| Because of its nonprofit status, much of the furniture has been donated either by a current furniture company such as Drexell Heritage or LaneVenture or estates. With that in mind, the inn is far from cookie-cutter. Few rooms look the same or even have the same type bed or lounging chair. |
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Duke Mansion May Be Nonprofit But
It Operates Like a Top Notch Business
By Sarah Davis
(March 2008) It’s rare to find a nonprofit historic inn. It’s even more rare to discover one that is a AAA-rated Four Diamond accommodation with attention to detail, phenomenal service and a rich history worthy of a North Carolina state museum. All of this – the history, the service the beauty - is found at The Duke Mansion Historic Inn, nestled in a quiet, upscale Charlotte neighborhood called Myers Park.
The lodging is owned by The Lynnwood Foundation, a foundation dedicated to preserving the historic site, and all proceeds, including those generated from lodging fees, go toward restoration.
No views of a McDonald’s parking lot or bumper-to-bumper traffic can be found here. Only towering white oaks and other beautiful homes, many built in the early 1900s and now selling for several million dollars. Ivy skirts around massive trees that set this property apart from the world, including downtown Charlotte, which is only 2 miles away.
In other words, The Duke Mansion is a peaceful place where guests can hear birds calling and fountains flowing while sitting on a second-floor sleeping porch in a swing. For Carolina residents, it’s a perfect place for a romantic getaway without having to get too far away.
When entering the driveway, guests are awed by the sheer size of the inn, which as the name indicates, was once the home of James B. “Buck” Duke, founder of Duke Power Co., The Duke Endowment and Duke University. The 32,000 square foot home is impressive, with its massive white columns, large front fountain and extensive grounds, covering 4.5 acres.
Guests get the feeling of a time of luxury and grandness with a Southern touch. Although big, the home is welcoming and warm, with white rocking chairs lining the large front porch and bellmen waiting to help with luggage.
Windows are large and abundant, reaching well over 12 feet tall for most. Screened porches, also known as sleeping porches when people escaped the heat of summer by sleeping outdoors, are in all four corners of the second floor.
The driveway encircles a large fountain, one of several Duke put great pride in during his time in the home. The largest, called Wonder Fountain, no longer exists but was once a 150-foot tall attraction that Sunday riders would visit in droves.
The Duke Mansion has shifted through many changes through its more than 90-year existence, including a new address. The original home, built by Zebulon Taylor, president of Southern Public Utilities, was a nice-size home facing Ardsley Road, Yes, the home was impressive, to be sure, but it tripled in size when James B. “Buck” Duke, founder of The American Tobacco Co. and Duke Power Company, did a little remodeling and named it Lynwood.
The home leaped to 32,000 square feet, making it the largest wooden structure in Charlotte, and the grounds expanded to more than 14 acres. The home, now facing Hermitage Road, has both an east and west wing with a central hallway connecting the two, to create a Colonial revival style building with a semi-enclosed backyard garden courtyard.
Once inside, guests can see the courtyard through the three back, eight-pane glass doors that reach 8 feet. Visitors are greeted by staff at a small, unobtrusive desk in the foyer, in the central main hallway. Most of the 35 full-time employees wear black and white, looking just like you would imagine a butler and maidservant to be dressed in a royal home in England.
The foyer opens to a marble hallway with three magnificent chandeliers overhead and an impressive fresh bouquet from Elizabeth House Flowers atop a circular table. Marble baseboards reach at least 6 inches tall. Down the hall to the left is the dining room and to the right is the stairway to the second floor and a large living room used for events and meetings.
One of the four fireplaces in the home is in this conference room, which is adjacent to the solarium, said to be Duke’s favorite spot in the home.
On the other end of the first floor, breakfast includes a choice of Belgian waffles, eggs, omelets or eggs benedict and an array of juices.
Guests are afforded the chance to mingle with others at breakfast, but may not see each other much for the rest of the day.
The Duke Mansion General Manager Tim Miron can be spotted chatting it up with guests at breakfast. He knows guests by name and makes sure to ask about their day. He also helps with serving breakfast if necessary, but the small kitchen staff pride themselves in delectable dishes and great service. Such a warm and hospitable staff, from the general manager on down, makes for a memorable stay.
The breakfast room opens to a porch with a view of the backyard gardens.
“If the weather is nice, we serve breakfast on the porch,” said Miron.
The most dominate feature of the home are its white oaks. In fact, the home was named White Oaks when, in 1929, Martin L. Cannon, family heir of Cannon Mills, purchased the home. He fell in love with the large trees that surround the property. Decades later, these trees have grown even more impressive.
Also on the grounds are three Treasure Trees, part of a Mecklenburg County program that recognizes trees of unique character in the community. The most impressive is a yellow poplar that can be spotted on the drive up.
On the west side of the property is another garden that holds a beautiful statue. Just past this is another garden that formerly held the property pool. When the pool began to crack, the Foundation filled it in. The full-time horticulturist has since covered the pool area with lavender. Instead of waves of blue water, guests can view waves of comforting lavender. A trickling lion’s head fountain is adjacent to the pool.
On the east side of the property is a small vegetable garden. Here, staff grow onions, potatoes, tomatoes, squash, eggplant and garlic, along with other things. While the garden doesn’t supply all vegetables needed for meals, homegrown items are a staple. One secret is that the horticulturist, John Neville, grows bean sprouts in the basement. Rooms upstairs are all unique.
Because of its nonprofit status, much of the furniture has been donated either by a current furniture company such as Drexell Heritage or LaneVenture or estates. With that in mind, the inn is far from cookie-cutter. Few rooms look the same or even have the same type bed or lounging chair.
The bedrooms boast 18-foot ceilings and include windows that reach almost to the ceiling. Large bathrooms have white tiles rising to about 5 feet. Some bathrooms are a mixture of old and new. A speckled mirror, showing signs of age, may be atop a new sink, although all new furniture is befitting the décor of the times. Unscented Oatmeal Soap, glycerin soap, a sewing kit, a vanity kits that includes cotton ear swabs, shampoo, conditions and lotion are all provided. Bath amenities are wrapped in beige textured paper with the House image and logo on it.
Some tubs, particularly the one in the former Mrs. Duke’s room, includes an oval shower curtain and full showerhead for a relaxing shower.
As evidence by the name, The Duke Mansion Historic Inn and Meeting Place is not just a bed and breakfast. It is also a popular meeting spot for Charlotte businesses. With such close proximity to downtown, it can easily accommodate a group for an afternoon.
Additionally, with its beautiful grounds and structure, it is a popular spot for wedding photos and events. However, as per a covenant the inn has with the neighborhood, the wedding itself is not allowed. But, brides-to-be come here for wedding shower brunches, photo shoots, wedding rehearsals and all the other fun of a wedding.
To operate an inn in the midst of a quiet neighborhood, residents naturally want to ensure quality for the neighborhood as well as the inn. Parking for dinner guests could possibly spill into the streets, so it is off-limits.
While these restrictions limit what the bed and breakfast can offer guests, all the rules contribute to keeping the inn a tranquil part of an historic neighborhood that great for walks or jogs during the day. (Updated March 2008)
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