Bennett Hospitality has acquired The Inn at Middleton Place—a 55-room riverfront property in Charleston, S.C.—from Middleton Place Foundation.
The property—which will be managed by Salamander Collection—is located on a bluff overlooking the Ashley River and adjacent to the Middleton Place National Historic Landmark, which is home to the oldest landscaped gardens in America. In addition to operating The Inn, Salamander will also assume management of the Restaurant at Middleton Place and The Pavilion meeting space.
"I am honored and humbled for the trust that the Middleton Place Foundation board has placed in me as we undertake this exciting endeavor," Michael Bennett, founder and owner of Bennett Hospitality, said in a statement. “Middleton Place is a national treasure, and my family and I take the stewardship of The Inn at Middleton Place very seriously. We are extremely proud that The Inn will remain locally owned and welcoming for the entire Charleston community and beyond.”
With The Inn at Middleton Place, Bennett Hospitality will again collaborate with Salamander Collection. The third-party operator manages numerous properties in the U.S. and Caribbean, including the Hotel Bennett on King Street in Charleston, which is owned by the Bennett family.
“We are thrilled to work with the Bennett family again in such a culturally significant setting, while also engaging closely with the Middleton Place Foundation,” said Salamander Collection founder/CEO Sheila Johnson. “We are excited to introduce our many Salamander loyalists to this unique Lowcountry setting and look forward to working with the Inn’s team to further elevate the guest experience.”
Blending In
The Inn originally opened in 1987 and was designed to blend in with the local environment.
Connected by a riverfront walkway, guests have complimentary access to Middleton Place and its gardens, which were created by Henry Middleton in 1741 to reflect the grand classic style that remained in vogue in Europe and England into the early part of the 18th century. Middleton Place attracts more than 100,000 visitors each year to learn about its history spanning three centuries.
Over the past year, the Middleton Place Foundation Board of Trustees has explored opportunities to secure the long-term sustainability of the historic site, according to the company. This new partnership is designed to strengthen the Foundation’s ability to deliver on its core mission.
“We were seeking a partnership that would both preserve Middleton Place and take it into the future,” said Mike Laughlin, Board of Trustees chair, Middleton Place Foundation. “Middleton Place is not just a historic site; it is a national treasure. The Foundation remains deeply committed to its mission. With this partnership, we are ensuring that its powerful stories and its beauty endure; not just today, but for generations to come.”