Published by Christina. Last Updated on July 29, 2024.
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The Historic Brookstown Inn in Winston-Salem is filled with aesthetics and features that keep us wanting to return. For starters, its story goes back to 1837, with exciting twists and turns along the way.
This historic hotel is connected to the city’s Visitor Center, steps away from Old Salem, placing you in one of the city’s best museums and the state’s historic towns.
Add in beautiful decor, exquisite service, and a friendly feline resident, and this is why the Brookstown Inn is one of our favorite hotels in North Carolina.
Follow along for more of what you’ll find at this wonderful place to stay and why we’ll be back.
Read More: 100+ Unique Things to Do In North Carolina (Your NC Bucket List)
Where is The Brookstown Inn?
Address: 200 Brookstown Ave, Winston-Salem, NC
Official Website
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The Brookstown Inn is next to Old Salem in Winston-Salem NC. You can visually travel to this historic hotel and nearby attractions with our NC Travel Map and our Central North Carolina Map.
History of the Brookstown Inn
Originally, two separate buildings constructed 40 years apart from each other made up today’s Historic Brookstown Inn.
Salem Manufacturing Company
The first is a three-story brick building with a monitor roof that was built by Salem Manufacturing Company (SMC) in 1837. This business opened as one of the first mills in the South to utilize electric lighting.
The Moravian community opened SMC as a response to the migration. They knew a large-scale cotton operation would bring more profits and business to the area.
SMC endured various hardships until it was acquired by F & H Fries Cotton, who renamed the business Wachovia Flour Mills.
F & H Fries Cotton
F & H constructed the second of the two buildings in 1880 as the Arista Cotton Mill Complex. It is 14 bays long, with bracketed eaves and timber supports.
The mill employed one hundred and fifty workers and over $125,000 in equipment. The first floor was used for weaving, the second for carding, and the third floor for spinning.
Arista and Various Uses
The two businesses merged in 1903 to form the Arista Cotton Mill Complex. The flour mill eventually suspended operations and became part of the cotton mill.
The last known use of the Arista Cotton Mill Complex was to serve as a warehouse for the Lentz Transfer and Storage Company of Winston-Salem.
Read More: 125+ Important Facts About North Carolina You Should Know (History, Geography, and More!)
Today’s Historic Brookstown Inn (and Things We Love!)
Today’s Historic Brookstown Inn opened in 1984, seven years after being listed on the National Register of Historic Places. When you visit, here are a few things we hope you see and experience.
Built-in History
Visitors can see remnants of the original millworks and rooms have exposed wood ceilings and grand brick windows. Aesthetically, it captures the buildings’ history and charm with an added touch of elegance and shift in focus on hospitality.
Read More: Visiting Reynolda House Museum of American Art in Winston-Salem
Rooms
19th-century pine floors and antique furniture adorn each of their 70 guest rooms. The Brookstown’s poster-style beds are covered with hand-stitched quilts.
Bi-level suites feature an ornamental fireplace and ceilings as tall as 20-feet.
Events and Packages
The Brookstown Inn’s popular event spaces can accommodate your party easily, whether you’re hoping to pull off a business meeting or wedding.
And if you’re looking for a great deal on exploring Winston-Salem, check out some of their travel packages for the season here!
Added Touch
Nothing is better than freshly baked cookies before you go to bed. Or how about wine and cheese after you check in? At the Brookstown Inn, these are just a couple of the ways you can sit back and relax in style.
Breakfast to Perfectly Start Your Day
And served daily in the beautiful lobby is a hot and fresh Southern breakfast.
We know you might want to get out and explore Winston-Salem’s fantastic restaurant scene—for example, walk down the street for a pastry from Camino Bakery—but don’t sleep on the deliciousness you’ll find right outside your room.
Their full buffet is the perfect way to start your day, so join your fellow guests for a delicious, filling meal.
Catlover-Friendly
If you love cats, then you have one more reason to be excited to choose the Brookstown Inn! Their resident kitty, Sally, is probably one of the most interesting furry friends you’ll meet.
During a harrowing journey, she arrived in Winston-Salem via a truck bound from Seattle and has decided to settle down here.
In 2013, she showed up at the front door and moved right in! She’s a very affectionate kitty and loves lounging in the courtyard on beautiful sunny days.
Read More: Staying at Graylyn Estate in Winston-Salem (and 7 Reasons We Love It!)
Will You Be Staying at the Historic Brookstown Inn?
After my experience at this beautiful Winston-Salem hotel, I came away with a deeper appreciation for repurposed buildings that showcase their storied pasts. Each exposed brick tells part of its story and perfectly intertwines with kind and knowledgeable staff and their excellent service.
No matter when you decide to visit the city, whether for weekend getaways or random weekday visits, especially for business, stay at the Brookstown Inn. I hope you’ll find it the perfect base for exploring Winston-Salem, just like I did.
Have you ever stayed at the Brookstown Inn in Winston-Salem? If so, we’d love to know your thoughts on it in the comments section. And if not, what’s the first thing that we shared that has you wanting to book?
Also, we’d love your thoughts on repurposed historic buildings like this one. Is this a good or bad thing for cities like Winston-Salem?
Don’t forget to share your adventures in our North Carolina Travel Facebook Group!
More Things to Do in Winston-Salem
We’ve created many more NC travel guides that feature the Historic Brookstown Inn and nearby places. Here are a few of them.
