Expansion of Smith House Lodging

Smith House Incorporated has announced plans to expand its main lodging on the site of the Smith House, adding 23 new rooms by the fall of 2019. The historic 1898 Smith House, well known for its family-style dining, comfort lodging, and special event production, has been owned and operated by Dahlonega’s Welch family for fifty years.

“Dahlonega is in our hearts,” said Freddy Welch, “We could sell out and retire, but, instead, we are expanding our efforts to preserve historic properties in downtown, including the Smith House and our two North Grove properties, the Welch and Thomas cottages. Our expansion of Smith House lodging is being done right - we are working closely with the City and the Dahlonega Historic Preservation Commission to make sure we not only honor the original 1898 structure, but that we honor downtown Dahlonega, as well.”

A new wing will house 23 additional rooms, a new lobby, and a large meeting room, with space for fifty people. The Welch family engaged the services of a historic architect, Joe Smith of Arcollab in Athens, Georgia, to design the new wing. In close consultation with Smith, who has design degrees from Duke and Yale universities, the Welch family selected architectural features that were thoughtfully and deliberately developed to complement the historic character of the original building and of downtown Dahlonega.

Joe Smith said, “Respecting Dahlonega’s architectural history and the role that the Smith House plays drove the vision for the new addition. These plans, approved by the Dahlonega Historic Preservation Commission, feature design references to both the Smith House and the Hall House on the north side of the Public Square. It was important for us to complement the esthetic of downtown Dahlonega.”

The Smith House is an anchor business that serves as a popular Dahlonega destination, attracting people from around the U.S. and other countries to its lodging, dining, and event spaces. By expanding from 22 lodging units to 45 units and providing additional meeting spaces, the Smith House will provide much needed accommodation for small conferences, large meetings, milestone celebrations, and family ceremonies. Partnerships with nearby neighbors, such as the University of North Georgia, and other local and regional businesses is an important goal for the Smith House and the Welch family.

“The City of Dahlonega is very excited about this expansion project and the sensitivity of its design,” said Mayor Sam Norton. “In bringing rooms to downtown, the Smith House is bringing more events, meetings, and small conferences to downtown, which translates to more visitors and more jobs, not only for the Smith House, but for the region; for years the Smith House has been a key part of the region’s tourism economy, bringing people to its wineries, weddings, and outdoor recreation spots.”

Drawings and photos illustrating the project are currently on display in the Smith House lobby and on its website, smithhouse.com.

The public is invited to a groundbreaking is planned on site of the Smith House, on January 8th at 10 am.
 

For information about lodging and event bookings, visit www.SmithHouse.com