Windsor Hotel Americus, GA Review: A Historic Haunted Hotel
The Windsor Hotel Americus, GA is a historic Victorian hotel that’s the perfect place to stay in Downtown Americus. Learn more about staying at the Windsor Hotel in my review.
If you love history, then there’s no better place to stay in Americus than the Windsor Hotel! With its beautiful castle-like architecture, Victorian-inspired rooms, and storied history with notable guests, the Windsor Hotel is the best place to stay in Americus for history-lovers.
We enjoyed our stay at the Windsor Hotel Americus, and I highly recommend it for anyone looking for a unique stay in this charming small town. Read on for my full Windsor Hotel review.
A special thanks to Visit Americus & Sumpter County for hosting our visit! As always, all opinions are my own.
Windsor Hotel Review
The Windsor Hotel in Americus, Georgia was built in 1892. This gorgeous five-story Queen Anne hotel was designed by Atlanta architect Gottfried Leonard Norman. When it first opened, it had 100 rooms and welcomed notable guests like Franklin D. Roosevelt, William Jennings Bryant, and John Dillinger.
The hotel didn’t fare too well in the latter half of the 20th century, and it was nearly demolished in the 1970s. Luckily, the citizens of Americus rallied and worked to preserve the hotel. It underwent a $5.8 million renovation and reopened in 1991 with 53 period-style rooms.
Today, the Windsor is part of the Ascend Hotel Collection by Choice Hotels. When you stay, you’ll experience the charm of Southern hospitality and the elegance of a bygone era, complete with modern amenities.
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The Rooms
The Windsor Hotel has 53 period-style guest rooms and suites. Each room is a different size and shape. They offer rooms with a Queen bed, a King bed, two Double beds, two Queen beds, and suites named for the famous guests who have stayed there.
We stayed in a spacious Queen bedroom on the third floor. Each room has a comfortable bed, a table and chair, two dressers, a desk and chair, a TV, a refrigerator, a microwave, and a Keurig coffee maker.
All the furnishings are simple and period-style. The bed has a wooden headboard, white sheets and comforter, and a blue foot runner. The tables and dressers are made of a gentle light-colored wood. There are a few floral pictures framed on the walls.
The bathroom is simple as well, with a long vanity, a shower/tub combo, and luxury toiletries.
The Amenities
The Windsor Hotel has 3 on-site restaurants (which I’ll discuss more in-depth below), and connects through the lobby to the Wolf Creek Plantation wine tasting room, Little Brother’s Bistro & Cafe, and Horne Pecan Company Retail and Coffee Shop.
They have free parking on the street on all sides of the hotel and in a parking lot behind the Americus Welcome Center.
There are also a ton of different event spaces at the Windsor, and it’s a popular place for weddings. You can hold your event in the hotel lobby, the Roosevelt Boardroom, the Rosalyn Carter Tea Parlor, the Dayton Room, or the Lindberg Room.
The Restaurants
There are three on-site restaurants at the Windsor Hotel Americus.
Rosemary & Thyme is a Victorian-style restaurant that serves breakfast in the mornings and upscale American dinner in the evenings. The restaurant is located on the second floor lobby.
Floyd’s Pub is a bar with classic pub food that has indoor seating and outdoor seating on the second floor balcony.
The Alley Sports Bar is a lively bar that’s the perfect place to watch a game. It’s located on the first floor of the hotel facing Windsor Ave.
Is the Windsor Hotel Haunted?
The Windsor Hotel is considered one of the most haunted places in Georgia.
The most popular haunted tale is that of a housekeeper named Emily and her young daughter Emma Mae. Emily is said to have had an affair with a local politician, and when they were arguing in the third floor hallway one day, the politician angrily pushed Emily and Emma Mae into an empty elevator shaft.
Emily and Emma Mae are said to haunt the third floor. Guests report hearing the sounds of a little girl running and giggling in the hallway, and seeing a mysterious woman in black.
Room 333 is supposed to be haunted, but no one is really sure why. It is the room just next to the service elevator where Emily and Emma Mae died, so that may have something to do with it. Guests of Room 333 report hearing strange noises and having their belongings moved.
Another ghost still hanging around the hotel is the former doorman Floyd Lowry. You may recognize the name since the hotel’s restaurant Floyd’s Pub is named after him (ironic, since Floyd didn’t drink). He’s a benevolent spirit, and you may see him at the front entrance.
