The Princess Anne’s current owner and proprietor, Howard Stafford, used to drive by the Princess Anne on his way to work at a nearby bed and breakfast he restored and ran for several years.
In 2001, Stafford had his first look at the interior of the Princess Anne and fell in love with both her rich history and her potential. As a board member of Asheville’s Preservation Society and with more than 30 restoration projects under his belt, Stafford knew what it would take to bring the Princess Anne back to her former glory.
Since 1924, the Princess Anne Hotel has come a long way!
By 2003, Stafford had purchased the historic hotel and sold his home and three lucrative apartment houses to finance the Princess Anne’s complete restoration. Stafford was so smitten that he oversaw every aspect of her renovation, serving as the project engineer, architect, and interior designer.
Nearly two years later, the transformation was complete. The Princess Anne awoke in 2005 resplendent with her beautifully restored architecture and revitalized with sophisticated new wiring, plumbing, and wireless technology.
Today, the Princess Anne welcomes guests with elegant guest porches and gardens, bright and airy social areas, luxury guest suites with distinctive personalities, and gourmet bed and breakfast service that extends into the afternoon with daily hors d’oeuvres and wine. Modern conveniences, such as high-speed and wireless Internet, fully equipped micro-kitchens, and laundry facilities are subtly integrated to ensure neither elegance nor comfort are sacrificed.
The fully restored Princess Anne is a boutique hotel that offers the charm of a traditional bed and breakfast with the privacy and modern accommodations of a luxury hotel to create a premier lodging experience in the heart of one of the nation’s most vibrant cities.
