History of the Piedmont Springs Hotel
If you don’t live in or around northeast Alabama you will not have heard of the Piedmont Springs Hotel. If you do live in the area you still may not have heard of this big endeavor that was built back in the early founding of a small town named Piedmont. Well, let me take you on a journey back in time to the late 1890s, when this charming long forgotten hotel was built.
Located near the East Tennessee, Virginia, and Georgia Railroad (which ran along side of Front Street), as well as the East and West Railroad (which ran next to Railroad Ave ), the Piedmont Springs Hotel was nestled in the picturesque mountains of Piedmont at an elevation of around 1600 feet, an “altitude above the dew line” about a mile south of the town limit. The scenic surroundings made it an ideal spot for visitors seeking a serene and refreshing getaway from the heat of summer for those who could afford to visit. Plus how better to get more people to want to move to Piedmont and settle.
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Calhoun County has a diverse and unique history. After the Treaty of Cusseta removed the Creeks west of the Mississippi in 1832, more settlers began arriving. In 1833, Benton County was incorporated into the state of Alabama and Jacksonville was made
the county seat. Oxford, or "Lick-Skillet," was a frontier town at the time, and Piedmont, or "Cross Plains," was an intersection for the two stagecoach routes.
The hotel itself was a three-story frame structure with a large wrap-around porch that invited guests to relax and take in the breathtaking views. It boasted 36 bedrooms, each offering a cozy retreat for travelers from near and far. There were also two large stone fireplaces situated at each end of the hotel. The Piedmont Land and Improvements Company invested approximately $35,000 in constructing (that is approximately $1.1 million in 2023 dollars) this marvelous hotel.
Every year, like a long-awaited summer tradition, the grand doors of the Piedmont Springs Hotel would swing open in June to welcome its borders. Cue up the Dirty Dancing cameo… Aspiring guests could book a room for either $2 per day, $10 per week, or $40 for a month, making it a luxury option for many. The luxury, coupled with the hotel’s reputation for healing, ensured a steady stream of visitors for several years to come. Research shows that the season was over when the hotel would close for winter in November.
One of the most appealing aspects of the Piedmont Springs Hotel was its welcome respite from the sweltering heat of summer. Perched at an elevated height, above the dew line as it was advertised, the hotel enjoyed cool breezes day and night, providing much-needed relief for those seeking refuge from the scorching sun and elevations away from “malarial poisons”. It became a popular destination for couples on their honeymoon or families looking for a memorable vacation amidst the mountains.
What truly set the Piedmont Springs Hotel apart was its fabled spring waters. The hotel proudly boasted a spring that produced sulfur and chalybeate water, rumored to possess remarkable healing properties. Visitors would come from far and wide, believing that a sip of this magical elixir could cure whatever ailed them. It was said that the water held the power to rejuvenate the body and invigorate the soul.
Listing of Medical Therapeutic Mineral Spring
By 1920 the hotel boasted 50 rooms for guests, the hotel was surrounded by its own orchard which supplied fresh fruit for the tables such as apples, peaches, pears, plums, and grapes. All free fare for guests. The hotel also had their own chickens which free-ranged the mountainside and provided fresh eggs daily. Baths had both hot and cold water, and there were cozy parlors and a large dancing pavilion between the two springs. Cue up the Dirty Dancing cameo…
The hotel also provided daily carriages which met arriving trains and would ferry the guests from Piedmont Station four and a half miles to the hotel along beautifully maintained mountain roads. The rates to stay were now $8 to $10 per week, still a luxury for most wishing to stay.
Guests who wished to explore could arrange for rigs for driving and saddle horses were available on short notice for mountain rides and climbs.
One advertisement I found boasted about “Overlooking the mountains of Georgia and Tennessee and also could be seen Lookout Mountain of Chattanooga”. A long time ago I lived in this area and I’m pretty sure Lookout Mountain couldn’t be seen from there, but it’s all good-faith advertising, right? Now to give a little credence Lookout Mountain does start in Gadsden Alabama and is only 25 miles away and that mountain range does go through Chattanooga Tennessee which is another 87 miles away. So technically not false advertising but a little stretchy.
Sadly, the Piedmont Springs Hotel met a tragic end in August 1960 when a devastating fire reduced it to ashes according to a front-page article in the Sept 2, 1960 edition of the Piedmont Journal newspaper. The hotel had since become abandoned several years previously. Previous owners lived on site until they passed on and then the structure was completely abandoned. The loss of this beloved establishment left a void in the hearts of those who had experienced its warmth and hospitality. The memories created within its walls would forever remain etched in the minds of those fortunate enough to have stayed there.
Though the Piedmont Springs Hotel might only exist now in faded photographs and fond recollections, old newspaper articles, its legacy lives on. It stands as a testament to an era when hotels like these were the epitome of elegance and relaxation. The hotel’s story continues to captivate the imagination, reminding us of the days gone by.
The history of the Piedmont Springs Hotel is a tale of grandeur, charm, and the healing power of nature. From its humble beginnings in the late 1890s to its tragic demise in 1960, this hotel left an indelible mark on the hearts of those who had the pleasure of experiencing its tranquility. While it may no longer grace the highlands of Piedmont, its memory lingers, reminding us of a bygone era filled with timeless beauty.
If you are interested in what might be there today. Check out this video from Exploring Alabama!
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