The Olde Harbour Inn, part of the Historic Inns of Savannah, is a beautifully appointed, small boutique inn that is a dream come true. Situated on River Street, and within easy walking distance to many of the most visited spots in Savannah’s Historic District, you cannot go wrong booking a room here for your next Savannah getaway.
I have always, always wanted to visit Savannah. The history, the architecture, the food, the beauty, the ghost stories, the people… What is there not to love about Savannah? If I have created a bucket list, researched a vacation or thought about a weekend trip, Savannah has always been at the top of any and all lists.
When we discovered that close friends were planning on visiting Savannah for a long weekend in October, we jumped at the opportunity to join them. In searching for hotels downtown in close proximity to the list of restaurants, bars and sites we wanted to visit, we came across The Olde Harbour Inn. I was absolutely enamored with it from the beginning. I had actually saved this hotel a number of years back as the place I wanted to stay on a future visit. My wish was finally about to come true.
Located right on River Street, with its entrance on the charming and stunningly beautiful, Factors Walk, the Olde Harbour Inn feels secluded from the hustle and bustle that surrounds it on either side.
A Brief History Behind the Olde Harbour Inn Building:
I grew up in a family of history buffs, so I am always interested in the story behind a building. It makes everything so much more real and vibrant, knowing its connection to its history. This building has an incredibly complex past, with tear downs, destruction by fire and periods of abandonment before becoming the Inn it is today.
The current building was constructed in 1892, but the foundation dates back to 1812. This stone foundation makes it one of the oldest inn’s located within the historic district. The original building was used for storage and warehouses for the busy wharf. It was removed some time during the years of 1888-1889; soon after, construction was begun to replace to that structure on its original foundation.
The next structure was completed between 1889 and 1890 for the Tide Water Oil Company. They used this space to store very flammable materials, in a structure made mostly of wood… Unfortunately, in 1892, a large and powerful fire started amongst the wooden warehouses. This fire quickly moved along the waterfront with a strong breeze aiding its path of destruction. Despite a quick response from the Savannah Fire company, the building was destroyed.
A number of destructive fires like this had wreaked havoc throughout the city. Savannah leaders soon after passed an ordinance stating that new buildings could only be constructed of stone or brick. This was lauded as a wonderful step towards safer construction standards. Tide Water Oil Company rebuilt shortly after this ordinance went in to effect.
The Tide Water Oil Company was soon acquired by the Rockefeller’s Standard Oil Company. They continued to operate in the building until 1907. When they vacated, the building was left empty, remaining vacant until 1930. The building was next occupied by the Alexander Brothers Company, who manufactured blue jeans and overalls; this company operated here until 1980.
In 1985, a thorough and massive renovation was completed. The building was reopened in 1987 as the Olde Harbour Inn, retaining much of the character, charm and storied details from a century gone by. To this day, wooden beams throughout the inn are frequently repainted to cover oil stains that seep through, evidence of the building’s former life.
I am a history lover, so reading the stories surrounding the building, the ghost stories and its close proximity to River Street? I was fascinated. We booked four nights in mid-October and eagerly awaited the trip.
Accessing the Inn from the Lincoln Street Ramp can feel confusing, but the Inn has a wonderful video to watch prior to visiting with very clear directions. It makes finding your way that much easier and more stress-free. No one wants to start a vacation stressed out, right? Not me. So this was absolutely perfect.
We arrived for our Sunday check-in earlier than the allotted check in time of 4pm. We were greeted in the beautifully decorated and elegant lobby by an incredibly kind employee. I wish I could recall his name because he was so warm and so inviting. We were given our parking pass (parking is notoriously difficult and expensive in the historic district).. This was absolutely worth every penny to park and forget, essentially. It is a secure location next to the hotel. Being so close to most of what we wanted to do, we knew we weren’t going to be using our vehicle much.
We were given a thorough run-down of the Inn and were told that we could be phoned when our room was ready. This attention to detail and hospitality should be expected when checking-in anywhere, but is not always guaranteed; the Olde Harbour Inn and her staff check all the right boxes.
After wandering around River Street, we received a phone call much earlier than 4 telling us that we could move our suitcases in to our room at any time. We headed back up and were excited to see our room.
Olde Harbour Inn Review – The Room
When I tell you these rooms were beautiful? I mean they were really, really beautiful.
