Restored, Refreshed and Ready: The NuWray Hotel

The Blue Room, circa 1930s, at the NuWray Hotel photo courtesy of NuWray Hotel

Oh, if the walls could talk at The NuWray Hotel, the stories they could tell. After all, the property has hosted luminaries like Mark Twain, Elvis Presley, Christopher Reeves and Jimmy Carter.

"Staying in a historic hotel is truly a one-of-a-kind experience," says Amanda Keith, co-owner of NuWray Hotel, alongside her husband, James.

The NuWray Hotel photo courtesy of Blue Ridge Mountain Life

Located in downtown Burnsville, North Carolina, The NuWray Hotel, circa 1833, is the oldest continuously operating hotel in the state and even predates nearby Mount Mitchell State Park, which became North Carolina's first in 1915.

In 2021, the Keiths purchased the property and took it through extensive renovations that not only included all new plumbing, electrical, HVAC systems, fire suppression and the like but also major structural work to save the building from caving in on itself.

"While the 'guts' of the building are all new, we preserved as much original material as possible, sometimes re-using it in other parts of the hotel," says Keith. "For example, original wood floors were revealed and refinished, horizontal plank walls from the 1807s remain in place, all the original double-hung windows were restored with new ropes and pulleys, and in a few places, we left open examples of the oldest part of the building for public display - joists, siding and hand-hewn wood framing from 1833."

The Keiths used historical Victorian colors and furnished the hotel with antiques, some of which were original from over 50 years ago.

She adds that the room floor plans were re-oriented slightly to add en-suite bathrooms to each for the first time. Still, aesthetically, "we did our best to retain the tone and feel of the hotel when the Wray family owned it (over four generations from 1870 - 1993), which is how much people remember it."

She points out that their update has retained all the historic charm while providing modern comforts for guests.

Room 22, The Mt. Mitchell Suite photo courtesy of the NuWray Hotel

The NuWray offers 26 uniquely appointed rooms, 22 in the main building and four above Carriage House Sundries.

The hotel offers various accommodation types, including Economy (preferable for overnight stays, single travelers or those who enjoy a cozy room), Standard (more spacious than Economy) and Deluxe (which may come with a sitting room, upgraded bathroom or other features).

Each room is suitable for two guests, with amenities that include Smart TVs, free Wifi and mini-fridges.

Oh, and those rooms happened to be named and have stories behind them.

"It was great fun to do this research," comments Keith. "We wanted to highlight the broad historical and cultural aspects of the hotel and Yancey County, so we made a list and narrowed it to 22 names, one for each room.

"We highlighted famous visitors like Elvis and Thomas Wolfe to influential figures from Yancey County such Lesley Riddle (a now-acknowledge father of country music), Selelia Griffith (local Civil Rights leader), and Lucy Morgan (founder of the Penland School of Craft) to essential industries like logging, mining and railroads to natural features such as rivers and official Dark Sky destination.

It's a great way for our guests to immerse themselves in the place while visiting."

Accommodations in the Carriage House include two double queens, one double king, and an apartment with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen, and a living/dining space. All can accommodate up to four guests, are pet-friendly and feature local touches throughout the interior and decor.

The property provides on-site dining options that include The NuWray restaurant, serving breakfast and supper, and pays homage to some of the traditions, including using a few of the old recipes from the NuWray cookbook published in the

1930s.

Main Dining Room photo courtesy of the NuWray Hotel

"The original dining room is still there and is lined with original windows. We've expanded seating into a few additional dining rooms and some fireside tables."

We hope that people will always come to expect great food and a welcoming atmosphere."

Carriage House Sundries next door serves coffee, pastries, brunch and dinner. The shop also carries baked goods, premium wines, cigars and other retail items.

Enjoy drinks and to-go items from the Carriage Sundries at Roland's Bar on the outdoor deck.

The Washroom Bar, located in the basement, will open soon.

"Aside from the historical aspect, The NuWray is also a gathering spot for locals, so visitors have lots of opportunities to interact with townspeople, some of the kindest and most interesting people you'll meet," says Keith.

Delayed Reopening

Fully restored and ready to show off, The NuWray Hotel was all set to reopen in September 2024, but Mother Nature had other plans: Hurricane Helene.

Without power or water, the hotel and Burnsville leaders worked together to transform the historic building into the mountain town's emergency hub. For weeks, people could find shelter, relief support and hot meals there. 

In April 2025, James and Amanda Keith were presented with the Esse Quam Videri Award from Visit North Carolina. The award takes its name from the state motto, translated: "To Be Rather Than To Seem."

A press release highlighted Visit NC's executive director, Wit Tuttell's, stay at the NuWray when he visited destinations in Helene's path. He praised the scope and scale of the Keiths' labor of love, calling out their displays of items such as carefully peeled wallpaper swatches and a late-1800s laundry machine.

"'Esse Quam Videri' are words to live by," Tuttell said in the released statement. "James and Amanda truly embody what it means — the dedication to bettering the community, to giving freely of time, energy and other resources for a greater good. We congratulate James and Amanda for what they've achieved and hold them up as an example of who we can be, of who we are when we're at our best as North Carolinians."

The Esse Quam Videri Award was established in 2019. The Keiths join Kinston business leaders Stephen Hill of Mother Earth Brewing and Vivian Howard of Chef & the Farmer; Bill Carson, co-founder of the Altapass Foundation; Old Fort's trailblazing Catawba Vale Collective; the High Point Market Authority; and Halifax businesswoman Glenn Patterson Wilson as its recipients.