Some places in the mountains of North Carolina let you sleep inside history instead of just walking past it. A redbrick manor from the 1840s sits quietly on a hidden drive, close enough to reach downtown in minutes yet tucked far enough away to feel like a private retreat.
The rooms hold period furniture, working fireplaces, and claw-foot tubs, and the mornings begin with a four-course breakfast cooked by a classically trained chef. There is a story here tied to famous neighbors, a legendary diamond, and hosts who greet arriving guests with a silver tray of chilled water.
Keep reading to learn where this landmark stands, what makes each room special, and why so many travelers keep coming back year after year.
A Landmark Manor On A Quiet Asheville Drive
Tucked at 100 Reynolds Heights in Asheville, North Carolina, this stately redbrick manor dates all the way back to 1847. The Colonial Revival styling and wraparound porches make it a true landmark rather than a passing curiosity.
The setting keeps you close to everything without feeling crowded. The Biltmore Estate sits about 7 miles away, and the Thomas Wolfe House is only 5 miles off.
Guests often describe finding the property along an almost hidden drive, which only adds to the sense of arriving somewhere special. Downtown Asheville is just minutes away, so the highway and the shops stay within easy reach.
With a 4.9-star standing across more than 180 accounts, the mansion has earned a loyal following. Regulars mention returning again and again, often choosing it over the standard hotels scattered through the region.
The house delivers the rare chance to stay inside a piece of local history instead of simply touring one.
History Woven Into Every Wall
The Reynolds family name carries real weight in this part of North Carolina, and the home reflects generations of that heritage. People who stay here often say the place feels like spending the night in a museum.
One of the more surprising threads in its past is a connection to the Hope Diamond, a detail that has intrigued many who learn the property’s story. Little pieces of history like that turn an overnight stay into something closer to a discovery.
The house has been carefully preserved rather than modernized beyond recognition. No detail seems to have been spared in keeping the original character alive, from the woodwork to the furnishings.
Guests frequently note how rich the home feels with history, calling it the right choice over a generic room. The hosts are passionate about the property and happy to share its background.
Learning the layers of the mansion’s past is part of what makes a visit here memorable long after checkout.
Rooms, Suites, And A Poolside Cottage
Accommodations here stretch beyond the main house, giving travelers real choice. You can settle into a genteel room within the manor, a suite in the carriage house, or a cottage set beside the pool.
Every room comes with period furnishings and a flat-screen, blending old-world charm with a few modern comforts. Many include fireplaces or claw-foot tubs, while the suites add sitting areas and whirlpool tubs.
Named rooms give each space its own identity, with favorites like the Katie room, All that Jazz, Claudette, and the Carriage House Blue Hydrangea earning repeat mentions. The Katie room features a claw-foot bathtub and an antique bedframe that guests find genuinely romantic.
Comfort shows up again and again in what people share, with 35 nods to comfortable rooms and 11 to comfortable beds. Despite the age of the home, the rooms stay surprisingly quiet and well insulated from noise.
Cozy robes and big, fluffy towels round out the small touches. Whether you want a fireplace glow or a soaking tub, there is a room shaped for the occasion.
The Four-Course Breakfast That Starts Your Day
Mornings at the mansion revolve around a breakfast that many guests call the reason they booked in the first place. A classically trained chef personally cooks four courses, and each one arrives beautifully plated.
The lineup has included a smoothie, a cold fruit and yogurt plate, a hot breakfast plate, and a baked biscuit to finish. Guests describe the presentation as so lovely they almost hesitate to pick up a fork.
Portions run generous enough that many travelers say they did not need to eat again until evening. The dishes are praised as delicious, plentiful, and a real feast for the eyes.
Dietary needs are handled with care. Vegetarian guests of seven years found the kitchen accommodated them perfectly, and special versions have been prepared for other restrictions.
Breakfast is served in the grand dining room or out on the porch, and the conversation that follows often becomes a highlight of its own. This is the kind of meal people travel back to Asheville just to have again.
Hosts Who Treat You Like Family
Innkeepers Paul and Mirlin have become almost as famous as the mansion itself. Guests describe hospitality that begins before you even reach the door, sometimes with a silver tray of chilled water and lemon.
Paul, who carries a British accent and a supply of good stories, doubles as the chef and the resident guide to Asheville. He shares restaurant tips, directions, and ideas for things to do, and has even offered a discount to the Biltmore.
Mirlin anticipates needs at the table and keeps the mornings running smoothly. Together they make travelers feel less like customers and more like guests in a friend’s home.
The couple continues a tradition of excellence that earlier innkeepers set, and returning guests noticed the standard held steady after the handover. Even solo guests in an otherwise empty house receive the same attentive care.
Long conversations after breakfast come up often, with people saying time seemed to slip away. That personal warmth is what turns first-timers into repeat guests.
Porches, Pool, And Scenic Views
Outside the walls, the grounds give guests plenty of reasons to linger. Wraparound porches wrap the mansion in scenic views, and they earn steady praise from those who spend an afternoon out there.
