CHARLOTTE, N.C.,None — Charlotte is home to numerous hotels that provide service to tourists and businesspeople who want to explore what the city has to offer or simply attend a business convention uptown. While service at hotel chains is by no means lacking, southern bed and breakfasts add extra personal touches and cater to a smaller number of guests.
If visitors are looking to enjoy a serene and stately experience without worrying about a long ride to uptown, The Duke Mansion is the bed and breakfast of choice. The historic bed and breakfast is tucked away in the Myers Park area and is not lacking in space or aesthetics.
SLIDESHOW: Duke Mansion Exemplifies Southern Charm
With three stories and 20 rooms, The Duke Mansion operates as a bed and breakfast and an event space. Upon entering the Mansion, one is greeted by an impressive 32,000 square feet of southern architecture that includes large sleeping porches and antique chandeliers.
General Manager Becky Farris feels that the one-on-one service and the layout of the mansion set the Duke Mansion apart from nearby hotels.
"You just have to drive up that curvy driveway…and see all of the trees and the fountain and it's just such a serene, calming place to be," Farris said.
With a sous-chef and a chef in the kitchen, homemade breakfasts for guests and business groups include everything from crème brulee oatmeal to eggs Benedict. Every menu item is made from scratch, and the cheesy grits are a popular favorite among both northern and southern visitors.
The rich history of the former inhabitants adds to the lure of The Duke Mansion. Local tour groups including NC Tours and Charlotte Crown Guides give tours that chronicle the history of this southern treasure.
The mansion has changed hands over the years and has operated as a private residence, a condominium complex and a bed and breakfast.
The list of former inhabitants includes C.C. Coddington, owner of the Buick dealership and WBT radio station in Charlotte, and the Ray family, the founders of RayCom sports.
James Buchanan Duke, who is arguably the most famous inhabitant of The Duke Mansion, bought the mansion in 1919 and expanded the garden and living area. As the founder of the Duke Power Company, Duke chose the mansion as his home as he built the hydroelectric company.
A stay at the mansion typically ranges from $179 to $218. With the current summer special, guests pay $189 a night for second floor rooms and $149 a night for third floor rooms.
WSOC
