Gypsy Heart
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- #1
Thread Owner
Sweet Springs opened as a health resort in 1833, but its origins date back to 1783 when William Lewis constructed several log cabins to promote the region's healthy attributes. The elongated hotel building was not constructed until later in 1838, designed reportedly by Thomas Jefferson. The popularity of the resort reflected the vacationing aspect of city-dwellers, who would make the trip via train and buggy during the late 18th and 19th century from Washington D.C. and other nearby cities. Over the years, several guest cottages were constructed, along with a ballroom, a brick bathhouse and several slave cottages.
The resort gradually declined in popularity and was sold to the state of West Virginia in 1941 to serve as a Sanatorium, and later the Andrew Rowan Memorial Home for the elderly. The entire facility closed in the 1990s.
In 2005, a subsidiary bottling company at the resort began to bottle mountain spring and mineral water, marketed under the SweetSommer Water brand.
On October 11, 2007, the state leased 625 acres adjacent to the Sweet Springs property to a developer who plans to revive the resort. The new owner, Warren D. Smith, plans to construct a golf course, amphitheater, vineyard and other attractions on the leased property, and has long-range plans to restore the existing resort buildings as a 'showcase for historic preservation and economic development.'
Sources
1. Steelhammer, Rick. 'W.VA's Heritage in Jeopardy: Most endangered historic places list created to secure dozens of sites.' Sunday Gazette-Mail [Charleston] 11 Dec. 2005: 1A.
2. 'State leases Monroe property to resort developer.' Herald-Dispatch [Huntington] 12 Oct. 2007. 12 Oct. 2007 Article.
3. 'Ann Royall/Sweet Springs.' West Virginia Archives & History. 2007. West Virginia Division of Culture and History. 12 Oct. 2007 Article.
The resort gradually declined in popularity and was sold to the state of West Virginia in 1941 to serve as a Sanatorium, and later the Andrew Rowan Memorial Home for the elderly. The entire facility closed in the 1990s.
In 2005, a subsidiary bottling company at the resort began to bottle mountain spring and mineral water, marketed under the SweetSommer Water brand.
On October 11, 2007, the state leased 625 acres adjacent to the Sweet Springs property to a developer who plans to revive the resort. The new owner, Warren D. Smith, plans to construct a golf course, amphitheater, vineyard and other attractions on the leased property, and has long-range plans to restore the existing resort buildings as a 'showcase for historic preservation and economic development.'
Sources
1. Steelhammer, Rick. 'W.VA's Heritage in Jeopardy: Most endangered historic places list created to secure dozens of sites.' Sunday Gazette-Mail [Charleston] 11 Dec. 2005: 1A.
2. 'State leases Monroe property to resort developer.' Herald-Dispatch [Huntington] 12 Oct. 2007. 12 Oct. 2007 Article.
3. 'Ann Royall/Sweet Springs.' West Virginia Archives & History. 2007. West Virginia Division of Culture and History. 12 Oct. 2007 Article.
I was FURIOUS! It used to look like this:
