-friendly choices that will also protect the Inn.
Do you plan to offer a preferred vendor list? Or, will there be required vendors? Do you offer an event planner onsite, or are you encouraging your clients to hire an outside planner?
Yes! We have preferred vendors. These vendors are people who have watched and many times contributed as the Inn's restoration has taken place. They are trusted resources who offer exceptional products and services. We have also worked hard to partner with local vendors to give back and support Hillsborough and simultaneously give our guests the best combination of quality and value. These vendors are not required but are preferred, vendors not listed will be asked to contact the Inn to ensure property needs are met. All of our wedding rentals do include a wedding planner. We feel strongly that events with so many details are best coordinated by a professional who is committed to understanding a host's vision and executing the particulars.
Since The Colonial Inn is not open quite yet, are you offering tours of the site? And are you booking events? When do you expect to open your doors?
Currently we are penciling in events and absolutely communicating with anyone interested in late 2020 or 2021 who would like to rent the space for their event. Currently, we are looking at late summer/early fall for opening. Between construction and COVID-19, the global pandemic, all timelines are in question, but we are moving forward with excitement and narrowing in on a timeline for our grand opening! Depending on what is happening at the Inn, I am taking those interested in weddings or large events through the Inn for tours so that they have the ability to make an informed decision for their big day.
How about booking rooms at the Inn?
We are holding off on opening that up until the website is live, but we do hope that in the next six weeks we will be able to get the booking engine live! Stay tuned to our social media pages (Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter) for the launch!
What is the best way to inquire about availability, pricing and touring The Colonial Inn?
Please email thecolonialinnhillsborough@gmail.com or feel free to reach out to me directly at 919-930-5555. That is my cell phone number, calls or texts are perfectly fine. We want you to know we are here for you and committed and accessible. I look forward to hearing from you!
Can folks follow The Colonial Inn’s progress on social media?
Please do! It's my best way to communicate and share pictures, progress and announcements! Hop on and follow thecolonialinnhillsborough on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for all of our up to date info and to see our progress.
Thank you, Heather!!!!!!
Thank you, Elise! Soon, we will be sitting on that front porch with a refreshing libation in hand!
Hillsborough and the surrounding area are enthusiastically waiting for The Colonial Inn to open its doors. Just take a look at the pictures and comments on the Inn's Instagram and Facebook pages to see the anticipation, excitement, and emotion surrounding the upcoming opening!