Renovation Revisited: The Historic Hodges Building & The Horton Hotel’s Next Chapter

Some renovations are about creating something new.

Others are about figuring out how to give an old building another hundred years of life.

When The Horton Hotel expanded into the historic Hodges Building on King Street in downtown Boone, the goal was never simply to add more hotel rooms.

It was an opportunity to take another piece of Boone's downtown history and make it useful again.

Eight new guest rooms. A dedicated event and gathering space. A gym. A sauna. More ways for guests to experience downtown Boone.

But underneath all of those additions is a building that had already lived several lives before becoming part of The Horton.

Nearly a year after welcoming guests into the expanded property, we're looking back at where the Hodges Building came from, what went into its transformation and why preserving buildings like this matters to downtown Boone.

What Is the Historic Hodges Building in Boone, NC?

The John W. Hodges Building sits just steps from The Horton's original home on West King Street in downtown Boone.

According to historical research compiled by The Horton, the property's story reaches back through generations of downtown life.

The building is associated with former Watauga County sheriff John W. Hodges and was constructed on property that had once been home to Carolina Pharmacy. By 1940, the first-floor space was operating as the Gateway Café. During the devastating flooding that year, the café even served as an emergency headquarters for the Watauga Red Cross.

A few years later, the basement took on a completely different personality.

It became Charlie's Bowling Center, later known as Veterans Bowling Center — the kind of downtown gathering place that would have been instantly recognizable to generations of Boone residents.

Then came another major chapter.

In 1970, a fire damaged the Hodges Block and neighboring property, leaving portions of the buildings charred and requiring significant changes to the façade. The Hodges Building was repaired and adapted once again.

Restaurants.

Bowling.

Community gathering space.

Floods.

Fire.

Renovation.

Long before anyone checked into a hotel room here, this building had already been part of Boone's story.

Why Did The Horton Expand Into the Hodges Building?

The answer starts about 25 yards down King Street.

The original H.W. Horton Building at 611 West King Street was constructed in 1929 and eventually transformed into The Horton Hotel in 2019. The building itself has since been designated a local historic landmark by the Town of Boone for its architectural and historical significance and its connection to Henry Walter Horton.

The Horton had already demonstrated that an older downtown property did not need to be replaced to become something new.

It could be adapted.

When the opportunity arose in 2025 to acquire the neighboring property at 587/589 West King Street, the expansion felt like a natural continuation of that philosophy.

The building was only steps away from the existing hotel and offered something increasingly difficult to find in a growing downtown: space to expand without leaving King Street.

The Horton announced the acquisition in July 2025, with plans to completely renovate the property's second floor and basement while preserving its connection to downtown Boone.

What Was Added During The Horton Hotel Expansion?

The renovated Hodges Building officially added several new experiences to The Horton.

Eight New Guest Rooms

The expansion added eight additional rooms, bringing The Horton to 23 guest rooms across its downtown property.

The new accommodations were designed to complement the hotel's original rooms while bringing their own character to the expanded building.

Some overlook King Street and the Appalachian State University campus, giving guests another perspective on downtown Boone while keeping them within steps of the original hotel.

It was important that the rooms feel distinctly Horton: elevated without being overly formal, comfortable without feeling generic and rooted in the downtown environment surrounding them.

The Foundry: An Event Space in Downtown Boone

One of the most significant additions was The Foundry, a flexible gathering and event space designed to serve both visitors and the Boone community.

The space can adapt for:

• Business meetings
• Private celebrations
• Small events
• Family gatherings
• Group get-togethers
• App State tailgate and watch parties

Folding doors open the room into an adjoining atrium, allowing the space to shift between indoor and indoor-outdoor configurations depending on the event.

For a hotel right in downtown Boone, that flexibility matters.

A corporate group can meet here during the day and walk to dinner on King Street that evening. Families can gather in one place while staying nearby. App State alumni can turn a football weekend into something much bigger than simply attending the game.

The goal was not to create a traditional ballroom.

It was to create a gathering place that actually feels like Boone.

A Gym and Sauna for Horton Guests

The expansion also introduced amenities that weren't available in the original building: a dedicated fitness center and sauna.

That may sound like a small part of a much larger project, but it represents an important evolution in what staying in downtown Boone can look like.

A trip to the mountains doesn't always have to mean choosing between adventure and comfort.

