In almost every room at The Balladeer Hotel, thick strands of jute rope are pulled taut, woven into distinct patterns, and tucked between glass paneling. Framing bedsides and vanities, this salvaged fiber celebrates the historic building’s days as a textile mill.
“We found original thread from the mill before renovating the property, so we sent it to a manufacturer and preserved it in the glass panels in each room, that way guests can see the actual string that was used in the fabrication processes,” says Madeline Matanick, sales and marketing director at The Balladeer Hotel.
Once used to transport factory goods, a restored skybridge now offers guests of the Skybridge Studio Suite a private escape overlooking the hotel’s exterior. photograph by Greg Powers Photography
These tangible threads of the past are just one part of a much larger story. Well over a century before the bold bronze-lettered signage rose above the hotel’s white brick facade, the historic Sparger Building operated as a local tobacco factory. Through decades of shifting industries, the landmark anchored downtown Mount Airy, later serving as a hub for textile and garment production. After undergoing careful restoration, it reopened this past April as a boutique hotel.
Inside The Balladeer, tributes to both Mount Airy’s mill history and its mountain music traditions are woven together. “Our theme, the balladeer, is all about storytelling. A balladeer is a musician who tells stories through music, so we’re taking the musical theme of the folk and old-time style of our town and telling the story of the textile mill, the tobacco mill, and the people who have lived here,” Matanick says.
In the lobby, exposed granite foundations remind guests of Mount Airy’s rich quarrying heritage. photograph by Greg Powers Photography
Just above the front desk, a sprawling light installation resembling a cluster of banjo heads reaches across the ceiling, a nod to the driving, bluesy tunes that characterize the Foothills. Steps away in the lower lobby, a dedicated media room encourages guests to peruse the hotel’s collection of vintage records and spin them on the room’s turntable, one of 12 record players on the property. Continuing the hotel’s celebration of Mount Airy’s music traditions, plans are in the works to host free live music in the lobby or courtyard once or twice a month for the public to come and enjoy.
Located in the heart of downtown, The Balladeer has built its guest experience around the town itself, sourcing directly from local purveyors and artisans in celebration of Surry County’s homegrown and handmade offerings. Anchoring the far side of the lobby, The Balladeer’s self-serve tap wall stands as the centerpiece of that local commitment. A deep crimson-tiled backsplash frames the bright alcove, where a row of brass taps invites guests to sample local pours.
“We are the only hotel in North Carolina with a self-serve tap wall,” Matanick says. “We have five local wines on tap from Shelton Vineyards, a Mount Airy beer from Thirsty Souls, and a wider selection of North Carolina craft brews.”
Tucked beside the front desk, the lobby’s retail shop displays custom-made goods from local makers and businesses right down the street. From handmade candles matched with the hotel’s signature body care scent to ceramic mugs dipped in glaze exclusively mixed for The Balladeer, local shops such as Keswick Candle and Chrysanthemum Ceramics bring Mount Airy’s Main Street directly through the front doors.
Pick up a tap card from the front desk to enjoy self-serve wines and craft beers. photograph by Greg Powers Photography
Shifting with the changing rhythms of local industry over the years, the Sparger Building has long served as a steadfast monument in the heart of downtown Mount Airy. Today, as The Balladeer Hotel, it invites guests and locals alike to weave their own stories into its history.
“It’s all about bringing people together,” Matanick says. “We want to be a part of the community and a part of what makes Mount Airy so special, and that is for guests as well as locals to come in and take a peek. I hope that The Balladeer becomes a space for people to come and enjoy the story that we tell about our town.”
The Balladeer Hotel
239 Willow Street
Mount Airy, NC 27030
(336) 901-2901
balladeerhotel.com
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