Burnsville, North Carolina is a tiny town on the edge of Mount Mitchell in the Appalachian Mountains. Its charming downtown is home to an art gallery, coffee shop, one-screen movie theater, and a handful of local restaurants. NuWray, North Carolina’s oldest continuously operating hotel, also claims space in the heart of Burnsville. Moreover, this historic North Carolina hotel lends its charm and old school hospitality to this mountain village.
First built in 1833, NuWray recently underwent an expansive restoration that included brand new plumbing, electrical, and HVAC, as well as upgraded interior elements for modern convenience. Throughout the renovation, the hotel’s owners thoughtfully balanced modern upgrades with historic preservation. Elements like original wood floors and single pane windows—features that offer character, originality, and insight into the property’s age—survived the renovation and continue to infuse the hotel with personality.
Storied Stays
Two buildings comprise the NuWray Hotel property. The main building houses 22 rooms across three floors. Each room is unique in shape and decor. Although, all rooms include a king or queen bed, plush bedding, and luxury mattresses. Guests can choose among economy, standard, and deluxe rooms, which vary in square footage and features. A full service restaurant within the main building offers guests the opportunity to dine from the comfort of the building.
The second building is located just behind the main building. It is known as the Carriage House, a reference to the building’s original purpose of sheltering the carriages and chauffeurs that delivered guests to the NuWray Hotel. The building has lived many lives since those days. It served the fire department in the 1930s and housed a painting school in the 1940s, and then it hosted an ice cream parlor, art gallery, and more businesses in recent memory. The building has since returned to a function closer to its original purpose, sheltering travellers as part of the NuWray Hotel. Two double queen rooms, one double king room, and a full apartment with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen, and living space dominate the second floor. Exposed brick, wood trim, tin ceilings, and art by local artists contribute to a cozy atmosphere.
Living History
Downstairs at the Carriage House, Carriage House Sundries serves the public by day as a café and bakery. At night, it transforms into a pub and lounge. Premium wines, cigars, and other retail items complement the restaurant’s full bar, as well as its made to order and ready made food offerings. Back at the main building, an outdoor bar called Roland’s seasonally offers a third food and beverage option. In a former life, the space where Roland’s lives functioned as a smokehouse. Thousands of hams were cured each year to support feasts hosted by the hotel. Now, it’s yet another testament to the hotel’s storied past and one more reason to visit this historic North Carolina hotel.
Our neighbors in western North Carolina continue to struggle in the wake of Hurricane Helene’s destruction. Your support, through donations, volunteering, or tourism, provides critical relief during a devastating period in our state’s history.
nuwray.com
carriagehousesundries.com
