Timeless Luxury At The General Morgan Inn Greeneville TN
Not only have I stayed at the General Morgan Inn and Conference Center in Greeneville, TN, I even spent the night in the hotel’s luxurious suite to celebrate a milestone birthday.
Located in the heart of Greeneville’s beautiful downtown historic district, this 4-story brick hotel features renovated guest rooms, upscale amenities and a restaurant on site.
The hotel is beautiful, but what makes it extra-special for me is the history! Established in the late 19th century, the General Morgan Inn has witnessed more than a century of change.
If you’re thinking about staying at the General Morgan Inn, here’s everything you need to know.
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Don’t want to read to the end? The General Morgan Inn Greeneville TN checks all the marks for me:
✅ Historical elegance
✅ Comfortable rooms
✅ On-site restaurant/bar
✅ Free self-parking
✅ A walkable downtown with lots of history!
“Luxury, history, and warm hospitality converge at the General Morgan Inn, providing guests with a touchstone to the past within a space of modern comfort.”
– Past Lane Travels
Compare prices and book a room at the General Morgan Inn!
Details Of The General Morgan Inn
The General Morgan Inn is located in the historic district of Greeneville, TN and features 51 guest rooms and a suite, as well as a 4-star restaurant called Brumley’s.
The spacious lobby is stunning, with a high ceiling, beautiful chandeliers, elegant seating and faux marble walls.
And yes, there is free self-parking! This is one of the main questions I always have when visiting a downtown hotel.
The General Morgan Inn is the crown jewel of the historic district, and if you know anything about Greeneville, TN, you know there is a lot of history.
For a little background, the Greeneville community was established in 1783 and named for General Nathanael Greene, who is famous for commanding southern theater of the Revolutionary War.
Greeneville is also known for being the home of some prominent historical figures, among them 17th President of the United States, Andrew Johnson, and frontiersman Davy Crockett.
Along the brick-lined sidewalks of the downtown are a wide variety of landmarks, churches, homes, and murals.
I wanted to take a short walk to check out my surroundings and kept running into more and more historical sites in every block. My short walk turned into a two-hour history lesson!
The Andrew Johnson National Historic Site is one of the places within easy walking distance, as is the historic Dickson-Williams Mansion where General Morgan lost his life.
There’s plenty to do in downtown Greeneville, which is one of the reasons why the General Morgan Inn made my list of top historical hotels for romance.
Hotel Restaurant: Brumley’s
The General Morgan Inn is not only a historical landmark but is also a culinary destination in Greeneville, TN.
The menu at Brumley’s is carefully crafted to showcase local ingredients. From classic comfort foods to yummy-looking creations, the restaurant caters to a range of palates.
The ambiance of the dining areas at the General Morgan Inn complements the culinary experience. Whether you’re enjoying a meal in the elegantly appointed main dining room or savoring a drink in the more casual bar area, the surroundings are steeped in the historical charm of the Inn.
General Morgan Inn Restaurant Menu
Brumley’s, the restaurant and bar, serves everything from appetizers to mouthwatering entrees.
Starters include Cheese Curds, Shrimp Cocktail and Pan-Seared Sea Scallops, to name a few.
Sandwiches start at around $17 and range from a variety of specialty Burgers to a Prime Rib Dip.
Dinner entrees range in price from about $28 to $40, and include Pan-Seared Certified Angus NY Strip, Braised Rack of Lamp or Bourbon Glazed Salmon.
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The Rooms At The General Morgan Inn
Another highlight of this hotel is its diverse range of rooms and suites. Each room is distinct, with some offering views of Greeneville’s historic downtown.
I stopped at the General Morgan Inn on my way home from a history-filled trip to the Smoky Mountains, and ended up booking the Morgan Suite.
(Honestly, it was the only room left and we were too tired to go anywhere else, but wow, was it ever worth it).
Even though it was June, I had to try out the beautiful gas fireplace, just for the ambience in the sitting room.
