The Buxton Inn in Granville has spent months under scaffolding and tarps, and now the historic property is ready to show off the results. Since April 1, crews have been reworking guest rooms, gathering spaces, the courtyard, landscaping and the inn's Garden Room, and the whole effort culminates on September 23 with a public celebration the inn is calling its Grand Reawakening.
The inn dates back to 1812, according to Columbus Navigator, which detailed the scope of the work now wrapping up at the Granville landmark. The property has received new lighting, landscaping, stonework and walkways, and the courtyard fountains — including the main fountain — have been repaired as part of the overhaul.
New Copper Roof Anchors the Garden Room
Among the most visible upgrades is a new handcrafted copper roof over the Garden Room, covering more than 4,000 square feet and assembled from more than 130 individually fitted panels. The Garden Room also received new copper gutters and downspouts as part of the same push. Inside, the inn's gathering spaces now feature reupholstered seating and custom wood tabletops.
Guest rooms throughout the property have been refreshed with new paint, wallpaper, lighting, furnishings and mattresses, the outlet's report notes. The Tavern is getting a new entrance along with updated lighting and furnishings, though that space isn't quite finished. Work remains underway in the restaurant, reception areas, the 1812 Lounge, the Tavern and the Garden Room, and additional work is expected to continue through the fall and winter.
A Ribbon-Cutting With the Governor
The Grand Reawakening will include a ribbon-cutting ceremony featuring Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, along with live music, food and drinks amid the renovated spaces. Registration for the event begins at 3:30 p.m., with the opening reception following at 4:30 p.m.
Tickets run $200 per person, and because the event has limited capacity, advance purchase is required. All proceeds from the celebration will benefit the Granville Historical Society, which works to preserve and share the community's history. The Buxton Inn's own site notes that attendance at the reopening celebration is capped at 200 guests.
Rooms Open Now, Restaurant Still to Come
While the celebration is still ahead, guests don't have to wait to book a stay. Travelers can currently choose between 25 rooms spread among five houses at the inn, according to NBC4. The Buxton Inn Restaurant & Bar, however, is expected to reopen only in the coming months, with no firm date yet announced.
The renovation push follows a 2022 fire that destroyed the inn's kitchen and damaged much of the buildings' structure, per the same station's report. Fire Chief Casey Curtis has said the blaze was ruled accidental, starting in attic space above the kitchen, though the exact cause remains undetermined, according to MyFox28 Columbus. Bob Schilling has said the renovations tied to that recovery would likely cost up to $750,000.
Reports describing the inn's age have varied — MyFox28 called it a 225-year-old property, while NBC4 described it as a 214-year-old landmark sold to New England Development Co. in April — but Columbus Navigator's account ties the inn's founding to 1812. Whichever figure readers land on, the Grand Reawakening marks the moment Granville gets its historic gathering place back, copper roof and all.
