(The new North & South bar)
The 96-year-old inn is the “youngest” of the North Carolina property’s three historic hotels. Its entire interior, including 43 guest rooms, has been completely renovated, with only 15 percent of the interior framing remaining. The new North & South bar features a dramatic ceiling with an illustration of the original routing of Donald Ross’ first four courses at Pinehurst.
The Manor Inn, the “youngest” (at a mere 96 years) of the three historic hotels at the Pinehurst Resort & Country Club in the Village of Pinehurst, N.C., is again open to guests following the first stage of an extensive renovation..
Just like the property’s other historic hotels, the Holly Inn (opened in 1895) and the Carolina (1901), the Manor, which first opened in 1923, has its own unique place in the history of Pinehurst, said Bob Dedman Jr., Pinehurst Resort’s Chief Executive Officer. And the renovation of the Manor sought to “improve upon and modernize the guest experience while still preserving the Manor’s unique charm,” Dedman added. “I think we’ve accomplished that in fine fashion.”
The Manor and its 43 guest rooms have been transformed since renovations began in February 2019. All of the inn’s interior has been completely renovated, with only 15 percent of the interior framing remaining. The lone original component to the Manor following the renovation is its fabled exterior structure of the unique Kellastone, a special stucco-style building material that was new to the era and known for its permanence.
Always a favorite of Arnold Palmer’s when he would visit Pinehurst, the Manor’s new interior includes a stylish new bar for its guests, along with club rooms and a large lobby that has always presented the Manor with its relaxed charm.
The North & South bar at the Manor will open in early December and feature craft beer from the nearby Pinehurst Brewing Co. as well as an extensive whiskey selection. Memorabilia and photos throughout the bar will pay homage to the historic North & South Amateur Championship, which has been played at Pinehurst since 1901.
The signature element of the N&S Bar is the dramatic ceiling (see photo), which features an illustration of the original routing of Donald Ross’ first four courses at Pinehurst. The map, circa 1922, coincides with the period in which the Manor originally opened.
The renovation has also created two private hospitality suites that can be reserved for the duration of a stay and offer an appealing option for golf groups. The Library and Club Room, each on the lobby level and decked out with casually elegant furnishings, can accommodate 12-20 guests, respectively.
The origins of the Manor begin with the razing of the Lexington Hotel in the same location in 1922, and owner Mrs. Emma C. Bliss went about designing a new hotel, unheard of for a woman at the time. Her vision of the Manor featured an expansive lobby with several rooms meant for gathering and fellowship, offering – along with the hotel’s new steam heat and electric elevator – festive spaces for table tennis and card playing, and then later in the early 1950s, a specially designed TV room.
That style of providing a distinct gathering space has returned with the renovation of the Manor, which represents that latest step in al master plan designed to diversify and enhance the guest experience at the historic resort. In 2017, Pinehurst opened The Cradle, a 789-yard par-3 course that Golf Channel called the “most fun 10 acres in golf.” A year later, famed golf architect Gil Hanse completed his redesign of Pinehurst No. 4, which GOLF Magazine named the “Best New Course You Can Play.” And in 2018, Pinehurst Brewing Co., a 10-barrel microbrewery, opened in the Village’s old steam plant, a historic building that dates back to 1895.
“Our mantra is simple,” said Dedman in commenting on the projects. “Always Pinehurst, but always better.”
All told, the 2,200-acre Pinehurst Resort & Country Club property now features nine golf courses along with the new 9-hole par-3 course, as well as 16 clay tennis courts, an award-winning spa, and other recreation and social activities for families. Widely known as the Cradle of American Golf, Pinehurst has hosted more single golf championships—including the U.S. Open, U.S. Women’s Open, PGA Championship, the Ryder Cup and PGA TOUR Championship—‘than any other site in North America. In 2024, it will again welcome the U.S. Open.
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