The Living Room of Aiken

Colleen Richmond • November 21, 2020

The Willcox Hotel

A large white building with columns is lit up at night

If you haven’t yet been to Aiken,SC and the historic Willcox Hotel,— voted the #1 Best Hotel of the South by Southern Living Magazine in 2019 it’s a must add to your list. Since the last years of the 19th century, this grand edifice has graced the oak-lined streets of Aiken, providing a cozy fire and welcoming rest for weary travelers. Today, its towering white columns and warm hospitality embrace guests from around the world, many who come to enjoy the equestrian events for which Aiken is famous. A full-service hotel, restaurant, salon & spa, The Willcox Hotel is a beacon of southern charm and grace, and it pulses with the rich history of South Carolina’s genteel past.

Sleep Where the Legends Once Reclined

Guests can still stay in the room where Winston Churchill slept when they visit The Willcox. Although the smell of cigar smoke is long gone his aura may still be felt.They can admire the view Franklin D. Roosevelt often enjoyed and stroll the grounds that Elizabeth Arden once explored. There’s history here, and the stories behind it are as enchanting as the locale. John Jacob Astor, IV stayed at The Willcox, so did Joseph Pulitzer. It’s rumored that FDR’s train broke down so often near this very spot that a secret entrance was added just for him, with an elevator to bring him up from the tracks and into the hotel for a clandestine rendezvous with his mistress, Lucy Mercer Rutherfurd, who lived in town. If you want to feel the pulse of the past in historic Aiken, SC, a stay at The Willcox Hotel is a necessity.

There is a four poster bed in the middle of the room.

Enjoy Award-Winning Accommodations

Since 1900, The Willcox has welcomed guests into its sweeping, spacious rooms and embraced them with open arms. Long an icon of southern hospitality, The Willcox made #7 on Travel and Leisure’s list of Best Hotels in the World in 2016. The original gathering place for the winter colonists of the dawning 20th century, the hotel today still attracts throngs of visitors every year. They come for the nearby equestrian events and for the unfiltered charm of the southern experience. With a hotel, restaurant, and full-service salon & spa onsite, every day at the Willcox makes guests feel like royalty.

Amenities Are Endless at The Willcox Hotel. This historic hotel offers modern guests amenities for miles, including:

Free Breakfast ,Free Hi-Speed WiFi, Business Center and Internet Access, Babysitting Services, Fitness Center, Salon & Spa, Restaurant, Grocery Service, Lounge Area with Bar, Saltwater Pool, Dog and Horse Concierge Services, and of course pets are welcome.

A long hallway with wooden beams and chairs in a hotel lobby.

And, though the list of hotel amenities is long and enviable, it’s really the hotel itself that’s the draw. Magnificent architecture, grand fireplaces, and museum-quality furniture make a stay at The Willcox Hotel worth repeating. Your pet gets a cozy bed here, as well as a home-baked treat. There’s a turndown service for you and one for your furry friend. Access to dry cleaning and laundry services makes your stay that much more comfortable. Guests will feel the difference from the moment they step into the grand lobby, which the locals have lovingly nicknamed The Living Room of Aiken.

Exploring the Charm and Gentility of Aiken, SC

A horse is riding down a dirt road surrounded by trees.
April 18, 2025
Nantucket, with its misty harbors, salt-kissed breezes, and centuries-old charm, has always been a place where history whispers through every weathered shingle and cobblestone street. This spring, one of the island’s most beloved landmarks, the Veranda House, will once again welcome guests, rising from the ashes of a devastating 2022 fire that necessitated a complete rebuild. Set to reopen in spring 2025, the new Veranda House is a masterpiece of restoration and reinvention. Owned by Procaccianti Companies and managed by TPG Hotels & Resorts as part of the Nantucket Resort Collection, the rebuild was meticulously overseen in collaboration with the town and historic district commission to ensure that the property retained its original federal-style elegance while incorporating modern luxuries and state-of-the-art amenities. First built in 1684, the Veranda House has stood as a symbol of Nantucket’s rich maritime legacy, its wraparound porches offering a front-row seat to the island’s ever-changing seascape. The new design remains true to its original size, scale, and architectural character, seamlessly blending historic integrity with contemporary comforts. Guests will find spa-like ensuite baths in every room, featuring Carrara marble, custom fixtures, and sleek walk-in showers—a nod to modern indulgence without sacrificing classic charm. The 19 redesigned rooms, including the Grand Harborview King with its private balcony and fireplace, exude an intimate, serene luxury. Expanded outdoor gathering spaces now offer even more opportunities for guests to soak in the island’s ambiance, whether sipping coffee at sunrise or toasting the golden hour over Nantucket Harbor. “This reopening marks a significant mile- stone, not just for Veranda House, but for the entire Nantucket community. We are deeply thankful for the community’s unwavering support in bringing this iconic property back to life,” says Paul Hitselberger, EVP of Operations for TPG Hotels & Resorts. The Veranda House is not just a recon- struction—it’s a resurrection, a tribute to Nantucket’s ability to endure, evolve, and enchant. Its doors reopen as a beacon of timeless hospitality, welcoming travelers to a place where history is honored, and every detail—from the breezy verandas to the handcrafted interiors—tells a story. For those who love Nantucket, the Veranda House is a homecoming. Images courtesy of The Veranda House.
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