In the wake of the Great Depression, Asheville’s tourism industry slumped, taking a toll on the city’s economy and growth. In 1945, the Princess Anne briefly operated as an annex of the Appalachian Hall Psychiatric Hospital. She reopened as a hotel in 1947 under new ownership.
In 1957, C.S. Lavin of Miami purchased the Princess Anne and converted the hotel into a retirement boarding house that advertised “gracious living for senior citizens.” Each room featured a private bath, housekeeping and linen service. Daily meals were provided in the hotel’s dining room, and social activities were held in the common living areas.
Not even the Great Depression or World War II could keep the Princess Anne down!