The spa bath is one of the most delightful I’ve ever experienced, with bath and walk-in shower. We also took advantage of a terrace to sit outside in the evening.
Early Beginnings of the General Morgan Inn
Built in 1884 as a railroad hotel, the General Morgan has an amazing history. The first building to stand on the site now known as the General Morgan Inn was DeWoody Tavern.
Owned by William Dunwoody, the tavern offered food, supplies and lodging to pioneers traveling westward from the mountains of North Carolina along the Great Wagon Trail, which is now U.S. Highway 321.
Greeneville’s Big Spring made the location an ideal stopping point along the trail, due to an abundance of water.
Over the years, DeWoody Tavern changed hands many times, and so did its name.
From the late 1820s to the 1860s, the establishment was operated by William K. Vance and was known as “Bell Tavern.”
If you like being surrounded by history, don’t miss my reviews of the most historic hotels in America.
Witness To History During The Civil War
During the Civil War, the tavern was owned and operated by Joshua Lane, and was appropriately known as the “Lane House.”
Situated as it was, the tavern hosted both the Union and Confederate armies throughout the Civil War. But on the morning of September 4, 1864, guests of the tavern witnessed one of Greenville’s most notable historic events.
Confederate General John Hunt Morgan had arrived in Greeneville the day before, and stayed in the house directly behind the tavern, which was owned by his friend, Mrs. Catherine Williams.
Tipped off about Morgan’s location, Union troops moved into the town and surrounded the house. General Morgan attempted to escape, but he was shot and killed as he ran from the yard to the stables.
If you enjoy history like I do, you will be enjoy being able to walk in the footsteps of General Morgan and be able to see the bedroom where he spent his last night.
The General Morgan Inn is within a stone’s throw of where General Morgan died, making the history of the hotel all the more intriguing.
A Blend of History And Modern Charm
The current building that serves as the General Morgan Inn was built in 1886 as a railroad hotel to support the new depot built in Greeneville.
Colonel John H. Doughty, a local entrepreneur, purchased and demolished the Lane House and began construction of a new brick structure that would become the Grand Central Hotel.
The structure was one of the grandest and most luxurious hotels between Roanoke, VA and Chattanooga, TN. Elegantly furnished, with wide hallways and luxurious furniture, it even had an upper balcony that extended across the front of the second story.
This 4-story brick building with 60 rooms was adorned with marble trim and looked very much as it does today.
The street level of the Grand Central featured retail stores, and provided a place for traveling sales representatives and other businessmen to meet with customers, called “sample rooms.”
Within a few short years, four railroad hotels, all interconnected at the second floor level with a bridge across an alleyway, had sprung up on the corner of Main and Depot Streets. These hotels each maintained “drays” that met each train at the depot and transported passengers to the hotel of their choice.
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The Brumley Connection
In 1910, Col. Doughty passed away, and the Grand Central Hotel was inherited by his four children.
Mrs. E.J. Brumley, sister-in-law of one of Col. Doughty’s sons, had been operating the hotel since 1907. In 1920, she purchased the hotel from the Doughty heirs and, along with her son, Judd, began full operation of the newly renamed Hotel Brumley.
The Hotel Brumley continued to prosper with a continual flow of railroad travelers and local burley tobacco market buyers who kept the hotel’s rooms and dining areas filled to capacity over the next two decades.
Mrs. Brumley passed away in 1964, and shortly afterward in that same year, her son Judd died as well. The hotel continued to be owned and operated by various Brumley family members until 1981, when it was sold to the Greene County Bank.
Hard Times For This Greeneville Hotel
After passenger train service to Greeneville stopped, the town lost its luster. Like many other small towns during that time period, retail and shopping centers moved outside of the downtown area.
The Brumley Coffee Shop remained a popular spot to gather and eat for many years, but then it too closed its doors in 1981.
In 1983, Main Street Greeneville was formed after the town was selected by the National Trust for Historic Preservation as one of the first five towns in Tennessee to be part of the “Main Street” program.
