Hill Hall Hotel Announces Official Opening in Fayetteville, West Virginia

The 40-room boutique hotel near New River Gorge National Park opens within a restored school campus with Patsy's restaurant, a 24-hour guest pantry, and a design rooted in Fayetteville and the surrounding region

FAYETTEVILLE, W.Va., Sept. 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Mountain Shore Properties today announces the opening of Hill Hall Hotel, a 40-room boutique hotel in downtown Fayetteville. A member of Design Hotels™, part of Marriott Bonvoy®, Hill Hall Hotel is set within the town's former high school and middle school buildings near New River Gorge National Park. The historic campus was extensively restored and reimagined, pairing preserved school architecture with warm, residential interiors, transforming into a gathering place for travelers and local residents alike.

Hill Hall at a Glance

• Opening date: August 28, 2026
• Address: 135 High Street, Fayetteville, W.Va. 25840
• Guest rooms: 40
• Check-in / check-out: 4 p.m. / 11 a.m.
• Parking: Complimentary guest parking
• Dining: Patsy's restaurant and Patsy's Provisions, a 24-hour guest pantry
• Starting rate: $225 per night
• Pet policy: Dogs are welcome for $50 per dog, per night, with a limit of two dogs weighing up to 50 pounds each
• Affiliation: A member of Design Hotels™, part of Marriott Bonvoy®
• Reservations: www.hillhallhotel.com

Guest Room Types

• Standard / Premium Kings: Approximately 330 square feet and sleeps two
• King Suites: Approximately 460 square feet, with additional space for longer stays
• Double King Suite: Approximately 660 square feet, with two private king bedrooms and a living area with a wet bar, sink, and refrigerator, sleeping up to four
• Standard Queen: Approximately 240 square feet and sleeps two
• ADA-accessible rooms: King Suite in the middle school building and one on the second floor of the high school building, accessible by ramp

Inside Fayetteville's original 1923 stone high school and neighboring midcentury middle school building, the original school layouts give guest rooms unique dimensions and configurations. The restored campus is now home to guest rooms and a restaurant, with common areas now serving as lounges and reading spaces, retaining the openness and scale of the former school buildings.

"Fayetteville has always been more than a gateway to the Gorge, and I hope Hill Hall gives visitors another reason to spend time in town," Stephen Wendell, founder and chief executive officer of Mountain Shore Properties, the hotel's developer, said. "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."

Patsy's, Hill Hall's signature restaurant, is named for Wendell's grandmother, Pat "Patsy" Phillips Wendell, whose recipes, hospitality, and family traditions informed the restaurant from the beginning. The opening menu highlights include Patsy's Chex Mix, apple molasses-glazed meatloaf with silky potato, green bean, and bacon, and Clear Water trout with mustard green, jalapeño cheddar hush puppy, and lemon beurre blanc.

Executive Chef Jeffrey Toth leads the kitchen at Patsy's. A veteran chef with three decades of experience, Toth opened Wood Iron Eatery in Fayetteville in 2018 and operated it until stepping back in 2023. Katie and Tennyson Winters, Wood Iron's current owners and operators, helped with menu development, hiring, and culinary operations for Patsy's. Toth now leads the kitchen alongside Sous Chef Paul Almond.

The beverage program includes Old School Ale, an English-style pale ale brewed for Hill Hall by Fayetteville-based Bridge Brew Works, alongside cocktails such as the gin-based Mae-tini, The Dogwood with tequila, hibiscus, grapefruit, ginger, and lime, and bourbon-forward The Peeved Bee with Amaro Nonino, honey, and lemon. Patsy's serves dinner Wednesday through Sunday from 4 to 9 p.m. and brunch Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Reservations are not required, though groups of six or more are encouraged to call ahead.

Patsy's Provisions offers hotel guests 24-hour access to snacks—including local favorites like Yumbel Cookies—beverages, grab-and-go options, and everyday essentials through an honor system, with purchases added to the room folio. Coffee at Patsy's and Patsy's Provisions comes from West Virginia-based Cherry River Coffee Roasters, while guest rooms are stocked with Tandem Coffee from Portland, Maine.