These rooms are absolutely stunning. They are large, gorgeously decorated, and welcoming. The sitting area has ample space for lounging, with comfortable chairs and a couch, a desk and a large flat-screen television. This was a welcomed space for relaxing in the morning with a cup of coffee and pastry from the lobby, or taking a breather at the end of a long day.
There is a kitchenette setting in each room. Each night a member of staff will leave frozen treats in your freezer for you – such a sweet touch! There is also the typical coffee maker and its accessories, plus daily stocked water and a microwave. We didn’t use this space much, but it is a nice addition to have in any room.
I have read some complaints about the Inn being noisy on TripAdvisor and Expedia, but we experienced absolutely nothing close to what some others referenced. There was some residual street noise from the very busy River Street, and occasionally you could hear a neighbor moving around or a door closing, but the Inn was comfortable and without annoyance. We went in expecting it to be a potentially noisy building… it’s an old factory from the 1800’s, after all…. But we had no complaints at the end.
Why You’ll Absolutely Love Olde Harbour Inn:
Each family looks for different amenities to enhance their stay and provide the coziness they are looking for during their vacation, but I think these are some of the most important reasons you should book a vacation here as soon as possible. 🙂
- Steeped in History and beautifully decorated. The atmosphere is cheery and charming.
- A wonderful, attentive and friendly staff
- Morning coffee and pastries served in the lobby area each morning
- Complimentary sodas and water offered throughout the day
- Evening hors d’oeuvres and wine. It’s so fun meeting fellow guests!
- Close proximity to all of the bars, restaurants, shops and boutiques along River Street
- Easy access to points of interest outside of the River Street corridor
- Pet-friendly! An additional fee applies ($75 for up to two dogs), but is so reasonable to be able to bring your fur babies along. Voted Savannah’s BEST pet-friendly hotel.
- Personal Touches … Like nightly turn-down ice cream treats left in your room’s freezer.
- Parking that is off-street, located right next to the Inn on the quiet Factors Walk. We felt very comfortable leaving our vehicle here
- High speed WiFi that actually works. I imagine this is a really important factor for family traveling with children
Ghostly Residents and Haunted Tours:
We visited Savannah in mid-October and knew that we wanted a large part of our visit to revolve around the haunted tales and ghostly residents of this historic city. The city is regularly listed in top ten lists showcasing the most haunted cities in America, and the Olde Harbour Inn is reported to be one of the most haunted hotels within that notorious reputation.
There is suppsedly a spirit named Hank who inhabits the Olde Harbour Inn. Even though there were reportedly no deaths during the fire of 1892, the lore surrounding this ghost claims he was a victim. Is it possible during this time that a person could have perished without it being noticed or reported? Absolutely. Some say perhaps he is the person who started the fire and his guilty conscience keeps him tethered to the building, even in the after world.
Over the years, many staff have labeled this spirit as a “prankster” and nothing sinister. Items move from one spot to another in guest rooms; the staff’s work is disturbed in some playful way; burners are turned off in the kitchen; or strange bumps in the night are heard in unoccupied rooms or areas of the Inn…
Many claim most of the hauntings or supernatural oddities occur in rooms 405 and 406. Would you be brave enough to stay in these rooms? I don’t think I would be…..
Whether true or not, the ghost of Hank lends a playful connection to a city rich in dark, supernatural, haunted history.
The front desk staff can even help you reserve a spot on any one of the city’s Haunted Tours to learn more, or visit with some of the other ghostly residents of Savannah. 🙂
Overall Recommendation: 8/10
I would recommend this Inn to anyone who is planning on visiting Savannah.
It is in such a convenient location, is perfect for family or couples, welcomes furry companions with its dog-friendly policies and has a warm and inviting staff.
The rooms are beautiful, spacious, well appointed and the right mix of historic meets modern.
Factors Walk is magical, River Street is bustling with restaurants, bars, shops and boutiques, and most other points in Savannah are an easy, beautiful walk that you’ll enjoy just as much as your destination.
If you are looking to book a stay at Olde Harbour Inn, I would recommend visiting their website directly. We found good prices on typical travel sites like Expedia, but booking directly through Olde Harbour Inn‘s site allowed us to save 10% on pre-paid 4-night stay.
Have you been to Olde Harbour Inn? If so, did you enjoy your stay?
Or will you be visiting in the future?
Let me know your thoughts below! I’m always interested to hear other traveler’s thoughts!
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