Bunn House: Our Story of Change
We love enjoying the views of downtown Asheville from the rooftop deck of Bunn House.
The story of the Bunn House is not only the story of tourism and growth in Asheville, but also the story of my husband and I creating a place for friends and family, of restoring an old building, and of preserving green space. We purchased the Bunn House in 2013 and spent two years renovating this 100 year-old house into a six room hotel, which was a long but worthwhile process. We made sure to keep our carbon footprint in mind as we proceeded with renovations, especially by reusing materials that were onsite, and this was recognized when we won a prestigious Griffin Award from the Asheville Preservation Society for adaptive reuse.
“What we missed during the pandemic was what so many other people missed, which was having the chance to gather with friends and family…”
BUNN HOUSE OWNER , RIDGELY
The Bunn House sits on nearly 1.5 acres of lush green land that goes admired by Asheville locals and tourists alike. For the first few years, the hotel thrived. The Bunn House was becoming the perfect place for groups of friends and family to gather. The growth of the tourism market in Asheville caused a boom in chain hotel construction. Small independent family-owned businesses like ours had difficulty competing with large chains, and our occupancy fell over several years.
While it was disheartening to see occupancy decreasing while Asheville tourism was increasing, we knew that the Bunn House was special and we did not lose sight of our vision. In our hearts we’ve always known that this property was special, and a hidden gem that offered an experience unlike anything else.
We realized that the Bunn House came alive when small groups occupied the entire house, so we began to re-envision the best use of the space and when the COVID-19 pandemic arrived, this became essential for survival.
What we missed during the pandemic was what so many other people missed, which was having the chance to gather with friends and family and enjoy each other’s company. Therefore we sought to create a space in the Bunn House where small groups could have the opportunity to connect and spend time together.
Bunn House is closed until March 2021 while we complete these renovations. However, small groups are encouraged to book reservations early as our calendar is expected to fill quickly!