12 Things To Do During Your Mountain Retreat in Gatlinburg!

Our extended family is big on tradition, and our annual trip to the Great Smoky Mountains is something I'm proud we've kept up for so many years. 

There are plenty of mountains in this country, but none so incredibly magical as the Smokies. It's hard to put it into words, but these old mountains give you the feeling of going home and that you've known them all your life.

Here are the top 12 Things To Do in the Gatlinburg area to make the most of your Smoky Mountain getaway!

What's Ahead:

• How to pick your cabin in the Smokies. 
• How to prepare for your trip through the Smoky Mountain National Park. 
• Where to eat and what attractions to visit. 
• How to completely immerse yourself in East Tennessee history.
• Stay tuned for my sample Gatlinburg Travel Itinerary at the end!

#1: Stay In A Log Cabin

Renting a log cabin is half the Smoky Mountain experience, and I can assure you that a hotel room downtown will not have the same ambiance as the feeling you get sipping your morning coffee while sitting on your deck overlooking Mount LeConte. 

You can stay in a cabin just large enough for the two of you or you and your kids OR you can get a huge group together and rent your very own chateau. It's very manageable to rent out a mansion if everyone chips in, but even the one and two bedrooms are usually pretty spacious for what you pay via the wrap around decks and extra rooms for amenities. The small ones are still typically two or three stories due to being on the side of a mountain. 

I do need to make two points here though -

A) First of all, when I say Gatlinburg, I'm referring to a large area made up of a few "suburbs" that each have their own flavor. We've stayed in each of these areas, and each cabin had its own special charm:

• Gatlinburg is quaint and adorable. This is where the town shops and the ski resort are, and this is probably the best area to rent one of those cabins on the side of the mountain with the dramatic views of those gorgeous smoky peaks and that beautiful fall foliage.
• Pigeon Forge is far more lively. I refer to it as the Vegas of the Smokies, and there are things to do around literally every corner. If you are planning to rent in a cabin community, this is probably the best area for it. Cabin communities are set up similar to beach condo communities, but each cabin is its own. They typically have amenities such as pools, spas, outside dining and grilling areas, etc. And being close to town makes it easy to order takeout.
• Sevierville is where the farmers live. It's more hilly, more laid back, and has that small town feel. If you want to experience what it's like to be a local in East Tennessee, this is the place. 
• Cades Cove, Wears Valley, and Townsend are where all the animals live, so don't be surprised if you see an elk walk across the road or baby bears hanging in the tree overhead as you drive past. This is the valley, so you'll be looking up at the sides of the mountains instead of out at them, but many cabins sit on acreage here, so it can also be very private.

There are many cabin rental companies you can lease from here, and you can also take a look at VRBO or Airbnb, but we have rented from Cabins for You many times in the past, and they have always been an absolute dream to work with. 

B) Secondly, be prepared to drive on windy mountain roads. Depending on where you're going, most trips take at least thirty minutes (especially if you have to drive through the National Park), so make sure to plan your departing and arrival times accordingly. This being said, the drive is truly part of the experience and an easy excuse to soak in the sights of the river that runs along the road and all those red, orange, and yellow leaves.

Gatlinburg Tip #1 - Your GPS has the potential to lose signal in the National Park, so make sure to keep a good ol'-fashioned map in the car whilst driving through the Smokies. This is true for the Blue Ridge Parkway and if you drive through the National Park on the way up.

#2: Explore Smoky Mountain National Park

From hiking and waterfall-hunting to fishing and camping, there is an endless amount of memories to be made in Smoky Mountain National Park. You don't even have to track down a trail because there are so many places to just pull off and enjoy an overlook, waterfall, or a quick hike. You'll know where the popular places are because there will always be cars parked on the side of the road. One of the favorites of the area is the gorgeous Laurel Falls. 

Gatlinburg Tip #2 - Before heading up to the Smokies, I would suggest you make sure you have LED headlights (or at least clean ones) because there is absolutely no light in the National Park at night. No development is allowed in this 522,427-acre National Park, so this means no street lights, no house lights, and additionally, there is no moonlight or starlight because of the tree cover. This being said, keep your wits about you because there are cliffs and rock walls that are extremely close to the road and can pop up out of seemingly nowhere. 

