Sunday, July 19, 2015

The Empress of Little Rock, Little Rock, AR

Originally published April 28, 2009

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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