Harpers Ferry Hotel To Be Replaced
By Margaret Foster | Online Only | May 19, 2009
The design of the new Hilltop House is based on sketches of the hotel that was built after a 1912 fire.
Credit: SWaN Investors
Although its guest list includes Mark Twain and Alexander Graham Bell, the 90-year-old Hilltop House Hotel in Harpers Ferry, W.Va., will have to be torn down and replaced. This month Leesburg-based developer SWaN Investors presented its new design, which will seek LEED certification, to the town council for approval.
"The Hilltop team initially hoped to renovate the hotel, but once we brought in the experts, we reluctantly came to the conclusion that the existing structure could not be made safe," said Mike Miller, SWaN project manager, in a May 13 statement.
Others who have toured the 90-year-old building all agree that it cannot be salvaged.
"The current building is so structurally unsound, it is pretty hopeless," Dennis Frye, chief historian at Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, said in an e-mail. "The building is a wreck, based upon nearly 60 years of neglect and poor structural decisions."
SWaN Investors bought the Hilltop House for $10 million in 2007 and closed it for renovations in January 2008. Although the main building can't be saved, SWaN plans to restore six U.S. Armory structures on the nine-acre property as guesthouses.
To create a new Hilltop House, architects studied drawings of the building as it appeared prior to a fire in 1912. (The hotel was plagued by fires; a second blaze destroyed the structure in 1919.)
SWaN also bought an eight-acre island, Byrnes Island, located in the Potomac River just below the hotel. In the early 1900s, the B&O Railroad built a park, complete with a carousel, on Byrnes Island; it was later abandoned and washed away. Today development of the island would be difficult.
"It is in the floodplain, so [SWaN] would face significant and costly obstacles," Frye says. "The National Park Service has informed them that we prefer the island as it is, in its natural state."
Subscribe to the Today's News RSS feed
Comments
Submitted by DA at: June 28, 2010
I occasionally come to explore Harpers Ferry and just yesterday discovered the Hilltop House Hotel. I was sorrowed to see such an exquisite building that looked as though it had been scheduled for demolition, but at the same time enthralled with the idea of getting to see the inside, just as it is, or was. I went online and found this forum only to realize that it apparently IS scheduled for demolition...can't say that I am pleased to hear this. I would love the opportunity to experience such a place either by tour (such as a proper museum) or by staying there as a lodging. I certainly am not interested in coming back to stay there in some newly built, bogus hotel that has occupied its location; I can do that anywhere and much more conveniently. With today's technology, I can't imagine that the original building cannot be made safe and restored; only that the price may be somewhat prohibitive. It is a shame that at every turn today we see all forward movement being led by the mighty dollar, combined with such an apathetic willingness to accept this fact and a lack of any real insight or genuine resourcefulness. Like everywhere, the future is led by the dullards and their veiled quest for mammon. WHY IS THIS PLACE NOT ON A LIST OF HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT ESTABLISHMENTS, AND AS SUCH PROTECTED FROM DEMOLITION CAPITALISTIC DEVELOPENT? ....and also eligible for funding from taxes that WE ALL pay?
Submitted by Kat at: April 18, 2010
Well it has indeed started to collapse. I'm not surprised after what I seen the last time we stayed there. http://www.journal-news.net/page/content.detail/id/533510.html?nav=5006
Submitted by Kat at: April 18, 2010
We last stayed at the Hilltop House in 06 or 07 I cant remember which but the place was a dump and looked like it was ready to fall down. The doors were so out of square it was pitiful. The hallways sagged and slanted badly. Parts of it were rather scary structually. We love Harpers Ferry and hope a new hotel can be put on this hill that has such a great view and so much history.
Submitted by old friend at: April 12, 2010
If it can't be made safe the best thing is to replace it with an establishment that is well built and of proper design with services and a staff that will complement an already beautiful community!
Submitted by Ken at: March 23, 2010
Don't tear down the hilltop house! If you turn it into some modern, business-like hotel, it'll lose 99% of it's draw. NOBODY who's been there will ever return to see a modern facility. if I wanted to see a modern hotel I'll drive two blocks from my house. I'm not driving 1.5 hours to see a modern building. I want the original, the historic. That's what draws tourists; history and authenticity. Tear it down and you'll just have another hotel. It'll no longer be a tourist attraction.
