The Manor Inn, the youngest of Pinehurst Resort’s three historic hotels at a mere 96 years, is again open to guests following the first stage of an extensive renovation for much of 2019.
Not unlike the sweeping redesign of Pinehurst No. 4 by Gil Hanse or the masterful reimagination of the historic steam plant building as the wildly popular Pinehurst Brewing Co., The Manor’s renovation is the next in line of a series of groundbreaking projects at Pinehurst Resort.
Just like the Holly Inn and the Carolina, the Manor has its own unique place in the history of Pinehurst, says Bob Dedman Jr., Pinehurst Resort’s Chief Executive Officer.
“Our intention was to improve upon and modernize the guest experience while still preserving the Manor’s unique charm,” Dedman says. “I think we’ve accomplished that in fine fashion.”
First opened in 1923 after the Holly Inn (1895) and the Carolina Hotel (1901), the Manor and its 43 guest rooms have been transformed since renovations began in February 2019. All of the inn’s interior has been completely renovated, with only 15 percent of the interior framing remaining. The lone original component to the Manor following the renovation is its fabled exterior structure of the unique Kellastone, a special stucco-style building material that was new to the era and known for its permanence.
Always a favorite of Arnold Palmer’s when he would visit Pinehurst, the Manor’s new interior includes a stylish new bar for its guests, club rooms and a large lobby. It is that lobby that has always presented the Manor with its relaxed charm.
The origins of the Manor begin with the razing of the Lexington Hotel in the same location in 1922, and owner Mrs. Emma C. Bliss went about designing a new hotel, unheard of for a woman at the time. Her vision of the Manor featured an expansive lobby with several rooms meant for gathering and fellowship, offering – along with the hotel’s new steam heat and electric elevator – festive spaces for table tennis and card playing, and then later in the early 1950s, a specially designed TV room.
That style of distinct gathering space returns with the renovation of the Manor. A terrific option for golf groups, there are two private hospitality suites that can be reserved for the duration of their stay. The Library and Club Room, each on the lobby level and decked out with casually elegant furnishings, can accommodate 12-20 guests, respectively.
The North & South bar opens in early December and will feature craft beer from the nearby Pinehurst Brewing Co. as well as an extensive whiskey selection. Memorabilia and photos throughout the bar will pay homage to the historic North & South Amateur Championship, which has been played at Pinehurst since 1901. The signature element of the N&S Bar is the dramatic ceiling, which features an illustration of the original routing of Donald Ross’ first four courses at Pinehurst. The map, circa 1922, coincides neatly with the period in which the Manor originally opened.
The Manor renovation is all part of a masterplan to diversify and enhance the guest experience at the historic resort. In 2017, Pinehurst opened The Cradle, a 789-yard par-3 course that Golf Channel called the “most fun 10 acres in golf.” A year later, famed golf architect Hanse completed his redesign of Pinehurst No. 4, which GOLF Magazine named the “Best New Course You Can Play.” And in 2018, Pinehurst Brewing Co., a 10-barrel microbrewery, opened in the Village’s old steam plant, a historic building that dates back to 1895.
“Our mantra is simple,” says Dedman. “Always Pinehurst, but always better.”
Photo courtesy of Pinehurst Resort/Contributed.
