One of the most stunning hotels I’ve ever been to is the Windsor Hotel in Americus, GA. It’s absolutely gorgeous! With its incredible castle-like architecture and rich history complete with ghost stories – yes, ghost stories – it’s a truly remarkable place to stay right in downtown Americus, Georgia.
Just in case you’re unsure where Americus is, it’s roughly a 2½-hour drive south of Atlanta, making it a perfect pit stop for a road trip to or from Florida. Plus, it’s only about 1½ hours away from Columbus, GA, another Georgia city I love!
Read Next: 5 Outdoor Adventures in Columbus GA (Rafting, Ziplining & More!) and Unforgettable Columbus GA Restaurants (+ The Perfect Picnic Idea)
THEN AND NOW
The Windsor Hotel was built in 1892 to entice winter visitors from the north. It was pretty fancy for its time, with 100 rooms, and it even had personalized silverware—a first in Georgia! In 1910, they added new electric lights, phones, and elevators.
Sadly, the hotel closed in 1972 and sat vacant until 1990, when it was purchased and given a $6 million renovation to restore it to its original grandeur. It reopened in 1991, and in 2010, it underwent another renovation to add modern amenities.
THE GRAND ATRIUM
When I walked into the three-story open atrium lobby, I was instantly transported back to 1892, when the hotel was first built. The atrium’s design is Moorish (those arches, for example). I also noticed the wrought-iron opera box railings, geometric patterns in the oak flooring, and hand-carved floral patterns in the balusters.
The marble floors are original to the hotel, and when it underwent its $6 million renovation, the tiles were removed, cleaned, and replaced in the original pattern piece by piece!
BALCONY VERANDAS
Being a sucker for Southern charm, I couldn’t help but fall in love with the verandas at the Windsor Hotel, and there’s a veranda on both the second and third floors. The cozy wicker furniture was calling out to me, offering the perfect spot to kick back with a cocktail and enjoy the gentle breezes and the view. It was simply perfect!
GUEST ROOMS
There are 53 period-style guest rooms, none of which are exactly the same. I had a standard guest room facing N. Jackson Street (west), so it was full of natural light, which I love.
The decor was simple but elegant, with window shutters, 12-foot ceilings, and a ceiling fan (yay!)
The bathroom also had a window!
Two luxury suites are inside the Romanesque towers: a Bridal Suite and a Presidential Suite named in honor of President Jimmy Carter.
HAUNTED WINDSOR HOTEL MYSTERIES
If you’re into spooky stuff, you’ll dig the ghost stories at the Windsor Hotel. One of the juiciest tales is about Emily, a former housekeeper, and her daughter, Emma Mae, who used to live there. Legend has it that Emily got involved with a local politician, and things turned dark. During a heated argument on the third floor, he allegedly shoved them down the service elevator shaft, and that was the end of them.
Since then, guests have reported a young girl giggling and running around the third floor and also seeing a woman dressed in black.
Another friendly ghost said to haunt the Windsor Hotel is Floyd, a former doorman who worked there for an impressive 44 years. Despite the hotel not having a bellhop in ages, guests have described seeing a man resembling Floyd at the front entrance, ready to assist with luggage.
My friend and I got adventurous and fired up our ghost apps to explore the hotel’s hotspot for activity. While my app did throw out a few words and colored dots, I didn’t notice or feel anything unusual… until we passed by one of the guest room doors. It shook and rattled!
We circled back several times to check if the floor was causing the commotion, and we even hung around for a bit to see if anyone would emerge from the room. But nope, nada – nobody came out. Talk about a mystery!
Extra Tip: Visit www.visitamericusga.com for info on the Americus Haunted History Tour. Tickets cost $12 for a 45-minute historian-led tour with haunted stories and more.
RESTAURANTS IN THE WINDSOR HOTEL
Floyd’s Pub
Guess what? Floyd’s Pub is actually named after Floyd, the friendly ghost who used to work as a doorman. We loved Floyd’s so much that we ended up dining here twice during our stay. Both times, we snagged a table out on the veranda, enjoying the lovely view of downtown Americus.
If you’re craving a delicious sandwich, you can’t go wrong with the French Dip – it’s absolutely fantastic! And if you’re a whiskey fan, don’t miss out on Floyd’s Old Fashioned – it’s downright phenomenal!
Rosemary & Thyme
At Rosemary & Thyme, you can enjoy both breakfast and dinner in the Lindbergh Private Dining Room, so named in homage to Charles Lindbergh’s historic first solo flight in Americus. The Victorian-style dining room is really beautiful.
Opting for breakfast here was a fantastic choice. I went for the Windsor Breakfast with scrambled eggs, cheesy grits, applewood-smoked bacon, and a biscuit. It was absolutely delicious.
OTHER HOTEL AMENITIES
- FREE Parking – Being a road tripper, parking is a big deal for me when picking hotels. If it’s a headache or valet-only, count me out. Thankfully, street parking at the Windsor Hotel in Americus, GA is free! When I got there, I snagged a spot at the end of the block, but come morning (before downtown got busy), I moved my car to a spot right by the entrance.
- Ideal downtown Americus location
- Luxury bedding
- Ascend Hotel Collection
- Business center
- Fitness center
- Refrigerators, microwaves, coffeemakers
- Free Wifi
BOOK A STAY AT THE WINDSOR HOTEL – AMERICUS, GA
This hotel is part of the Ascend Collection by Choice International Inc., so be sure to sign up to earn those points!
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