Willcox's facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Willcox's
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Willcox's, August 2012
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 Location in South Carolina
Location in the United States
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| Location | Colleton Ave, Aiken, South Carolina, US |
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| Area | 6 acres (2.4 ha) |
| Built | 1928 |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 82003828 |
| Added to NRHP | March 19, 1982 |
The Willcox in Aiken, South Carolina, USA, was once a very famous hotel. It was known around the world, especially during the time of the Aiken Winter Colony. The Willcox family ran it from 1898 to 1957.
The building is still beautiful today. It shows styles from both Second Empire and Colonial Revival architecture. The Willcox is special because it's the only one of Aiken's old, famous hotels that is still standing. This important building was added to the National Register of Historic Places on March 19, 1982.
Contents
History of The Willcox Hotel
How The Willcox Began
In 1891, Frederick Willcox from England, his Swedish wife Elise Wellborn, and their two sons, Frederick and Albert, moved to Aiken. They built a house and started a catering business there. Elise became very well-known for her amazing cooking.
Many wealthy families from the "Aiken Winter Colony" loved their food. These families were very rich. They had made their money during the American Industrial Revolution.
The Highland Park Hotel Fire
Around 1898, a big hotel called the Highland Park Hotel burned down. Many winter visitors stayed there before they built their own homes in Aiken. These "cottages" were actually huge mansions. They were often the second or third homes for very rich families.
After the hotel fire, a woman named Mrs. Thomas (Louise) Hitchcock asked the Willcox family to open a small hotel. In 1900, The Willcox welcomed its first guests.
Growing The Willcox Inn
The hotel grew bigger in 1906. They added a two-story house next door to the hotel. In 1928, they expanded and updated the west side of the building. This gave the hotel the look it has today.
Frederick Willcox passed away in 1924. His son, Albert (Bert) Willcox, then managed the inn. He ran it until it closed in 1957.
The Willcox During World War II
During World War II in the early 1940s, travel became difficult. The Willcox faced tough times and closed in the early 1950s. It was sold in 1957. For the next 20 years, it was sometimes repaired but mostly stayed empty.
Finally, in 1985, it was fully fixed up and reopened as The Willcox Inn.
Famous Guests at The Willcox
Many important people stayed at the famous old Willcox Inn. These included diplomats, leaders of society, and even European royalty. Wealthy sports enthusiasts and entertainers also visited.
Some famous guests were Winston Churchill and Count and Countess Bernadotte of Sweden, who spent their honeymoon there. Other well-known visitors included John Jacob Astor, Evelyn Walsh McLean (who owned the Hope diamond), makeup artist Elizabeth Arden, singer Andy Williams, dancer Irene Castle, Doris Duke, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Bing Crosby. They all came to The Willcox to enjoy the relaxed life in Aiken.
The Willcox Today
In 2000, the Garrett Hotel Group bought the hotel. It reopened in 2002 as The Willcox. In 2009, Geoffrey and Shannon Ellis, who own restaurants, bought The Willcox.
Today, The Willcox is one of South Carolina's most luxurious small hotels. In 2016, Travel + Leisure magazine ranked it as the 7th best hotel in the world. It was also named the best hotel in the South.
Besides rooms, the hotel has a restaurant, a bar, and a spa. It also offers horse boarding and rents out nearby houses for vacations. You can also book vacation packages that include horseback riding, golf, polo, and shooting sports like trap and skeet.
