HAVING JUST MARKED a major milestone birthday myself, I can relate when someone is celebrating an important anniversary. Like the historic Partridge Inn in Augusta, Georgia, which just turned a respectable 100 years young.
Its debut as a “official hostelry”—after a start as the private residence of George Walton, a signer of the Declaration of Independence—soon drew a who’s who of dignitaries, politicians, celebrities, and bands of Northerners looking to escape the cold climes in what was, throughout the late 1800s to mid-1930s, one of America’s leading resort towns.
In its early incarnation, the elegant and intimate inn on the hill was a fixture of high society, even hosting a gala banquet for President Warren G. Harding in 1923. The Great Depression took its toll, though, and when the nation’s railways eventually extended to Florida, Augusta was no longer the South’s top winter retreat, leading original hotel owner Morris Partridge to abandon his dream and sell off the property.
By the 1960s, the estate had been converted into apartments. In the 1980s, it had fallen into such disrepair that it was scheduled for demolition. But the good folks of Augusta refused to let the landmark die, and after a multiyear makeover, it reopened as the Partridge Inn in 1988.
Today, the Partridge Inn is back to its former glory, enchanting guests with its distinct sense of nostalgia and contemporary amenities and appeal. You may see them sunning poolside, relaxing on the verandah, sipping drinks at the bar (a particularly popular spot during the Masters), gorging themselves at the scrumptious Sunday brunch, or perusing the framed old photos and postcards capturing the 100-year history of this legendary lodging.
Just 150 miles east of Atlanta, Augusta makes an ideal weekend getaway, and the Partridge Inn an ideal home base for your stay there. For more info and reservations, visit www.partridgeinn.com. For details on what to see and do in Augusta, go to www.augustaga.org.
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