The White House Hotel- Biloxi, MS

The White House Hotel has been raised from the dead, dusted off, dolled up, and sits poised to reclaim the title, “Crown Jewel of Gulf Coast Hotels.” It may have already done that, because it is an absolutely wonderful hotel, that has been beautifully remodeled. The exterior retains the air of a storied Southern mansion, while the inside is magnificently modern, accentuated with historic touches.

The beautiful piece of Gulf Coast property where the White House Hotel is located originally was the site of a successful oyster company in the 1800s. When that business was destroyed by a hurricane in 1893, local attorney Walter White purchased the property, and used the mountain of remaining oyster shells to fill in the low lying land, resulting in a gently sloping knoll, with beautiful Gulf views.

By 1895 White’s Victorian house was complete. With the addition of seven live oak trees on the front lawn, the new house was ready for residents. The lovely house on the hill became very popular with the White’s friends and family, and before long, Cora White started accepting boarders. At this time there were few hotel options on the Gulf Coast, and Cora was flooded with requests for reservations. Sensing an opportunity, she set about collecting neighboring properties, and The White House hotel was born.

By 1910 the hotel consisted of a row of seven Victorian houses, touted as “the leading hotel in Biloxi.” The following year, Cora connected two of the homes together, creating a lobby, dining room, and ballroom. At this point the large front porch was added, as well as the now iconic pillars and second floor balcony. This would usher in a new era at the hotel, where the good times rolled; an orchestra was brought in from New Orleans, and music was played throughout the day.

The roaring twenties also saw an increase in tourism to the Gulf Coast, and to meet the growing demand, two large Colonial annexes were built, which included private tiled baths in each guest room. Today, these represent the Center and East wings of the hotel.

The 20s also saw the addition of a famous fountain, inspired after Walter White toured the General Electric plant during a trip to Massachusetts. So moved by the fountain that featured illuminated cascading sprays, he returned to Mississippi with a set of plans, and would immediately have one built on the hotel’s lawn, next to their dance pavilion. As one of the country’s few color fountains, with sprays up to 40 feet, it immediately became a tourist destination. It was neither colored nor cascading on my visit, but it does still exist, now stranded on a median strip.

Following Cora’s death in 1934, the hotel was sold to Jimmie Love, Jr., who already owned the popular Buena Vista Hotel. Under his ownership the hotel was modernized, and a graceful pool was added to the front lawn. Other recreation options including tennis courts were added during this era, along with several swimming piers. The hotel has a wonderful collection of photographs from this time lining the halls, and it sure looks like fun. And apparently it was. The hotel was obscenely popular, and remained that way for several decades, until failing health required Love to sell the property in 1971. This was sadly the beginning of the end.

The hotel changed hands several times between 1971 and 1988, when the last owner surrendered, declaring bankruptcy, and the doors closed for what seemed like good. The hotel was boarded up, and stood shuttered for 30 years, growing increasingly derelict and decrepit. Although Love’s son had purchased the property in 1989, it was not until the property was added to Biloxi’s list of blighted properties and the city demanded it be restored or sold, that any action was taken. The old hotel with a (multi) million dollar view was sold to a developer, who restored the old gal to her former glory. On August 1, 2014, The White House opened for its second act.

The interior of the reborn hotel is incredibly modern. Clean lines, classic colors, and beautiful details abound. The rooms are wonderfully comfortable and beautifully decorated. The pool has been restored, and once again acts as a focal point on the front lawn. There are an adequate amount of chairs and umbrellas, including a set that overlooks the beach. There is a pool bar now as well, which was sadly closed when we visited.

They have also added a rooftop bar, containing inside and outside seating that has wonderful views of the Gulf. There are few better places to sit and enjoy a gentle Gulf breeze. Traffic sounds do detract from the experience, but hey, you can’t have it all.

All of the common areas are stunning, decorated mostly in neutrals with pops of color. The dining room, now Cora’s Restaurant, was amazing, and should not be missed. They have a decent wine selection, which is presented on an ipad, that is oddly password protected. The Gulf Coast Bread is something I still dream of: crawfish, shrimp, and melted cheese.

Although the interior certainly does not feel historic, sometimes you just have to accept that a complete renovation is the only way to go. And after 30 years sitting vacant, and being listed as a blighted property, I doubt there were many options. In all fairness, they did a wonderful job with the renovation. It is a beautiful hotel, and should I find myself in Biloxi again, I know where I am staying. For anyone taking a trip along the Gulf Coast, this is one hotel not to miss.