Richmond Hill Inn
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The Richmond Hill Inn is a Queen Anne style mansion in Asheville, NC, built in 1889. It served as the private residence of ambassador and congressman Richmond Pearson. Its name derives from a combination of its builder, Richmond Pearson, and the designer, James G. Hill. At the time of its construction, the mansion was one of the most elegant structures, with running water, ten fireplaces, and a pulley-operated baggage elevator. It served as a center for social and political activity for many years during Pearson's life. The main house was surrounded by rolling grounds with gardens, a greenhouse, vineyards, orchards, a wood and ice house, a dairy, and pasturelands.
[edit] Relocation and Renovation
In 1984, the Pearson heirs sold the Richmond Hill estate. The Preservation Society saved the house from demolition and had it moved 600 feet to its present location. The mansion underwent a $3 million restoration before being opened as an inn in 1989. The second and third floors house guest rooms, while the first floor contains a restaurant called Gabrielle's, library, ballroom, and other communal areas.
Two other additions have been made since the initial reopening, both designed by architect Jim Samsel. A manicured croquet court and five cottages overlooking the greens were built in 1990. A new building called The Garden Pavilion was added in 1996, containing 16 guest rooms and overlooking a Victorian Parterre-style garden.