#3: Get Over Your Fear of Bears

Now, I'm not referring to the Grizzly that Leo DiCaprio was fighting in The Revenant, I'm talking about black bears. These little guys have a personality all their own when it comes to bear breeds. They are the mascots of Gatlinburg, and they are everywhere. You may see traffic backed up for two miles because there's a bear just hanging out, and you'll see black teddy bears (and any kind of black bear home décor you could ever want) in any local shop you visit. You might even find one hanging out on your front porch from time to time.

Rules of Thumb with Black Bears:

• Always lock your car because they CAN open car doors. 
• Most cabins have metal bins that hold your trash cans, so just make sure to keep those locked, and NEVER feed them (you can be prosecuted).
• Don't pet the babies because mom is close and will eat you.
• Always keep your distance from them because even though they are cute, they are wild animals, smart, and inherently dangerous. 
• If they are getting too close to you, make yourself as big and loud as you can because they're scaredy cats.

#4: Go Ice-Skating at Ober Gatlinburg

You don't have to be a skier or snowboarder to appreciate Ober Gatlinburg (though definitely check it out if you are)! They also have snowtubing, ice-skating, ice bumper cars, restaurants, shopping, a mountain coaster, and so much more! They even have a wildlife sanctuary where you can see those cute black bears up close and personal. 

#5: Walk the Skybridge

Gatlinburg is known for Anakeesta and the SkyLift, but SkyLift Park has a recent addition to their family of attractions, the SkyBridge. The SkyBridge is the longest pedestrian cable bridge in North America at almost 1,700 feet. At 500 feet above Gatlinburg, it makes those panoramic views of the Smokies so easily-attainable, especially when you walk across the 30 feet of see-through glass flooring. 

#6: Visit a Hallmark Christmas Town and Drink Hot Chocolate

Have you ever wanted to live in a Hallmark Christmas movie? Well, then Gatlinburg is your dream come true! Between November and December, the town comes alive with twinkling lights. It's the perfect place to grab a hot chocolate from a street stand and enjoy the brisk weather while arm-in-arm with your honey (or your honey, sister, Mother-In-Law, and daughter in my case) down the sidewalks of a Christmas wonderland!

#7: Go Horseback Riding in the Mountains

There is nothing quite like horseback riding through windy trails, up hills, and along cliffs with those foggy blue mountains as your backdrop and the sweet smell of the forest surrounding you.  

Hands down the best horseback riding establishment I've ever done business with, Deer Mountain Riding Stables makes you feel like family every time you visit. They also have a petting zoo with zebras, camels, kangaroos, and all the goats you could ever hope to snuggle.

#8: Tour A Cavern

Whether driving through the mountains, looking out at the mountains, or exploring UNDERNEATH the mountains, there is so much to see in the Smokies. There are some awesome cave systems throughout the National Park full of waterfalls, salamanders, and so much East Tennessee history. Two of my favorites are the Tuckaleechee Caverns and the Forbidden Caverns. The Forbidden Caverns even have the old moonshine equipment originally found in the cave on display. Apparently, the untouched melted snow that ran through the cave and the seclusion of the caverns made a perfect combination for distilling alcohol for all those who sought it during Prohibition. 

Gatlinburg Tip #3 - If you're planning to tour one of these caverns, plan your trip dates to coincide with their tour calendar because they usually close down for the winter around the middle to end of November. 

#9: Have A Family Night In

With the cabin being so quintessential to the essence of the trip, don't forget to enjoy it while its yours. Most cabins have a grill, a decent-sized kitchen, and a firepit, so take the opportunity to stay in, cook a family dinner (or get it catered), and don't forget the s'mores! 