The Olde Town Development Corporation was later formed, and after more than nine years of planning, fund-raising and construction, the historic General Morgan Inn and Conference Center opened its doors for the first time September 18, 1996.
The historic General Morgan Inn is noted for being one of the first non-profit community efforts of its kind in the nation’s history.
The Inn is a member of the Historic Hotels of America and the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Haunted History? The General Morgan Inn Ghost
Yes, the General Morgan Inn Greeneville TN is said to have a ghost… make that ghosts!
I didn’t see any while I was there (I even stayed in the “Morgan Suite”), but visitors and employees have reported strange sightings on the elevators and even sitting in the inn’s restaurant.
On the inn’s second floor, the one and only John Hunt Morgan is said to have a presence. Guests have reported screaming coming from the Morgan Suite, even calling the front desk to report incidents.
In attempts to communicate with the spirit of room 207, the ghost stated that it was shot in the back and had died on the premises – sounds an awful lot like the story of General Morgan.
Special Events At The General Morgan Inn
The General Morgan Inn’s unique blend of historical elegance and modern facilities makes it an ideal location for special events, from weddings and milestone celebrations to large-scale conferences.
I think the hotel’s beautiful architecture would make the perfect romantic backdrop for wedding photos.
For corporate events, the General Morgan Inn’s Conference Center has versatile spaces that are equipped with modern amenities. like state-of-the-art audio-visual technology and high-speed internet.
Historic Sites Near The General Morgan Inn
Greeneville, TN is one of the most historic and wonderful walking towns I’ve been to. Here are just a few of the landmarks close to the hotel.
✅ Andrew Johnson National Historic Site (Approximately 0.2 miles): This site includes the home of Andrew Johnson, the 17th President of the United States, along with a visitor center, museum, tailor shop, residences, and a national cemetery.
✅ A Walk With The President Tour (Starts at General Morgan Inn): This 90-minute walking tour takes you through historic downtown Greeneville, retracing the steps of President Andrew Johnson.
✅ Babb Family Cabin (Approximately 0.5 miles): Built around 1787, this historic cabin is located in Fox Park on College Street and showcases early frontier life.
✅ Bible Covered Bridge (Approximately 6 miles): A historical bridge built in 1923 over Little Chuckey Creek, connecting the Bible farm with Warrensburg Road.
✅ Capitol of the Lost State of Franklin (replica) (Approximately 0.3 miles): A replica of the cabin that served as the capitol building for the short-lived State of Franklin during the 1780s, located on North College Street.
✅ City Garage Car Museum (Approximately 0.3 miles): A museum featuring a diverse collection of cars from various eras, located on South Main Street.
✅ David Crockett Birthplace State Park (Approximately 14 miles): A park dedicated to the life of Davy Crockett, featuring a museum, replica cabin, and recreational facilities.
✅ Doak House Museum (Approximately 2 miles): The home of Rev. Samuel Witherspoon Doak, a frontier minister and educator, now a museum with period furnishings.
✅ Greene County Courthouse (Courthouse Square) (Approximately 0.2 miles): A site with historical significance, including memorials to John Sevier, General John Hunt Morgan, and Union soldiers from the Civil War.
✅ Harmony Cemetery (Approximately 0.3 miles): The oldest graveyard in Greeneville, dating back to the 1790s.
✅ Greeneville/Greene County History Museum (Approximately 0.3 miles): Located in the Downtown Historic District, this museum features galleries and exhibits on local history, including the African American experience and the life of President Andrew Johnson.
✅ Old Greene County Gaol (Jail) (Approximately 0.2 miles): One of the oldest jails in Tennessee, originally built in the early 1800s.
Where Is Greeneville TN?
Greeneville TN is located 70 miles northeast of Knoxville, TN, and 56 miles north of Asheville, NC., and sits at the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains.
The nearest airports are Tri-Cities Regional Airport in Blountville, Tennessee; Asheville Regional Airport in Asheville; and McGhee Tyson Airport in Knoxville.
The General Morgan Inn is located at 111 North Main Street, Greeneville, TN.