Just ten years ago, one of Mississippi’s cherished landmarks haunted a dark street corner of downtown Jackson. Vacant for over 40 years, the demolished structure housed vagrants and pigeons, with not even a whisper of what an extraordinary hotel it once was. Before its demise, the building was a symbol of Jackson downtown’s renaissance, welcoming politicians and socialites with its grandeur, charm and Southern hospitality.
The original hotel, The Confederate House, was built in 1861. After being destroyed during the Civil War in 1863, it was rebuilt and renamed the Edwards House, becoming a prominent center of Jackson politics for some 40 years. Governor Edmond Noel briefly lived there while his Mansion was undergoing renovations, and a banquet was held in 1909 in honor of President Taft.
In 1923, a stately 12-story brick hotel was built in its place, designed in the Beaux-Arts architectural style by William Nolan of New Orleans. This impressive new structure was named the Edwards Hotel, boasting a magnificent lobby with six large columns set along the perimeter of an oval light well, skylights inviting in a pool of warm sun, and a luxurious marble staircase. In 1954, the hotel was purchased, modernized and renamed the King Edward Hotel. It continued hosting prominent events, balls, dinners and meetings. But in 1967, its glorious reign abruptly ended, leaving the hotel towering cowardly at the edge of downtown Jackson.
Allison Peppers, now the Food and Bar Manager at the King Edward, moved to Jackson in 2002 and remembers exploring downtown Jackson in her convertible. “I pulled up next to the vacant hotel and thought, how did this happen? This could be something so beautiful.”
Thankfully, a former New Orleans Saints running back teamed with Historic Restoration Inc. of New Orleans to restore the King Edward to its former splendor. Deuce McAllister saw potential beneath the rotting exterior, and completed a $90 million renovation. In December 2009, the historic hotel reopened its impressive doors as the Hilton Garden Inn Jackson Downtown.
Dixie Krauss, Senior Catering Manager says much of the hotel’s architecture remains. “They basically gutted the building and kept the structure. The lobby has all of its original flooring and columns, as well as the beautiful crown molding.” The building, which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976 and named a Mississippi Landmark in 1990, has become a modern destination.
The hotel boasts 186 impressive rooms and four floors of luxury apartments. The King Edward Bar has also become a downtown hot spot for both locals and guests. Allison Peppers says, “We have a daily intermission from 4-6pm. We want to close out the day with everyone and bring in downtown businesses after work. We have drink specials, but most importantly, we are really focused on what Mississippi has to offer.” Mississippi has seven craft beer breweries in the state and the bar represents all seven, selling at least one beer from each brewery. Every tap runs Mississippi beer, and drinks are created with Mississippi-made Cathead Vodka and Bristow Gin. “It’s about bringing people from out of town and showing them what we have. People fought to get the King Edward built and wanted to see it revived. When I first saw it, I could not believe the transformation from 2002! We want to give back and focus on what Mississippi has given us.”
The historic hotel also provides a stunning backdrop for weddings and events. Guests regularly catch a glimpse of a radiant bride being photographed on the grand staircase, which was created to match the original marble floor of the lobby.
The renovation of the hotel was one of the first steps in revitalizing Jackson’s downtown, and it continues to lure crowds. Dixie says confidently, “In 10 years from now, everything will be just as glamorous as it was. It is so timeless and gorgeous. The ambiance is never going to change.”
For more information on the Hilton Garden Inn Jackson Downtown, please visitor their website here.
{Blog by Mitchell Walters}
{Blog by Mitchell Walters}
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