Some of these cabins also have other crazy amenities like pool tables, foosball tables, air hockey tables, arcade systems, game systems, theaters, heated indoor pools, and hot tubs, so make sure you take advantage of them while you're there! Play a round of pool, a board game, or a good ol' game of poker or Rumi, and just enjoy some family time together. The mountains have this miraculous ability to make us stop, breathe, and get back to basics, and that's one of the best parts of being surrounded by log walls and so much beautiful nature!

#10: Have A Family Day Out

With so much to do in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, it's completely acceptable to go out and be a tourist:

• Gatlinburg has the Ripley's Believe It or Not family of attractions, including: the museum, the aquarium, the 4-D theater, and their haunted house.
• Pigeon Forge has Dollywood, the Island, shows like the Hatfield and McCoy Dinner Theater, and even the Titanic Museum.

I couldn't name all the attractions here even if I tried, so make sure to do some research of where you would like to hit up because it could easily get overwhelming!

Dave's little head on the body of the largest man to ever live

Chayton loves the Cars Museum in Gatlinburg

#11: Eat Local

We have a tradition of eating at the Little House of Pancakes the last morning of each trip before we head home. It's a local diner at the end of the Parkway heading out of Gatlinburg and into the National Forest, and they make some of the best breakfast grub you'll ever eat! 807 East Parkway, Gatlinburg, TN 37738.

If you're looking for some more local flavor in Gatlinburg, head over to the Smoky Mountain Trout House, or you can go to Mama's Farmhouse in Pigeon Forge. Mama's is a family-style restaurant that serves in large portions that everyone spoons from. It's like Thanksgiving!

The kids always have to ride this dinosaur when we go to the Little House of Pancakes

Anna and my dad (dressed in his Tennessee colors) at the Trout House

#12: Try Some Moonshine

Gatlinburg is famous for their legal moonshine at Ole Smoky Moonshine. Even if your pallet doesn't crave straight corn liquor, they have so many different flavors to choose from. Also, one of our traditions when staying at the cabin is drinking mimosas while soaking in the hot tub, and moonshine tastes great with orange juice!

There are also quite a few great wineries in downtown Gatlinburg (such as Sugarland Cellars), if that's more your style.

SAMPLE ITENERARY:

Thursday -

• Begin your trek through Smoky Mountain National Park (even if you fly in to Knoxville, it's about an hour's drive to the area)
• Check in to your cabin
• Eat dinner at the Smoky Mountain Trout House

Friday - 

• Spend the day at Ober Gatlinburg or Anakeesta
• Spend some time in Gatlinburg, eat dinner on the Parkway, try some moonshine at Ole Smoky's, and walk the streets at night to enjoy the Christmas lights
• Spend some time enjoying the mountains from your hot tub

Saturday -

• Go horseback riding at Deer Farm Riding Stables
• Tour one of the caverns
• Make dinner at home and have a family night

Sunday -

• Spend the day in Smoky Mountain National Park and go hiking or fishing
• Or spend the day in SkyLift Park and walk the SkyBridge
• Make dinner at home and have a family night

Monday - 

• Enjoy excursions in Pigeon Forge (maybe a day at Dollywood)
• Eat dinner at Mama's Farmhouse

Tuesday -

• Check out of your cabin
• Eat breakfast at the Little House of Pancakes on the way out
• Begin your trek back home through Smoky Mountain National Park

Please let me know if you complete this trip and/or your thoughts of the sample itinerary!

Have you ever been to the Smokies? Are there any must-dos you would add to the itinerary? Please feel free to leave any Smoky Mountain suggestions or tips in the comments below!

A Hauntingly Historic Week on Galveston Island!

Galveston has been dubbed the most haunted city in Texas, and you could spend weeks here soaking in every paranormal-worthy activity the island has to offer, but here are our top picks for a week or long weekend in "G-Town:"

What's Ahead:

• Accommodation Options
• Spooky Activities on the Island
• Restaurant Recommendations
• Stay tuned for my sample Galveston Travel Itinerary at the end!