An outdoor pool anchors the property, offering a spot to cool off during warmer months. The poolside cottage even puts one set of guests right beside it.
Sunset views come up in a dozen separate accounts, making the porches a favorite perch as the day winds down. The peaceful setting balances the energy of nearby downtown perfectly.
The gardens draw their own admirers, with ten mentions of their beauty. Well-kept lawns and thoughtful landscaping frame the historic home and give it a manor-like presence.
Many describe the overall property as simply beautiful, a word that shows up in nineteen separate accounts. Between the porches, the pool, and the gardens, the outdoor spaces are as much a part of the stay as the rooms inside.
Fireplaces, Antiques, And Cozy Corners
Warmth defines the indoor spaces once the sun goes down. Working and gas fireplaces appear in many rooms, and guests consistently name them among their favorite features.
Antique furniture fills every corner, giving the home the feel of another era. One traveler noted an antique bedframe that recalled a piece a grandfather had built by hand, a reminder of how personal these furnishings can feel.
The common areas invite you to slow down. A library and a parlor offer quiet places to read, chat, or sip from the coffee bar before the day begins.
Cinnamon coffee enjoyed in the library before breakfast has become a small ritual for some guests. Classic music drifting through the house at night adds to the vintage mood.
Between the fireplaces, the cozy robes, and the antique-filled rooms, the interior encourages you to settle in rather than rush out. It is the sort of setting that makes an evening indoors feel like part of the adventure.
A Base For Exploring Asheville
Location plays a big role in why this B&B works so well as a home base. The mansion sits only minutes from downtown Asheville while keeping the highway within easy reach.
Big-name attractions are close at hand. The Biltmore Estate is roughly 7 miles away, and the Thomas Wolfe House lies about 5 miles off, both simple drives from the property.
Guests suggest giving yourself time to soak it all in, with at least three full days recommended to truly experience the area. That pace lets you balance sightseeing with slow mornings at the house.
Paul’s local knowledge turns planning into a breeze, from dining suggestions to directions and things to do. Many travelers lean on those recommendations to shape their days.
The quiet setting means you can retreat from the bustle whenever you like, then return to the action just as quickly. For anyone building an Asheville itinerary, the mansion offers both calm and convenience in one address.
The Perfect Setting For Celebrations
Couples have long treated the mansion as a place to mark milestones. Honeymooners, anniversary travelers, and newlyweds all show up in its story, some returning decades later.
One pair celebrated their 40th anniversary here after spending their honeymoon at the same house forty years earlier. That kind of full-circle memory speaks to how meaningful a stay can be.
The hosts add thoughtful surprises for special occasions. Newlyweds have been welcomed with toasting glasses and a silver ice bucket, a gesture that caught them completely off guard.
Romantic touches fill the rooms themselves, from gas fireplaces to claw-foot tubs and antique bedframes. The Katie room in particular gets called incredibly romantic.
First-time B&B travelers frequently say the experience converted them into lifelong fans of this style of stay. Between the atmosphere and the personal care, the mansion has a way of making big moments feel even bigger.
For an anniversary, a honeymoon, or simply a getaway with someone special, the setting rises to the occasion.
Practical Notes For Your Stay
Planning a visit is straightforward once you know the basics. Nightly rates start around 265 dollars, which covers a stay layered with extras.
Freebies stack up nicely here. Guests enjoy complimentary breakfast, afternoon snacks, a coffee bar, free Wi-Fi, and free parking, all rolled into the experience.
Amenities cover a wide range, including an outdoor pool, a fitness center, air conditioning, and an airport shuttle. The property is accessible, smoke-free, pet-friendly, and even has a restaurant on site.
One thing to keep in mind is the age policy. Children age 17 and up are welcome, which shapes the calm, grown-up feel of the house.
The mansion asks arriving guests to call ahead when they are close, a small step that helps the hosts greet you properly. Booking early is wise, since returning guests fill the calendar and the rooms are limited.
With so much included in the rate, the value stretches well beyond a simple overnight. A little planning ensures you get the room and dates you want.
Why This Historic Retreat Stays With You
Few places manage to blend history, comfort, and genuine hospitality the way this one does. The 1847 manor gives you a chance to live inside the past rather than admire it from behind a rope.
The four-course breakfast alone keeps people coming back, but the fireplaces, the antiques, and the porches with sunset views all pull their weight too. Every room carries a piece of the story.
What lingers most for many travelers is the warmth of Paul and Mirlin. Their attention turns a lovely building into a place that feels like a second home.
Returning guests, milestone celebrations, and first-timers won over on the spot all point to the same conclusion. The mansion delivers something rare and worth the trip.
For an Asheville getaway that pairs mountain-town convenience with old-world character, this redbrick landmark makes a strong case. Book a room, plan your mornings around breakfast, and let the history do the rest.
Enjoyed this story?
Add Fast Food Club as a preferred source to see more of our reporting on Google.