A Former ‘Green Book’ Hotel in North Carolina Has Been Lovingly Restored — And You Can Still Stay There

The Historic Magnolia House honors its past as a Green Book hotel while offering thoughtfully appointed rooms and delectable Southern food.

Byron Cain/Waterfall Associates

The Historic Magnolia House isn’t just any ordinary bed-and-breakfast.

This Victorian-Italianate home dates back to 1898, but its vital role in Black history started in 1949 when the Gist family purchased the abode and turned it into a hotel that would welcome Black travelers. One of the few options with quality accommodations between Atlanta and Richmond, Virginia, during segregation, the property would become recognized in six editions of the Green Book starting in 1955.

Now, the Historic Magnolia House is one of America’s last fully restored hotels of its kind.

In the decades following the Jim Crow era, the home began to slowly fall to the wayside. Samuel Penn Pass, who grew up in the neighborhood just around the corner, purchased the property in 1995 hoping to return it to its former glory. “However, it was in very bad condition,” recalls Pass’s daughter, Natalie Pass-Miller. “Squatters and the homeless community had taken over the home,” she adds. The house had to be gutted to be stabilized and secured. By the time Pass-Miller and her husband, Devin Miller, acquired the Historic Magnolia House in 2018, there were still some necessary touches that needed to be made before it could be re-opened as a functioning B&B once more.

In January 2022, the Historic Magnolia House finally made its grand return. For Pass-Miller, carrying on her family’s legacy was undoubtedly a driving force when it came to taking on this exceptional project, but it’s almost much more than that. “Preserving Black historic sites, reuniting them in their communities on a national level, . . . and being able to give back to the [low-income] community that [she] grew up in” were also significant factors. Ultimately, it’s this fervor for conservation and local betterment that reverberates through the walls of the Historic Magnolia House.

Historic Magnolia House

• Events throughout the year honor Black musicians, bring together the community and offer guests the opportunity to interact with locals.
• The food here is comforting, delicious, and soulful — Southern cooking at its best.
• The four bold and colorful rooms have been individually designed to pay homage to famous past guests.

The passion is palpable from the moment you step foot into the hotel. The staff’s genuine desire to welcome all guests creates this sense of warmth that can only be likened to how one would feel in a fond, familiar place. Color-blocked interiors are reminiscent of a quirky but loving aunt or grandmother’s home, a comforting feeling that’s only heightened when the smell of butter and spices wafts out from the kitchen. Meanwhile, the museum-like living room is a reminder of the fight for basic civil rights for Black Americans while also honoring the fortitude of the Black community and the hotel’s former proprietors. The Historic Magnolia House is not just any B&B — it’s a home, it’s a national treasure.

Read on for our full review.

The Rooms

Swathed in striking colors with various textures and midcentury modern accents, the four rooms at the Historic Magnolia House each have their own personality and have been dedicated to the property’s past venerable visitors.

The chic black-and-white Baldwin room is a tribute to writers and intellectuals such as James Baldwin and Carter G. Woodson and features a vintage Smith-Corona typewriter on the desk. In Legends, a more “masculine” touch of plaid wallpaper, leather throw pillows, dark wood, and overt adornments like boxing gloves and baseball mitts remember athletes like heavyweight champion Ezzard Charles and baseball icon Jackie Robinson. Contrastingly, Carlotta’s hot pink décor honors Queens of Soul Tina Turner, Lena Horne, and Gladys Knight while also nodding to Greensboro’s erstwhile Carlotta Club, an important music venue that was part of the Chitlin’ Circuit.

Then, there’s Kind of Blue, inspired by Miles Davis’ album of the same name, which is an homage to the friendship between the musician and Buddy Gist, the son of the hotel’s original owners. The largest of the four, the cobalt-hued room is the only option with a private bathroom and shower. In keeping with an authentic Green Book hotel experience, the other three accommodations have access to shared bathrooms like guests would have during the Jim Crow era.

Food and Drink

Byron Cain/Waterfall Associates

As expected with any B&B, breakfast is included, and this is one worth staying for.

A force to be reckoned with, Brooklyn-born Yancey Williams served as a combat Navy cook and later graduated top of his class from the Institute of Culinary Education. During the pandemic, the chef found his way down to North Carolina, where he ran the kitchen at UNC Greensboro before becoming a one-man crew at the Historic Magnolia House. The menu changes seasonally, but expect Southern classics like fried green tomatoes, chicken and waffles, and buttery grits.

If you stay on a Friday, hop down for supper and order the oxtail. Braised for six hours, the meat is so ridiculously tender that if a strong gust of wind found its way through the dining room, it’d likely fall right off the bone. A small selection of spirits, cocktails, and wine are also available to wash it all down. But one word of advice: portions are generous, so come with a healthy appetite and perhaps some stretchy pants.

Experiences and Amenities

Byron Cain/Waterfall Associates

Given the legendary musicians who have walked through the doors of the Historic Magnolia House, it is no surprise that music is at the core of the property’s programming. “Because there is such a rich history as it relates to the musical arts . . . it was only right to establish a program in honor of such,” says Pass-Miller. “Juke Joint [is tailored] toward the Black history and Black excellence in music and the culture of the arts.”

Every Friday night, live jazz performed by members of the UNCG band floats through the home. A local DJ headlines a near-monthly party with house music. But watch for marquee events throughout the year, ranging from tribute concerts to art showcases.

Otherwise, relax in the lounge with a tipple and some board games, enjoy friendly conversation with other guests, or get to know the staff, who all have interesting stories. But you can’t leave without exploring the museum-like first floor, where you’ll find several informational placards centered around the hotel’s history, excerpts from the Green Book, and even the original motel sign above the reception desk.

Accessibility

Due to the property’s historic nature, the B&B does not offer ADA-compliant accommodations. All four rooms are located on the home’s second floor, which is only accessible by stairs.

Location

While you’re in Greensboro, take the opportunity to brush up on history. On Feb. 1, 1960, four North Carolina A&T State University students sat down at Woolworth’s, a whites-only lunch counter, marking the beginning of non-violent protests known as sit-ins. Today, that landmark is now the International Civil Rights Center & Museum, commemorating the site and participants of the historic moment, along with many other significant events during the Civil Rights Movement.

For American Revolution buffs, the Guilford Courthouse National Military Park was the scene for the historic namesake battle in 1781 that, while it was a loss on paper, ultimately led to pushing the British out of the Carolinas.

If you’re interested in the arts, the Steven Tanger Center for the Performing Arts hosts everything from Broadway productions to comedy shows, while downtown Greensboro, just a couple minutes from the Historic Magnolia House, is decorated with murals for public enjoyment.

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