Trip Planning:

• Plan Ahead - Make your hotel reservations at least two months ahead of time. Make your dinner reservations at least two weeks ahead of time. Everything else you can kind of play by ear. We walked in to get tickets to all of the attractions we visited, but you can also make reservations online.
• Bring A Mask - The city is still pretty pro-mask, as opposed to other areas of Texas, so some of the attractions will still require you to wear one on entry. Please make sure you are comfortable with this before heading there. 
• Bring Bug Spray - The mosquitos on the island can be awful sometimes.
• Make A Shopping List - There is a Walmart, a Target, a Kroger, and some other supermarkets on the island, but as Seawall Blvd can be pretty busy at times, they can be hard to get to on a whim. My recommendation would be to make a list, plan one trip, and pick up all your grocery items at once.
• Beach Day Food - If you don't feel like bringing sandwiches to the beach, Porretto Beach has a snack shack that is open during peak season, there is a Jack-in-the-Box across the street, and there are all sorts of restaurants along the Seawall. 

Porretto Beach

Accommodations:

#1: A Historic Beach House - This provides an option for privacy, a backyard for the pups, and the ability to be immersed in the local history. 

We stayed at Coastal Hideaway, an affordable, pet-friendly two bedroom, one and a half bath beach house, which is an easy five minute walk to the beach. The house was likely built between 1895 and the 1910s, but it has been fully renovated with new paint, an updated bathroom, smart TVs in each room, and stainless steel appliances in the huge kitchen. The fenced-in backyard feels like a jungle, and you are provided a garage and an outdoor shower.

#2 The Galvez Hotel and Spa - If you have the option of luxury, I would suggest you stay in the most haunted hotel in Galveston. If you want to partake in the nightly ghost tour, make sure to make your reservations in advance.

 

The Galvez Hotel and Spa

Activities:

#1: Bishop's Palace - This 1892 mansion (also known as Gresham's Castle) is likely the most recognizable building in the city. The house is made completely of stone, and as such, it was able to withstand the great hurricane of 1900. Walter Gresham and his wife, Josephine, built the home and lived there with their nine children. In 1923, it was purchased by the Roman Diocese of Galveston, and it then served as the residence for Bishop Christopher E. Byrne. The home is incredibly grand and ornate, and as for ghosts, it is said that the Gresham's still walk its halls.

The Bishop's Palace

The Immense Staircase

#2: Moody Mansion - This mansion feels like the inside of a life-sized CLUE board, and I'm pretty sure Miss Scarlet killed Mr. Body in the Conservatory with the candlestick. Yes, there was an actual conservatory, along with every other formal room from the game and movie.

William Moody had his hands in almost everything, from cotton to ranching and from publishing to insurance. There are streets, banks, churches, and hospitals that boast his name, and then there are the incredible Moody Gardens! 

Even with how pivotal the Moody's were to Galveston's expansion as a city, this mansion was born of a darker past: Richard S. Willis made his fortune in the cotton industry, but he was a very frugal man who kept his assets liquid to be able to easily distribute them among his ten children in the event of his passing. His wife, Narcissa, however, wanted to live a more lavish lifestyle in a large home that her husband would never allow. After Richard's death in 1892 (under strange circumstances, I might add), newly-widowed Narcissa put almost the entirety of his money into the commission of building the mansion, leaving nothing to the children. For this act, she was estranged from her children, and she lived alone in the house with a single housekeeper until she died in 1899. When she passed, her daughter immediately put the mansion up for sale. There were many bids placed on the house, but when the Great Storm of 1900 happened, all bidders pulled out except for the Moody's, so they were able to secure it as their own. Not surprisingly, it is said that Narcissa is still seen from time to time at the mansion. As the house was all she really had to show for this life or the next, I am sure she will continue to be around for many years to come.

Moody Mansion

Original Stained-Glass Window

#3: The Strand - Full of adorable souvenir shops, delicious restaurants, fudge shops, and pubs, the Strand is the place to be in Galveston day or night. It has the feel of a cleaner Bourbon Street. 2029 Strand St, Galveston, TX 77550.

"G-Town" Tip #1 - Galveston is a laid back, historic town that operates from 10AM-5PM on most attractions, so plan accordingly.

