The Mayor's Mansion Inn is located a few blocks from the Tennessee River in Chattanooga, Tennessee. It was originally built by a lawyer and businessman named Edmond G. Watkins, who constructed the mansion as a symbol to revitalize the south after the American Civil War. Currently, the bed and breakfast offers 12 rentable units, each decorated uniquely to represent some aspect of the 1890s. The Mayor's Mansion Inn features gathering areas such as the Ladies' Withdrawing Room, the Mayor's Library, and the Tiffany Dining Room, where breakfast is served. It also includes the Fort Wood Ballroom, which can be rented for special events and has a maximum occupancy of 55 people. Lastly, the peak season for the Mayor's Mansion Inn typically occurs during the summer, but the staff recommend that guests visit during the holidays because of the many activities held in Chattanooga around Christmas.
The Mayor's Mansion Inn is located in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The establishment is situated about two miles east of Moccasin Bend National Archeological District across the Tennessee River in the city's southern portion. A residential area encompasses the acreage, and Grace, a marketing employee, calls it a "historic neighborhood." It is within walking distance of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. The three-story house is styled as a "Victorian Romanesque" mansion with cream walls, a grey roof, and white framing on the windows and decks.
The bed and breakfast has 12 units available for rent. They are named after nearby locations, such as the Cumberland Suite, the Tennessee River Room, and the Cloudland Canyon Suite. All rooms have free Wi-Fi, private bathrooms, bathrobes, hair dryers, cable TV and DVDs, and AM/FM clock radios. Desks, additional sitting areas, and dressers are also provided in the suites. Every unit is outfitted with either a king or queen-size bed, with the exception of the second-floor Tennessee River Room, which has two queen beds and is advertised as a place for families to stay. The Rising Fawn Honeymoon Suite and Laurel Falls Honeymoon Suite are exclusively for adults, and the Hiwassee River Room is recommended for corporate travelers. The Signal Mountain Room is displayed as a visitor-favorite room, and the Cumberland Suite is shown as an owner's favorite.
Out-of-unit amenities include complimentary parking at the property, snacks, soda, bottled water, irons and ironing boards upon request, and a coffee or tea service in the mornings. A common area downstairs provides visitors with seating areas to socialize. They may also gather at the roofed porches or in the drawing room. The backyard features a garden and a patio for them as well, although Grace says guests do not tend to convene on the lawn very often. The Fort Wood Ballroom, next to a 60-foot deck, may be reserved in advance for a special occasion, and it can accommodate up to 55 people. It is decorated with a crystal chandelier, French glass doors, and its original hardwood floor. Guests may also rent the Tiffany Dining Room, which seats up to 20 people and is notable for its chandelier and large windows. Finally, the Lady's Withdrawing Room and the Mayor's Library offer additional seating space for 8 or 15 total guests, respectively.
The décor and style of the Mayor's Mansion Inn are fashioned in accordance with its original mid-1800s Victorian design. Many wooden cabinets and furnishings throughout the house display antique dishware, books, bottles of spirits, and portraits. Chandeliers can be found in a few common areas, and the Mayor's Library houses a marble fireplace. Grace notes that the mansion still has its original flooring and ceiling, describing that it is intended to preserve the "classy" and "historical elegance" of the property despite it not being entirely in its original state. Regardless, she affirms that the atmosphere and style remain "largely representative" of the Mayor's Mansion Inn's appearance at its inception and through its first years of occupancy.
Breakfast at the Mayor's Mansion Inn is served from 8:00 to 9:00 AM on weekdays and from 8:00 to 9:30 AM Saturday and Sunday in the dining room, although visitors can eat at the porches if they wish. The rotating menu consists of three courses, and options may include a variety of quiches, yogurt, pastries, sausage, bacon, and a fruit cup. The Mayor's Mansion Inn has a winter menu that features dishes such as cinnamon swirl waffles, slow-roasted beef with eggs, eggnog French toast, or hashbrown frittatas. Visitors are asked to notify the staff of any food allergies or dietary restrictions they may have before arriving at the bed and breakfast.
