Proposed Hotel Construction
For pictures and design drawings, scroll down.
Details of the proposed new hotel construction, based on February 2021 meeting neighbors called with Richard DuBose, president of the Montreat Conference Center (MCC), as well as more recent announcements by the MCC. The corporate/legal name of the MCC is the Mountain Retreat Association (MRA).
New hotel to be built between Assembly Drive and Georgia Terrace in the center of Montreat. See map below.
Three properties currently owned by the MRA, the Galax House, Lord Apartments and Chestnut Lodge, would be torn down and replaced by a new hotel with 40 guest rooms plus meeting rooms. Maximum number of guests undetermined.
An underground parking garage for 30 cars to be built under the hotel, with driveway access from Assembly Drive. Additional parking to be added along Georgia Terrace and next to Reynolds Lodge.
Main entrance to the hotel would be from a circle drive off Collegiate Circle, in front of Reynolds Lodge.
This location and building design have been chosen because market research shows that visitors want rooms which are near the center of town, with a private bathroom, and accessible.
The MRA board has approved the project in concept and detailed schematic designs are now being drawn. They hope to start building in 2022.
Current occupancy rate of MRA properties is 50% annually (several lodges and Assembly Inn), highest during conferences.
Overhead Veiw
Overhead view of the site plan for the proposed new hotel.
Cross-Section View
Cross-section of the proposed new hotel. Red dotted lines show current buildings which would be replaced (Galax House, Chestnut Lodge and Lord Apartments).
Location of Proposed New Hotel
Buildings labeled in blue are owned by the Montreat Conference Center. Green are privately owned. Black border outlines the site planned for construction of the new hotel.
View from Georgia Terrace
This view from the north shows a garden courtyard next to Georgia Terrace. Main entrance to the hotel would be at the end of the building on the right, off a circle drive.
View from Assembly Drive
On the lower right is the entrance to underground parking for 30 cars, accessed from Assembly Drive. The outside terrace is a proposed feature which may need to be altered or let go due to cost.
Current View from Assembly Drive
The new hotel would replace the Galax House. Entrance to the underground parking garage would be about where the steps are currently. By-the-Way and Georgia Lodge are visible in the background.
"By-the-Way" ~ 319 Assembly Drive
Next door to the proposed hotel. Historic home built in 1908 by Elisabeth Foreman and still owned by her great-grandchildren.
Floor Plan Main Level
Main Entrance at left end, off Collegiate Circle
Floor Plan Upper Level
Floor Plan Lower Level
Underground parking garage for 30 cars; entrance off Assembly Drive
Note: Up until June 2021, the MRA's plans called for a larger hotel with 48 to 50 rooms, taking up a total of 33,500 square feet not counting the underground parking.