“The inn tempers the campus’s invigorating energy with a calming, charming elegance” - Southern Living June, 2007

Recognized as one of America's "cultural resources worthy of preservation," The Carolina Inn is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

From the day it opened in 1924, the Inn has played an important role in the life of the University of North Carolina and the Chapel Hill community. And it has long been one of the most popular sites in North Carolina for special events, weddings, business meetings, and academic conferences.

The Inn was built by John Sprunt Hill, a UNC graduate who, in 1935, gave the Inn to the University to serve as "a cheerful inn for visitors, a town hall for the state, and a home for returning sons and daughters of alma mater." Still owned by UNC, the Inn is managed by ARAMARK/Harrison Lodging and.. as per the original deed - profits generated from the operation of the inn are given back the university to fund the library system.

In addition to having a rich cultural history, The Carolina Inn is architecturally significant, blending elements of antebellum Southern plantation houses with Georgian and neoclassical features often found in the Northeast. The original front of the building was modeled after the Potomac River front of Mt. Vernon.

The Inn has been expanded and restored over the years. The most extensive restoration and expansion, completed in 1996 at a cost of $16.5 million, added modern features and conveniences and, at the same time, restored much of the Inn's traditional warmth and grandeur. An extensive collection of antiques, along with a few objects original to the Inn in 1924, complements the casually elegant décor.

For more than 80 years, The Carolina Inn has offered guests the finest in lodging, food, and hospitality. And today, more than ever before, it does so with grace and style. The Inn is managed by ARAMARK/Harrison Lodging and is a Doubletree affiliated hotel offering Hilton Points and Miles..

The History of The Carolina Inn

The University's Living Room: A History of The Carolina Inn by Kenneth Zogry Written by an award winning author, a book to both enjoy and cherish: a tribute to The Carolina Inn's place in history and in the hearts of Tar Heels for 75 years.
Order your copy by phone 1-800-962-8519 or e-mail us at history book@carolinainn.com and we will contact you to take your order. $35.00 plus tax.