#4: The Historic Pleasure Pier - Probably one of the most iconic sights of Galveston, the Pleasure Pier hosts:

• The Iron Shark: a 100-foot-high oversea rollercoaster
• The Galaxy Wheel: a 100-foot-tall carousel with amazing views of the Gulf
• The Texas Star Flyer, which swings riders 230 feet over the Gulf
• And thirteen additional rides, as well as carnival games, concessions, and souvenir shops.

The Historic Pleasure Pier

A History of the Pier

"G-Town" Tip #2 - Galveston effectively shuts down during offseason, so if you go any time other than between Spring Break and Labor Day (even if its still 90 degrees outside), just know the waterparks will be closed, the Pleasure Pier will only be open on the weekends, and the town will be essentially "dead" when it comes to local happenings, which makes for a quiet and peaceful vacation of course.

#5: Rent A Boat - We rented an awesome little 19-foot ski boat from Galveston Boat Rentals. Our mission was to ride out to see the USS Selma, a beached shipwreck in the middle of Galveston Bay. They launch you at an East Bay boat ramp, which puts you out into essentially a huge lake that does not have any of the boat lanes or choppy water like the open ocean. This area is perfect for tubing, skiing, wakeboarding, swimming, and fishing. It takes about thirty minutes to make your way out to the USS Selma, and she is worth every bit of the effort! You can also rent the boat with a captain if you are not quite comfortable on the water by yourself. 

If you do not want to rent a boat to see the USS Selma, you can always take the ferry to the Bolivar Peninsula and see it along the way. The ferry is the only way to get out to the more natural beaches of Bolivar. 

The USS Selma

Family Time on the Boat

Restaurants:

#1: The Fisherman's Wharf - The incredible service and the atmosphere of dining out on the dock and watching the dolphins and tankers make their way across Galveston Bay is hard to beat! You will also be dining right next to the ELISSA, the still-sailing 1877 Tall Ship that has become the mascot of Galveston.

Grilled Shrimp over a Rice Pilaf

The ELISSA

#2: Landry's Seafood House - With their focus on family, warmth, and exceptional seafood, Landry's embodies the true flavor of Gulf Coast tradition. For a comfortable, laid-back dining experience with a gorgeous view of the ocean, this is the place!

#3: The Galvez Hotel and Spa - Even if you choose not to stay there, no haunted weekend in Galveston is complete without a visit to the most haunted hotel in the city. The elegant atmosphere immerses you in Southern Cajun cuisine, along with so many delicate wine options. Songs by Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra float by in the background just the way they did in person at the Balinese Room Pier that used to sit right across the street. The Galvez's current bar was actually saved from the old Balinese!

Dave's Chocolate Espresso Martini

These two can fit in anywhere...

SAMPLE ITENERARY:

Friday -

• Begin the trek to Galveston
• Check into your beach house or hotel
• If staying at a beach house, once settled, pick up your grocery list at the local supermarket
• Eat dinner at the Fisherman's Wharf
• Take a sunset walk on the beach

Saturday - 

• Eat breakfast at beach house or hotel
• Visit Moody Mansion
• Visit Bishop's Palace
• Walk the Strand for shops and candy
• Eat dinner at Landry's Seafood House 

Sunday - 

• Eat breakfast at beach house or hotel
• Rent a boat for the day from 10AM-1PM
• Head to the Pleasure Pier
• Eat dinner at the Galvez Hotel and Spa

Monday -

• Eat breakfast at the beach house or hotel
• Check out of the beach house or hotel
• Begin the trek back home

Please let me know if you complete this trip and/or your thoughts of the sample itinerary!

Have you ever been to the "G-Town?" Are there any must-dos you would add to the itinerary? Please feel free to leave any Galveston suggestions or tips in the comments below!

For a more family-friendly Galveston experience, check out our guest blog post on Wander Wheels, sponsored by Ford Motor Company. 

Inside An Abandoned Mental Asylum: A Spooky Road Trip to Americus!

For months, I had this reoccurring dream... 

