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The Tar Heel State is not without its fair share of historic hotels but you’d be hard-pressed to find another quite like the Old Marshall Jail Hotel in Marshall. The old jail was built in 1905 and was actually in use until 2012. And it 2016, it was purchased by locals, painstakingly renovated over a five-year period, and then, in 2021, it opened as the most unique hotel in North Carolina.
The hotel stands just down the street from another famous building in Madison County: the county courthouse (pictured) which was designed by the same architect that designed The Biltmore, Richard Sharp Smith.
If these walls could talk, oh the stories they could undoubtedly tell!
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When the new owners took possession of the property in 2016, they found a myriad of walls constructed of steel plates forged together by rusted bolts and scores of walls made of steel bars.
Heck, even many of the ceilings were covered in steel plates! Perhaps that notorious escape through the roof had an impact on that design decision. Today, after a very lengthy and careful renovation, the new hotel that now occupies the space still showcases much of the materials used in the jail's impenetrable walls.
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Many of those steel plates were scrubbed of their peeling paint and cleaned of rust and then reconfigured to construct both suites and single rooms within the hotel.
Careful consideration was given to the history of the old jail within the community of Marshall. And all efforts during the renovation focused on highlighting the building's past.
The suites feature either a queen or a king bed, plus additional sleeping options in a loft above the main area that's reachable by a unique set of stairs with alternating steps.
Small, yet completely accommodating, the bunk rooms at the jail are a bit more authentic to the building's origin. They're much smaller and feature a set of bunk beds for sleeping.
For an adventure like no other, head to Marshall to spend the night in a former jailhouse!
It's right on the French Broad River in the heart of downtown Marshall.
The Old Marshall Jail Hotel is the most unique hotel in North Carolina. Did you know this wonderful little hotel had opened recently? Ever stayed here? Let us know in the comments.