Several places are recommended by the staff for guests to visit in or near Chattanooga. They can visit Ruby Falls, Lookout Mountain, Tennessee Aquarium, and the Walnut Street Pedestrian Bridge. The owners of the Mayor's Mansion Inn own another business known as the Southern Belle Riverboat Tours, which takes visitors around Chattanooga on ferries. Grace personally recommends guests try Tony's Pasta Shop & Trattoria and Bluff View Art District. Additional recommendations can be provided to those who stay at the Mayor's Mansion Inn, including Alleia, Urban Stack, and Blue Orleans.
Chattanooga holds many events during the holiday season. The Rocky City Garden of Lights allows visitors to walk around the gardens and see the Christmas lights on display, and it is open from mid-November until Christmas Eve. The Nutcracker Ballet by the Moscow Ballet company performs every December 20, and visitors can also participate in Christmas carol dinner cruises on the previously mentioned Southern Belle tours. Additionally, North Pole Train Adventures and the Chattanooga Holiday Market operate during December, and an adults-only event called Nightcaps with St. Nick is hosted by the Tennessee Valley Railroad.
Grace, one of the Mayor's Mansion Inn's employees, says they want guests to feel comfortable and at home in "more of a finer, elegant sense." She explains that the design and style of the inn are meant to make people feel like they are "back in the era" or "jumping back to 1889." Grace also says that the owners and staff strive to provide a friendly and "engaging" environment for their guests. The events that are often organized at the property are held in an attempt to emulate such an atmosphere. The Mayor's Mansion Inn can host weddings, small elopements, dinners with tour groups, bridal showers, and parties or special events when the arrangements are made ahead of time. Grace indicates that they would like to include cocktail parties, happy hours, or story events in the future as well.
Visitor reviews largely reflect what Grace explains concerning the style and atmosphere of the Mayor's Mansion Inn. One patron said, "Amazing architecture and character you don't find in chain hotels. Breakfast is excellent. It's like a vacation just sitting in the rocking chairs on the large and spacious front porch. Relaxing and quiet too." Grace adds that many reviews have focused on the visitors' interactions with the staff. "It's hard seeing people go," she says, and she remarks that many guests have been "so kind and engaging."
Those who visit the Mayor's Mansion Inn are asked to abide by a few policies. Children younger than eight years old are not allowed in the bed and breakfast, given that it mainly caters to couples on romantic trips. Pets and indoor smoking are prohibited as well. Furthermore, visitors should be wary of what rooms they reserve in advance, as some are only for adult use, and most do not accommodate families.
Mayor's Mansion Inn is open year-round. According to Grace, its busiest season is during the summer, or tour season. As previously mentioned, Christmas is another popular season at the bed and breakfast. She explains that many guests are families visiting their kids at school or retirees spending time together. Grace has also noticed a recent increase in younger clientele, specifically couples getting out on weekends. She says that the majority of guests find out about Mayor's Mansion Inn through word of mouth or an Internet search.
The Mayor's Mansion Inn belonged to Edmond G. Watkins when it was originally constructed in 1889 as a "monument to the rebirth of the south." It was built from several remnants of the Civil War-era Fort Wood and was his family's private residence for many years. Watkins was a lawyer who hailed from Mississippi. His goal for Chattanooga was to develop the city and its economy, and he became the president of the Lookout Mountain Land Company and the Lookout Mountain Railway Company. In 1897 he was elected mayor of the town, and his home became known as the Mayor's Mansion. According to Grace, one of the current employees, Watkins built a smaller replica of the house in Louisiana. Edward Gould Richmond bought the property in 1907, another incoming businessman and trustee of the Carnegie Library who had business in the oil industry, cotton, and railway.
The Rhinehart family currently owns the property, the same people who own Southern Belle. They have been in charge for the last few years and have overseen updates on the house. The most recent changes to Mayor's Mansion Inn included updating the furniture, moving the kitchen, and standard maintenance as needed. Otherwise, much of its original structure has been maintained and preserved, and Grace says it is meant to make visitors feel like they are in the 1890s. She also notes that, while distinctly designed and decorated, the rooms are "representative of the area," referring to 1890s Chattanooga.
801 Vine Street
Chattanooga, Tennessee 37403
United States
Victorian Romanesque
Rhinehart Family