I was a patient held in a hospital against my will, and I could tell I was heavily-medicated. I had somehow escaped through the basement door. The sunlight was so bright, and I felt so weak. I was barefoot, wearing a hospital gown, and I could tell I had recently ripped an IV needle out because my arm felt exposed. It was hot and muggy outside. I moved clumsily across the overgrown lawn on my way to the pavement. The massive hospital behind me towered over me like a foreboding monster, but I saw a neighborhood street in the distance. As I made my way to the asphalt, I heard voices behind me. I turned and saw three orderlies looking around outside the basement door. As I looked back at them, one caught my gaze and started running toward me. I felt overwhelming dread when I envisioned being forced back inside the hospital, so I turned around and sprinted as fast as I could. I was running for my life but felt like I was barely going anywhere. It was as if I had a weight tied to me. 

I turned the corner onto the neighborhood street. My legs felt like they were about to give out on me. I stumbled and crawled up the front porch to one of the houses. I banged on the front door, begging for sanctuary. No one answered. As I made my way back down the porch steps, the orderlies turned the corner onto the street. I was out of time. I wasn't going to make it. I saw people looking at me through their windows as the orderlies yelled for me to stop. In that moment, I realized that no one was going to help me. I took off running as fast as my fragile body would allow me. Then, I wake up. I always wake up. What ever happened to that young girl? Did she ever leave that hospital? The fear she felt will never leave me. 

…Keep this story in mind as I continue with my latest post:

HISTORY:

Central State Hospital in Milledgeville, Georgia was once the largest mental asylum in the world. It was in continuous operation from 1842 until 2010. Its almost 2,000 acres are home to over 200 buildings and, at one point, housed over 12,000 patients. It was basically its own little city with its own train depot and even its own power plant. 

Between the 50's and 60's, the hospital began to outgrow its resources. They had trouble getting psychotropic drugs, and it got to the point where there was only one doctor per 100 patients. In addition, the public began to question the methods of mental hospitals. In 1960, a journalist named John "Jack" Nelson wrote an article on Central State in the Atlanta Journal Constitution and won a Pulitzer for it. His and others' accounts mentioned lobotomies, insulin shock, and early electroshock therapy. Reports showed children were confined to metal cages, and adults were forced to take steam baths and cold showers and were treated with douches. It was even found that some of the "doctors" had been hired off the mental wards. Yes, the patients were helping run the hospital. 

These reports caused then Governor Carl Sanders, with the help of President Jimmy Carter, to start clearing out Central State Hospital. Not long after this began, new psychiatric drugs allowed people to be treated from their homes, and small group homes began to rise in number. Deinstitutionalization began, and soon the grand buildings of Central State were left vacant and rotting. Even though the lack of large scale mental asylums has lead to homelessness and drug abuse among the mentally-disabled, almost all agree it is still better than the aggrievances that occurred inside the walls of these poorly-funded hospitals. 

Believe it or not, Central State is still operating today. A new facility opened in 2018 and serves about 200 mental health patients.

THE BUILDINGS:

The artfully-decaying buildings from the original hospital are a haven for any urban explorer. The main buildings all surround an old pecan grove, with the Powell Building (the Main Building) front and center:

Map of the Original Hospital

The Old Pecan Grove

Powell Building - The white building with the dome was built in 1937 and still holds a small office for the campus Redevelopment Authority. The affluent and intricate design of the building was intended to keep families from feeling as if they were bringing their loved ones to a prison or a mental asylum. 

Entrance to the Powell Building

Mail Room or old Records Room

A Patient Room

Walker Building - If you look closely through the third story windows of this building, you can see the sunlight shining through. This is because in most places, the roof has collapsed, and nature is slowly reclaiming it. 

Walker Building

Third Floor of the Walker Building

Stairwell in the Walker Building

Green Building

An Exterior Corridor

Jones Building - The building boasting Georgia's state seal has been left to rot since 1979. This 142,140-square-foot general service hospital was the heart of the campus in the 1800s, as it was home to the cafeteria, the operating room, X-Ray, and pathology. The interior of the building has since been a filming location for the "The Originals."

