Small luxury hotel; historic Victorian Bed and
Breakfast; both phrases are often used to describe the Empress of Little Rock.
Walking through the main, curved front doors of the Empress of Little Rock my
wife and I agreed that either would work but neither could fully express what
was before us. The Empress of Little Rock is a home with a past, a home of
grand elegance and a home with verve. When you are planning your next trip you
should certainly pencil in a day or two in Little Rock, Arkansas and stay at
The Empress of Little Rock.
The Empress of Little Rock was originally the
Hornibrook Mansion in 1888. Mr. Hornibrook was a local saloon owner who built
this home to compete with the other saloon owner in Little Rock. The Empress of
Little Rock has many hidden nooks that one that was outside the law would need
to stash whiskey, money or other items as well as a hidden room where folks
could have secret poker games and be on watch for enemies or the law riding up
on the home. From the hands of Mr. Hornibrook the home became a Women's
College, Boarding House and then Nursing Home. In 1994, current owners, Sharon
and Robert Blair purchased the home and restored it to its original elegance.
The restoration work on The Empress of Little
Rock has certainly paid off as there may be no more a grand home than this.
When you first arrive into the rounded parlor there are doors to each side of
you, soaring ceilings, patterned wall paper, antiques perfectly placed and an
original fire place. When my wife and I arrived at The Empress of Little Rock
we were greeted by innkeeper Mitzi McGhee and swept into the home. Walking
further into The Empress of Little Rock you come to a check in desk/ gift shop
under the grand staircase. To your left is the formal dining room and kitchen,
behind you is the gentleman's and ladies parlor and to your right is the office with map of the world hand painted on
the ceiling. The stairs are a double staircase with excellent craftsmanship and
detail all created with original Arkansas material.
Heading upstairs there are the bedrooms in a
circular hall. In the hall is the original wedding dress made by hand by Sharon
Welch-Blair. The rooms are all uniquely appointed to reflect the history of the
home as well as the history of Arkansas. There is the bedchamber of Mr.
Hornibrook, the bedchamber of Mrs. Hornibrook, the Petit Jean suite, the
Chatelaine and more. Up a steep staircase to the side of the Chatelaine is the
attic with hidden pathway to the turret poker room with lookout. My wife and I
stayed in the Chatelaine and fell in love with the king sized ornate bed,
fireplace, soaring ceilings, bathroom with couch and fireplace, bidet and
double sinks.
There has been tell of ghosts in The Empress of
Little Rock but on the night that my wife and I stayed there was nothing but
good energy. Our innkeeper Mitzi is a true Southern charmer who told us stories
about the secret garden and the weddings held at The Empress of Little Rock,
the Hemmingway room in the detached carriage house, visits by the Red Hat
Ladies and of whom some had boarded here in their college days and the days
Mitzi spent curetting antiques at Morris Antiques and how she got to know
Sharon and Robert.
Breakfast the following morning at The Empress of
Little Rock was a treat for the taste buds and the ear. Mitzi is a fantastic
hostess and chef creating great conversation and serving sorbet, French toast
that was rich and decadent like cinnamon buns, sausage and fresh fruit as well
as plenty of coffee. The husband and wife pair who was staying at The Empress
of Little Rock when we were there was making their way to every state to walk 5
miles by the time that the wife turned 50 in August. The husband owns a cooking
school and store in southern California and even he was impressed with the
French toast.
The Empress of Little Rock says "the
forgotten experience" on its business card. The experience that my wife
and I had will never be forgotten. When you visit The Empress of Little Rock
you should be aware of several of their specials and packages. The Empress of
Little Rock offers intimate brides suppers with a picnic by the fire, honeymoon
packages complete with champagne, romantic breakfasts for two, nautical romance
sailing packages in conjunction with Parrot-Head Charters, champagne tea time
picnics, grand high teas for ten or more, waterfall weekend packages,
"babymoon" getaways "before baby makes three", carriage
rides around the Quapaw Quarter Historic Area and many more seasonal offerings.
The Empress of Little Rock is the perfect place
to start and base your historic tour of Little Rock, Arkansas.
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