Hill Hall Hotel opened its doors on September 1, 2026, in downtown Fayetteville, West Virginia. The boutique property features 40 guest rooms within the town’s original 1923 stone high school and midcentury middle school buildings, both extensively restored. Located near New River Gorge National Park, the hotel blends preserved historic architecture with residential-style interiors.
Design and Cultural Roots of Hill Hall Hotel
Hill Hall is a member of Design Hotels™, linked to Marriott Bonvoy®, emphasizing independent hospitality tied to local culture. The building’s design was spearheaded by Mae Pate of Mountain Shore Properties, who integrated the history of the school campus into the hotel’s materials, furniture, and artistic
elements. Aric Margolis from Charleston, West Virginia, served as architect of record, while David E. Looper & Company managed general contracting. Local artist Nichole Westfall created a prominent mural in the hotel lounge, which serves as a gathering space. Additional artwork was curated by Kevin Barry Art Advisory, complementing hand-painted signage by West Virginia designer Jordana Bungard. The design features deep greens, muted blues, and earth tones that reflect the surrounding New River Gorge landscape.
Patsy’s Restaurant: Appalachian-Inspired Dining
The hotel’s signature dining venue, Patsy’s restaurant, is named after Pat “Patsy” Phillips Wendell, grandmother to Mountain Shore Properties’ founder Stephen Wendell. Executive Chef Jeffrey
Toth, who previously operated Fayetteville’s Wood Iron Eatery, leads the kitchen with Sous Chef Paul Almond. Patsy’s menu includes Appalachian dishes such as apple molasses-glazed meatloaf and Clear Water trout with mustard greens and jalapeño cheddar hush puppies. Katie and Tennyson Winters, current owners of Wood Iron Eatery, contributed to developing Patsy’s menu and operations. The beverage program features the bridge brew of Old School Ale, an English-style pale ale brewed exclusively by Fayetteville’s Bridge Brew Works, alongside signature cocktails like the Mae-tini and The Peeved Bee. Patsy’s serves dinner Wednesday through Sunday from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., and
brunch Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., without requiring reservations for groups smaller than six.
Local Partnerships Expand Guest Activities and Amenities
Hill Hall Hotel collaborates with local businesses to provide guests access to fitness, outdoor recreation, and coworking spaces. Guests can participate in fitness sessions through Gripped Fitness, rent bicycles from New River Bikes, receive climbing instruction from New River Mountain Guides, or engage in paddleboarding with Mountain Surf Paddle Sports. Coworking amenities are available via Ascend WV, located in the former elementary school building on the hotel campus. The hotel also offers curated in-room directories and print guides to enhance visitor engagement
with Fayetteville and the New River Gorge area.
Developer’s Vision and Booking Information
Stephen Wendell, CEO of Mountain Shore Properties, said Hill Hall aims to encourage visitors to spend more time in Fayetteville beyond the Gorge. Wendell stated, “If someone comes here for the Gorge and ends up staying an extra night, having dinner in town, meeting people who live here, or finding a local business they want to come back to, that’s a great outcome for us. We want Hill Hall to give people more time to get to know Fayetteville and everything happening here.” Mountain Shore Properties, headquartered in Charleston, South Carolina, is
a real estate development company focused on community value and has developed 25 hotels since its founding in 2012. Reservations at Hill Hall Hotel can be made online at www.hillhallhotel.com, with additional updates accessible via the hotel’s Instagram accounts @hillhallhotel and @patsys_hillhall.