Front of the Jones Building

Nurses' Station in the Jones Building

Morgue in the Jones Building

The Auditorium

Brantley Building

Hallway in the Brantley Building

Cedar Lane Cemetery - This cemetery displays 2,000 cast iron markers to commemorate the over 25,000 patients buried in unmarked graves throughout the hospital grounds. 

Cedar Lane Cemetery

BUT even with all the decay, life still goes on throughout Central State campus. The chapel still hosts weddings and holds services every Sunday, and the pecan grove can even be rented for events.

Visitor Discretion Advised: This historic location is not for the faint of heart. Firstly, there are security guards monitoring the property, and you can be fined and/or arrested if caught trespassing. Secondly, I love abandoned buildings (and exploring an old mental asylum has been on my Bucket List for as long as I can remember), but the feeling of this place was almost too much to take. The weight is so heavy that it feels like it's hard to breathe sometimes, and it got to a point where me and my group couldn't handle it anymore. We were almost sick to our stomachs by the time we got out of there. 

We decided to leave the property via the back way, and we turned down a side street to exit the hospital grounds. All of a sudden, I was back in that dream. This was the neighborhood street where I sought refuge. This must have been where all the doctors, the hospital workers, and their families lived. All of the houses were vacant and run down now. Based on the home styles, my dream had to have happened in the 50's or 60's. I haven't had the dream again since visiting Central State. Premonition, reincarnation, spirit? What do you think it was?

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We left Milledgeville as quickly as we could and headed to our final destination - One of the most haunted hotels in Georgia, the Historic Windsor Hotel. 

THE WINDSOR HOTEL:

The Windsor was built in 1892 as a five-story, 100-room vacation destination for the "snow birds" of the North. Americus was a bustling town, and parties and balls at the Windsor were a normal occurrence for the exquisite Victorian hotel with its tower, turrets, and three-story open atrium lobby. Over the decades, the hotel fell into disrepair and was closed to the public in 1972. After a $6.5 million dollar renovation that took into account even the smallest details of the original design, the hotel re-opened in 1991 with 53 individually-appointed rooms, including 6 Suites and 2 Tower Suites, the Bridal Suite and the Carter Presidential Suite (the hotel has hosted President Jimmy Carter and his wife on several occasions). 

The Three-Story Open Atrium Lobby

An Original Phone Booth

As for dining options at the Windsor, you can choose from:

• Rosemary & Thyme Restaurant for a modern, upscale American fair. 
• Floyd's Pub is always a great time with rocking chairs on the veranda, refreshing cocktails, and amazing food.
• Or you can have good ol' room service brought right to your door!

Enjoying Downtown from the Veranda

Now, when I say the Windsor is haunted, it's not a spooky kind of haunted. This hotel feels so incredibly warm and inviting, and the rooms are wonderfully spacious and comfortable. However, the Windsor is definitely old enough to have ghosts. 

The two most famous are:

Emily and Emma Mae - The story goes that a former housekeeper, Emily, lived at the hotel in the early 1900's and was having an extra-marital affair with a local politician. It is said that he pushed her and her daughter, Emma Mae, down the elevator shaft on the third floor. Hotel guests have reported seeing and hearing a ghostly young girl play in the hallways, as well as hearing a woman's voice and a baby crying. Most of the activity happens on the third floor. 

Floyd Ardell Lowery (1905-1982) - This bellman and elevator operator who served the Windsor for half a century is whom "Floyd's Pub" is named after. The hotel's longest-serving employee is said to be continuing his daily duties long into the afterlife. He has been noted as a helpful and curious ghost who has the tendency to move items around guests' rooms and even hang up clothes on occasion.

Again, don't let the the ghosts deter you from the Windsor, as we all slept incredibly well in this gorgeous hotel. In addition, Americus itself is a lovely town with cute little shops and restaurants along the main street, so I definitely recommend a visit if you are ever in the area!

Have you ever been to Milledgeville or Americus? Are there any must-dos you would add to the itinerary while in these locations? Please feel free to leave any Central State or urban exploration suggestions or tips in the comments below!