Granville Inn- Granville, OH

In the small, idyllic, extraordinarily picturesque town of Granville, Ohio, there exists a grand stone manor, straight out of central casting. Beautifully constructed in the Jacobean Revival style, the elegant Granville Inn harkens back to an earlier era; a time when railroads created vast wealth for a fortunate few, wealth that seemed to have no end.

John Sutphin Jones was one such railroad and coal magnate; a self-made businessman who worked his way up from train conductor to president of a West Virginia coal mine in under two decades. He later would acquire his own coal mines, while also constructing branch railroads. Although he lived and worked in Chicago, he maintained a country estate in Granville, the family home of his wife Sarah Follett.

In 1905, Jones purchased another Granville property, an 1865 Italianate Villa, along with 600 acres. He immediately hired Columbus architect Frank Packard to enlarge and renovate the home, transforming it into a grand 52 room Georgian-Federal style mansion called Bryn Du. While Jones’ wife died before the project was complete, he quickly remarried, and lived in style there with his second wife, Alice. Here, they entertained presidents and politicians such as Coolidge, Taft and Harding, as well as musicians such as Rachmaninoff.

In 1922, Jones entered into a development agreement with the town of Granville; he would build an inn on the site of the former Granville Female College, which had closed in 1898, as well as a golf course. He once again turned to architect Frank Packard, who designed a fabulous stone and half timber building. Built to resemble an English country manor, it was hoped the showplace would lure tourists to the attractive hamlet.

Built from sandstone quarried at Bryn Du, the inn boasted 24 guest rooms, a grand oak paneled lobby, a billiards room, a smoking room, a formal dining room, and a piazza, where evening dances were held. It is estimated construction cost were well over $600,000, a not so small fortune in those days. Indeed, a well known magazine referred to the inn as “the most costly small hotel of any place in America, if not the world.” An estimated 5000 people attended its grand opening on June 26, 1924, which included a buffet on the lawn, and dancing until dawn.

Upon completion of the inn, Jones commissioned legendary Scottish golf course designer Donald Ross to build a golf course in Granville. Ross personally supervised construction, staying frequently at Bryn Du with Jones. The course, set amidst the wooded, rolling terrain, opened in 1925. It soon developed a reputation as one of the best public courses in the Midwest. Around this time, Jones also served as head of the Naples Improvement Company, helping to develop a new Florida seaside community. It was certainly more pleasant there than in Granville during the winter months. Jones himself owned a waterfront cottage, which recently sold for $7 million.

The inn prospered for decades. It received a full renovation in 1950, and continued to attract a well-heeled clientele until the mid-1970s. However, by that time Jones was long dead, and his daughter Sallie had taken over his many business concerns, as well as Bryn Du. Sallie was an accomplished equestrienne; one can not say the same for her business acumen. She wildly overspent, and found herself hopelessly in debt. In 1976, the mansion, inn, and golf course were sold at sheriff’s auction. The grand inn, which cost over $600,000 to construct, was sold for $190,000.

The new owner made several changes at the inn, while retaining its classic architecture. The oak paneled lobby was turned into a formal dining room, while an adjacent sun porch transitioned into a tavern when Granville finally approved the sale of liquor in the 1970s. Interestingly, to this day, Granville Inn is the only establishment in town allowed to serve alcoholic beverages outside. And it has the perfect patio to do so.

Sold again in 2003, the property continued to thrive until 2011, when the recession hit. The property was then purchased by Denison University in 2013, for $1.25 million. Following a $9 million dollar renovation, the property reopened. Everything has been wonderfully refreshed, while retaining historic touches. While the common areas are the most impressive, the rooms are comfortable. In 2014, Denison University was gifted the Ross Golf course, which has reopened after a full renovation.

While staying at the inn, you can walk to virtually any spot in Granville. Across the street is a lovely 1812 tavern, once a stagecoach stop. A short walk down East Broadway is Denison University; founded in 1831, it is home to a wonderful collection of historic buildings, including their 1924 chapel and 1909 observatory. Being a college town, there are several watering holes, including a craft brewery, restaurants, art galleries, and coffee shops. It is a great side trip from Columbus, for those who enjoy slipping into the past.