Historic Hillsborough Colonial Inn restored; set to reopen after two decades

WRAL has been following the saga surrounding the Colonial Inn on King Street in Hillsborough for years.

Threats to tear it down have come and gone, and now the 182-year-old building will once again open its doors as a boutique hotel.

From the floor boards to the beams sustaining its structure, the history of the Colonial Inn still remains intact 182 years later. Those who live in Hillsborough said it was in pretty bad shape for far too long, but now it’s just days away from becoming a destination spot once again.

Out with the old and in with the new. It’s been 18 years of neglect and abandonment, but that has all changed.

“Terrifying. It was beautiful and full of lead and asbestos.. And mold. It was hanging on by a thread," said Elise Tyler, the general manager.

A group of investors found beauty in the opportunity to restore The Colonial Inn. “Behind these walls are actually horizontal log construction with barks still on it and we believe it was probably from the 1700’s," said Justin Fejfar, a developer who worked on the design.

With much of its character still intact, the Colonial Inn is now a new 28-room boutique hotel with event- center space and a public bar.

Tyler said every move in the project was intentional and made with community in mind.

“The historic immensity is something that can’t be captured in words it’s something that you feel that the walls speak to you the floors kind of echo that that history," Tyler added.

The pandemic presented many challenges, even delaying the completion of it all. “It’s a little bit nerve-racking opening a business during this time," said Fejfar.

Still, they were able to adapt with coronavirus in mind. “

The property is designed to where there are several very intimate spaces. This being one. The lobby being one. The ballroom.. there’s a lot of different places where people can go in their little group of four and be isolated," he added.

As workers prepare to welcome the first group of guests, there’s much optimism for the future of what this will bring to the area. “It’s open to them. That they can come in and enjoy the flavors of old and common experience some things that they have missed for a very long time," said Tyler.

“I think it does provide a little sense of hope," Fejfar added.

Instead of a grand opening event, they plan to have scheduled socially-distant historic tours for small groups, beginning November 13-15.