Mae Pate, Head of Design at Mountain Shore Properties, led the design of the building, rooms, and public spaces, bringing to life a rich narrative of the building's history through every material choice, artwork, and furnishing.  Zmmr led the creation of Hill Hall's brand identity and website, weaving thoughtful touches that honor the building's past. Aric Margolis of Charleston, West Virginia, served as architect of record for the project, while general contracting was provided by David E. Looper & Company. In the mural room, a large-scale work by West Virginia artist Nichole Westfall anchors a central lounge for morning coffee, reading, and conversation, and Kevin Barry Art Advisory assisted with curating additional artwork throughout the property. A custom-illustrated map created by Stephen's grandmother, Patsy, joins books, vintage photographs, handmade ceramics, and furnishings gathered throughout the property, giving the two buildings a lived-in character. Hand-painted signage by West Virginia designer Jordana Bungard and an interior palette of deep greens, muted blues, clay reds, soft neutrals, and natural wood echo the surrounding New River Gorge landscape. David Robert Elliott documented the hotel and surrounding landscape through photography, alongside Braiden Maddox of Understory WV.

Guests can also connect with Fayetteville and the Gorge through local partnerships offering fitness access, bicycle rentals, climbing instruction, and stand-up paddleboarding, including Gripped Fitness, New River Bikes, New River Mountain Guides, and Mountain Surf Paddle Sports. Coworking access is available through Ascend WV in the former elementary school on the same campus. In-room directories and copies of the Fayetteville Pocket Guide, available at the front desk, offer additional recommendations for exploring the area.

Reservations are available at www.hillhallhotel.com. For updates, follow @hillhallhotel and @patsys_hillhall on Instagram.

About Hill Hall Hotel
Located in Fayetteville, W.Va., at the gateway to New River Gorge National Park, Hill Hall is a 40-room boutique hotel set within the restored historic Fayetteville school campus, reimagined with thoughtful design, layered textures, and a warm sense of place. Opened in September 2026, the property reflects the region's character through its residential-style interiors and its signature restaurant, Patsy's, which draws on Appalachian cooking and the Wendell family's traditions. A member of Design Hotels™, part of Marriott Bonvoy®, Hill Hall offers a welcoming retreat for travelers seeking a closer connection to the New River Gorge landscape, culture, and creative community. For more information, visit www.hillhallhotel.com and follow @hillhallhotel on Instagram.

About Mountain Shore Properties
Mountain Shore Properties (MSP) is a real estate development company based in Charleston, S.C. MSP, which was named Developer of the Year by Hyatt in 2019, is focused on properties that create enduring value for communities and its investors. Founded in 2012 as a successor to related companies formed in the 1970s, the highly experienced MSP team has led the successful development of hotels, single- and multi-tenant office buildings, industrial buildings, mixed-use apartment/retail buildings, and single-family homes in 25+ cities across 8 different states, specializing in optimal locations that have high barriers to entry. They have developed or are currently developing 25 hotels to date, including boutique properties such as Camptown Hotel, and select-service properties by Hampton Inn, Hampton Inn & Suites, Hyatt House, Hyatt Place, Marriott Courtyard, and Residence Inn. For more information about Mountain Shore Properties, visit www.mountainshoreproperties.com

About Design Hotels
For 30 years, Design Hotels has been at the forefront of a movement in travel by crafting a handpicked portfolio of 300+ independently owned and operated hotels in over 50 countries. From cultural hubs in fast-paced cities to tiny off-the-beaten-path escapes, each hotel reflects the vision of its pioneering owner—or "Original"— who possesses a passion for genuine hospitality, cultural authenticity, thought-provoking design, and architecture.  More than a collection of hotels, Design Hotels brings forward-thinking member hotels insightful travel industry expertise—from trend forecasting and creative consultancy, to PR, marketing, and global sales representation. Design Hotels is headquartered in Berlin, with branches in London, Los Angeles, New York, and Singapore. In 2019, the company partnered with Marriott Bonvoy®, expanding the reach of its member hotels and offering its community access to the industry's leading loyalty program.

SOURCE Mountain Shore Properties