Guests can spend the morning hiking, exploring the Blue Ridge Parkway or walking downtown, then come back to the hotel for a workout or sauna before dinner.

Or they can do absolutely none of those things and simply enjoy a slower morning.

Both are perfectly acceptable mountain itineraries.

The new wellness amenities allow The Horton to provide more of the experience guests might expect from a larger luxury property while maintaining the personality of an independent boutique hotel.

Why Preserve an Old Building Instead of Starting Over?

Downtown Boone wouldn't feel like downtown Boone if every old building were replaced by something new.

Historic buildings carry evidence of the people and businesses that occupied them before us.

Sometimes that history is obvious.

Sometimes it's hidden behind walls, underneath flooring or in an old photograph showing a storefront no one has seen in decades.

Preservation doesn't mean freezing a building in time.

In many cases, the best way to preserve an old building is to make sure it remains useful.

The Hodges Building has changed before.

It adapted after a flood.

It housed a bowling alley.

It recovered from a major fire.

And in 2025, it changed again.

The new chapter is different from the ones that came before it, but the building is still doing what downtown buildings have always done:

bringing people together.

The Expansion Opened in Fall 2025

The Horton celebrated the completion of the expansion with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on October 23, 2025.

Town officials, hotel teammates, local partners and members of the Boone community gathered to see the finished spaces and mark the next stage of the hotel's growth.

For The Horton, the moment represented something larger than adding eight rooms.

When the original hotel opened in 2019, the idea was to create a boutique hospitality experience that felt worthy of its location on King Street.

Six years later, the Hodges Building provided an opportunity to extend that idea into another historic downtown property.

Two Historic Boone Buildings, One Hotel Experience

Today, The Horton is spread across two distinctive buildings only steps apart on King Street.

And in many ways, that's exactly how we think a hotel in downtown Boone should grow.

Not by separating itself from town.

By becoming even more connected to it.

The original H.W. Horton Building brings its own nearly century-long history. Constructed in 1929 as part of Henry Walter Horton's vision for a growing Boone, the building later served a variety of downtown businesses before being transformed into The Horton Hotel in 2019.

The Hodges Building brings another collection of stories.

Together, they give guests the opportunity to stay inside buildings that have witnessed Boone change around them for generations.

Experience the New Chapter of The Horton

The expansion may be complete, but that's really where the next chapter began.

Today, guests at The Horton Hotel have access to 23 individually designed rooms, The Foundry, a fitness center, sauna, curated local experiences and, of course, Boone's only downtown rooftop bar.

And all of it remains centered around the same thing that made this location special in the first place:

King Street.

Step outside and you're in downtown Boone.

Appalachian State is right there.

Restaurants, shops and local businesses are within walking distance.

Howard's Knob rises above town.

And two buildings with very different histories are now writing their next chapter together.

We love creating new experiences for our guests.

We just happen to think they're even better when they come with a little history.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Hodges Building in Boone, NC?

The John W. Hodges Building is a historic commercial property on West King Street in downtown Boone. Over its history, spaces in the building have been used for businesses including the Gateway Café and a bowling center. It is now part of The Horton Hotel.

When did The Horton Hotel expand?

The Horton announced its expansion into the neighboring Hodges Building in 2025. The completed expansion was celebrated with a ribbon cutting on October 23, 2025.

How many rooms does The Horton Hotel have?

The Horton now has 23 guest rooms. The original hotel contains 15 rooms, while the Hodges Building expansion added eight additional accommodations.

What is The Foundry in Boone?

The Foundry is The Horton Hotel's flexible event and gathering space in downtown Boone. It can accommodate meetings, private gatherings, celebrations, group events and other uses.

Does The Horton Hotel have a gym?

Yes. The Horton's expansion added a dedicated fitness center for hotel guests.

Does The Horton Hotel have a sauna?

Yes. Guests of The Horton have access to a sauna as part of the hotel's expanded wellness amenities.

Is The Horton Hotel located on King Street?

Yes. The Horton is located directly on West King Street in the heart of downtown Boone, within walking distance of Appalachian State University, restaurants, shopping and downtown attractions.

Is The Horton Hotel in a historic building?

Yes. The original H.W. Horton Building was constructed in 1929 and has been designated a local historic landmark by the Town of Boone because of its architectural significance and connection to Henry Walter Horton and Boone's development.

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