Historic Williamsburg Inn Begins Renovations
January 27, 2017
The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation today announces the second part of its multiphase renovation, which includes significant enhancements to the historic Williamsburg Inn’s exteriors and food and beverage offerings. Honoring Colonial Williamsburg’s founding benefactor John. D. Rockefeller Jr.’s standards of charming luxury and sophistication, the renovations include a new signature restaurant, an elegant reflection pool at the main entrance and private event spaces including an expanded Queen’s Terrace ideal for weddings and larger functions. The Inn temporarily halted reservations on January 22 due to the extensive nature of the property-wide enhancements, and will reopen in April 2017.
In partnership with the award-winning hospitality firm Puccini Group, existing dining concepts will be reimagined to reflect 18th century colonial charm with touches of contemporary design elements. The food and beverage enhancements will include:
- Reflecting the luxury of its Virginia surroundings, The Rockefeller Room will serve as a contemporary fine dining venue and the Inn’s signature dining experience, paying homage to the evolution of American cuisine. The menu will embrace traditional Southern dishes while infusing flavors brought to the New World from exotic lands. With a focus on locally sourced ingredients, the menu will epitomize the nouveau British approach to gastronomy: refined, worldly, sophisticated and adventurous.
- The Goodwin and Terrace Rooms will serve as an upscale breakfast retreat and continue serving food and cocktails throughout the day as an inviting place to unwind with friends and family. An outdoor bar and terrace featuring a picturesque fountain and fire pit lounge will serve as an extension to The Goodwin and Terrace Rooms and offer Inn guests an additional al fresco dining option.
- The Regency Room will now serve as a bookable private venue for meetings, conferences, corporate events, weddings, family reunions and other events. In addition, The Regency Room will be open to the public for special occasion brunches and dinners including Mother’s Day, Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas.
- The perfect spot for a nightcap or to relax after a day of sightseeing, the Restoration Bar will offer a variety of small plates and bar snacks that pull from local flavors and ingredients, complemented by local beers and signature craft cocktails.
Exterior updates will include a new, elegant reflecting pool at the center of the Williamsburg Inn’s front oval as well as an expanded Queen’s Terrace with adjoining wedding pergola and event lawn.
Phase two of the renovation follows the recent enhancements to the Inn, which were completed in March 2016, and included a new seated check-in and improved in-room amenities. Additionally, the renovation coincides with the $2.5 million renovation of Colonial Williamsburg’s Golden Horseshoe Golf Club’s award-winning Gold Course, scheduled for completion in spring 2017, as well as enhancement of the Spa of Colonial Williamsburg, now managed by Trilogy Spa Holdings. Together, the investments are projected to generate $6.2 million in new revenue annually, which combined with expanded operating expenditures would spur $18 million in direct and indirect spending regionally.
As Colonial Williamsburg’s founding benefactor, Rockefeller conceived the Williamsburg Inn and alongside his wife, Abby Aldrich Rockefeller, closely oversaw its design, construction and furnishing for its 1937 opening. Its scale and 19th century Regency architectural style were chosen to contrast and complement the colonial architecture of the neighboring Historic Area.
Luxuriously appointed guest rooms offer views of the Historic Area, gardens and the Golden Horseshoe Golf Club as well as spacious bathrooms featuring twin marble vanities, Italian marble-enclosed bathtubs and showers.
In addition to the Golden Horseshoe’s three golf courses, the Williamsburg Inn offers guests a variety of recreational offerings including eight tennis courts, biking, croquet, three swimming pools and The Spa of Colonial Williamsburg.
The Williamsburg Inn is listed on the National Trust for Historic Preservation Historic Hotels of America and Leading Hotels of the World. All of its revenues support the Foundation’s preservation, research and educational programs.