Submitted by wvlover at: January 19, 2010
Actually, you can have it both ways, jsishome and we did at one point. The size of the hotel prior to closing was fine. The size of the proposed operation is more than twice as big, including the several armory houses that are interspersed in the surounding residential neighborhood that are included in the current footprint. This isn't a plan for a hotel as much as it is designs for an over-sized, theme-driven conference center and yes, that figures to make a big difference to the nature of this town. Your argument, jsishome, about control and tourism falls flat here. Nowhere has it been indicated that this is just a "few" people in town who want control nor have I heard anyone crying about lack of tourism opportunities in the County. It's really the opposite. People who hold your position seem to be the ones always crying about needing to expand the tourism slush fund at the expense of the integrity of just about anyone and anything that has any integrity left to spare. As for control, no one wants control; that's your word. People just want to find the best way possible for everyone involved to move forward. Just a guess, you're someone who rails and hollers about big government and taxes but is fine with big business steamrolling over anyone in their paths, right? This is America, equal opportunity, rights without responsiblities, pulling up bootstraps, don't tread on me and all of that. Well, we don't intend for Harpers Ferry to be the flattened and violated vicitm in this situation. This town is a treasure that needs to be treated as such. And this driving notion will neither be relinquished nor forgotten during the process, which we expect the town and the investors to uphold. And because tolerant dialogue is always smarter than extremist word-throwing, let me provide you with another perspective: why should the town settle for relying on one giant basket in which to put all of its proverbial eggs? The town's business/tourism plan should encompass more than one option for everyone's long-term benefits. Keep in mind, the hotel has been closed for over two years now and the sky hasn't fallen yet. However, some in this situation hold the mistaken idea that one tree makes a forest and they continue to try to employ fear tactics about the hotel and money and the financial future of this town in order to cow people into unquestioning compliance. If the members of the town of Harpers Ferry (as well as the adjoining town of Bolivar) standing up and together for process, reason and compromise on this project defines a fight to you, then a fight is what it is and what it will continue to be. For the many of us constructively involved in this thing, we're simply advocating for what's right for everyone involved.
Submitted by jsishome at: January 12, 2010
The fight against renovating this project is one more indication of a desire of a few to control all. While those opposed to the project tout that it's too big, or not right for the town are the first to cry that the town and the entire county needs to be sustained through tourism. Folks, you can't have it both ways. If you want tourism, the hotel fits right in.Get over the fact that you can see it from your window or you don't want to have so many people here. That is what tourism is all about.
Submitted by wvlover at: January 11, 2010
The hotel is a part of the town, not the other way around. Also, there's a process for getting approval for any and all of the developer's plans that needs to be followed. Nothing's an assumed done deal. The people who have lived in this town because it's been a good mix of quiet living, historic wealth and manageable tourism will continue to demand a realistic vision for the Hilltop House. To promote anything other than this is dangerous and irresponsible. The majority of people who actually live in the town proper are strong in the committment and determination to ensure that Harpers Ferry does not become a Hilltop House theme park.
Submitted by mahmo at: January 8, 2010
The hotel renovation plans in terms of a large scale type of resort/hotel is just what Harper's Ferry needs. It will help with the local economy and enhance tourism--what more do ya'll want? As for the developer--go big, aim high and don't listen to the folks who are content with simple hum-drum! There is a lot of potential for the location and so I say make most of it.
Submitted by concerned at: December 18, 2009
Any new development will need to fit into the town. The town cannot become a amusement for the Hotel
Submitted by Concerned at: December 18, 2009
There are several residents that are concerned about the size and mass of the proposed new development and parking structures. I think the Park service needs to chime in on the current plans.
Submitted by Anonymous at: October 24, 2009
Luckily for us, ed hardy clothing is one of the few labels that never go out of fashion. ed hardy Selling ed hardy men longsleeve,ed hardy swimsuit,ed hardy men swimsuit,ed hardy boot. ed hardy clothes ed hardy Newest ed hardy,ed hardy clothing,Shirts,Swimwear Commodity New styles have just arrived.Cheapest EDHardy Sale. ed hardy store ed hardy shoes best Ed Hardy UK Online Store. We provide customer with Large of high quality and low price Ed Hardy Clothing & better .
Submitted by b at: September 14, 2009
beautiful site
Submitted by Roberto at: June 17, 2009
This building can be rehabilitated. The fundamental problem is that the developer paid too much for the building in the first place.
Submitted by Margaret Foster at: June 3, 2009
I found no preservation groups who objected to this demolition. I spoke to two preservation groups, the Preservation Alliance of West Virginia and the National Trust for Historic Preservation's Mid-Atlantic Office, and both concede that the hotel is structurally unsound, as NPS historian Frye notes. Both groups are pleased that renowned restoration architect Mary Oehrlein is overseeing the reconstruction of the Hilltop House.
Submitted by Jerry A. McCoy at: June 3, 2009
This article is woefully lacking, presenting only the developer's side of the story and the opinion of a NPS "chief historian" (is Mr. Frye a restoration architect too?). Where are the opposing voices of local/state historic preservationists on this issue?
Submitted by TaxiManSteve at: May 20, 2009
Theyforgot to mention mold. Don't they realize, after Katrina, mold is the best excuse?