FAYETTEVILLE, West Virginia — Mountain Shore Properties recently announced plans for Hill Hall, a new boutique hotel opening in late summer 2026 in Fayetteville, West Virginia. Created within a restored former school campus — the 1923 stone building that once housed Fayetteville High School and the mid-century building formerly home to Fayetteville Middle School — Hill Hall will blend preserved architecture with warm, residential design to offer a welcoming retreat for travelers exploring the New River Gorge region.
Public spaces throughout the property are designed to reinterpret the school campus’s original function into contemporary gathering spaces, including the Mural Room, a relaxed lounge anchored by a commissioned work from West Virginia artist Nichole Westfall.
At the heart of the property, Hill Hall plans to introduce Patsy’s, the hotel’s signature restaurant, inspired by Wendell’s grandmother and her family recipes. Drawing from regional home cooking and familiar flavors, Patsy’s is envisioned as a warm, modern community table for both travelers and Fayetteville locals.
Located just minutes from New River Gorge National Park & Preserve, Hill Hall is set to feature 40 thoughtfully designed guest rooms across the two restored school buildings. Tall original windows, wide hallways and preserved architectural elements are designed to be complemented by soft layers, natural materials and an interior palette inspired by the surrounding landscape. While these tones shape the interiors, the deeper visual world of Hill Hall draws from vintage academic materials and the original campus’s materiality, creating a sense of place that feels both familiar and quietly transportive.
The project is led by Mountain Shore Properties Founder and CEO Stephen Wendell and his father, Charlie Wendell, the company’s chairman. The Wendells have long-standing ties to West Virginia and a personal connection to Fayetteville. The development is inspired in part by Stephen’s grandmother and her longtime commitment to preserving the town’s heritage and sense of place, and it reflects a broader belief in the cultural vitality and long-term growth of the New River Gorge region.
“Hill Hall is personal for me because it’s rooted in the people and the place that shaped our family,” Stephen Wendell said. “My grandmother believed Fayetteville was worth preserving, and she spent years doing the work to protect its character and its place in history. We’re carrying that forward by bringing new life to this historic campus with a hotel and a restaurant that feel warm, welcoming and genuinely connected to the community. Our hope is that Hill Hall becomes a place locals feel proud of, and a place travelers can return to after a day in the Gorge and truly feel at home.”
Hill Hall is set to open as part of the Design Hotels portfolio, a handpicked collection of independently owned hotels that celebrate visionary hospitality, cultural authenticity and thoughtful design. As part of its anticipated affiliation, Hill Hall is also planned to participate in Marriott Bonvoy, Marriott International’s global travel loyalty program.
More information will be available on guest rooms, dining, amenities, and booking this spring as Hill Hall approaches its opening in late summer 2026. For updates, please visit hillhallhotel.com.
