THE BEAUFORT INN
TUCKED AWAY IN
THE HEART OF TOWN
Let Beaufort’s irresistible go-with-the-flow rhythm wash over you as you settle into one of our historic buildings. Our property has welcomed guests for more than a century, offering unique experiences with every stay — from rooms with a view to spacious suites and fully equipped cottages — and playing a role in our town’s development with an independent spirit and an undeniable sense of place.
S’mores
Friendly
WELCOMING GUESTS FOR 100+ YEARS
Our reception building or Main Inn was built by William Sidney Smith as a summer retreat for his family.
Overnight guests were welcomed for the first time. The building was renamed The Beaufort Inn by Mrs. Gordon Black in 1930.
In 1999, The Beaufort Inn purchased two cottages and a loft. The following year we acquired the Tabby Garden and cottages along Scott Street. In 2001, the Main Inn building was bought by the Stewart family, who kicked off the modern era of restoration and renovation.
We converted an existing asphalt parking lot on West Street into what is now considered Beaufort's most iconic outdoor venue space, Tabby Garden. The space boasts a lush and luxe garden atmosphere designed for gathering.
After renovating and restoring an old grocery store, which sat vacant for nearly 20 years, we repurposed the space into an indoor event venue, Tabby Place. The following year, the second floor of 808 Bay Street was converted into a three-bedroom, two-bath residence overlooking the Beaufort River.
The Craven Building, a 12-room cottage that sits on a former gravel parking lot, is completed. As a result, the Historic Beaufort Foundation recognized The Beaufort Inn with the “Best New Construction/Infill” award.
WALLACE SMITH
MANSION
The reception building, or Main Inn, was built in 1897 by lawyer and state representative William Sidney Smith as a summer retreat for his family. It was updated and remodeled in the early 1900s by the Fielden Family, first welcomed overnight guests in 1920, and was renamed The Beaufort Inn in 1930 by Mrs. Gordon Black. Upon being purchased by the Stewart family in 2001, the mansion entered its modern era of restoration, and a consolidation of the various properties began.
FEMALE BENEVOLENT
SOCIETY COTTAGE
Formed in 1814 to help and educate destitute children, the Female Benevolent Society had the cottage built in 1895. A separate attached cottage served as an infirmary with an outdoor waiting room. It was once home to The Clover Club, which founded Beaufort’s first library—a precursor to the public system now headquartered across the street. The Society sold the cottage in 1982 but continues to its proceeds to help people in need. In 2003, it became part of our Inn and underwent renovations.
RHETT
COTTAGE
This cottage was built in the 1850s as an office for lawyer Edmund Rhett, who became city mayor, served in state legislature, and is remembered as a fire-eater. The Articles of Secession leading to the Civil War may have been partly drafted here. During the war, the cottage housed wounded Union soldiers, including African Americans. After the war, it housed voting books and served as a voter registration center. For decades, countless freed slaves registered to vote at the very site where the words leading to war may have been written.