I didn’t personally see any ghosts while we stayed at the Windsor Hotel. But we did stay on the haunted 3rd floor (thankfully far removed from the most haunted room). We walked by Room 333, the haunted service elevator, and I kept an eye on all the mirrors.
While I don’t think our room was particularly haunted, we weren’t able to open our door all the way (old floors get slanted, so a logical explanation, but still odd) and on our second day, our key decided to stop working, and apparently we weren’t the only ones (the logical explanation would be a system-wide error, but still weird!).
I’m happy to say I survived my weekend at this haunted hotel!
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Benefits of Staying at the Windsor Hotel
The Windsor Hotel is the perfect place to stay in Americus, Georgia!
This hotel has an amazing location in Downtown Americus, so you’re just a quick walk away from tons of fantastic restaurants, bars, and shops. You’re just steps from historic buildings like the Ryland Theatre as well.
If you’re looking for a good home base for exploring Sumter County, you really can’t go wrong with the Windsor. You’re just a few miles from Plains, GA and the Jimmy Carter National Historic Park, the Andersonville National Historic Site, and Koinonia Farm.
The Windsor offers a historic boutique hotel experience that’s packed with a whole lot of Southern charm and old-world elegance. Whether you’re looking for a quaint historical stay or a little ghostly activity or just a convenient place to rest, the Windsor is a great hotel!
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What I didn’t love
While we enjoyed our stay at the Windsor Hotel in Americus, there are a few potential drawbacks I wanted to mention.
The air conditioning didn’t work very well while we were there. It was the first 90° day of the season, and the building is old and not well insulated, so it’s pretty understandable. But it was also pretty uncomfortable. Luckily, the rooms do have ceiling fans.
The service at the restaurants could use some help, and based on others’ reviews it wasn’t just our experience. Our first night a Floyd’s, the staff was overwhelmed with a wedding party, so service was slow. Our food took a long time to arrive, the appetizer arrived with the meal rather than before, and the food was lukewarm.
Good to Know
- Free WiFi
- 100% smoke-free hotel
- Free parking
- No pets allowed
My Experience at the Windsor Hotel Americus
Overall, we had a wonderful stay at the Windsor Hotel in Americus!
I loved being in a historic hotel, and the architecture was absolutely beautiful. The location was great as we could easily walk around Downtown and were just steps away for the Americus Hot Glass Craft Beer Festival. Plus having free, abundant parking is always amazing!
We enjoyed the cozy room, and when the hotel hosted its Mystery Dinner downstairs, we could hear the saxophone music drifting up into our room. It really added to the period-style ambiance!
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Who Should Stay at the Windsor Hotel?
The Windsor Hotel is perfect for couples and those interested in history. The rooms are cozy and romantic and filled with historical charm. Plenty of people choose it for their wedding celebrations.
And if you’re interested in a little ghost hunting, you’ll definitely want to stay here as it’s one of the most haunted hotels in Georgia! Even if you’re not into ghosts, you shouldn’t have any hauntings if you’re not in Room 333.
If you’re looking for a stay that’s immersed in Americus’ history, then you’ll definitely like staying at the Windsor Hotel.
Windsor Hotel Americus FAQ
When was the Windsor Hotel in Americus built?
The Windsor Hotel was built in Americus in 1892.
Is the Windsor Hotel haunted?
The Windsor Hotel in Americus is supposed to be one of the most haunted places in Georgia. The third floor, and Room 333 in particular, are where many hauntings happen, including hearing the sounds of a phantom child playing in the halls, seeing a mysterious woman in a mirror, and objects moving on their own. The lobby is also supposed to be haunted by a friendly former bellhop.
Who owns the Windsor Hotel?
The Windsor Hotel in Americus is owned by Choice Hotels and is part of their Ascend Hotel Collection.
Where to Stay in Americus, GA
- Where We Stayed: Windsor Hotel
- Another Top Hotel: Hampton Inn Americus
- Great Value: Quality Inn Americus
- Unique Stay: Americus Garden Inn Bed & Breakfast
Windsor Hotel
The Windsor Hotel is a historic 1892 hotel with 53 unique period-style rooms and suites. While each room is a different shape and size, they all come with a comfortable bed, a desk, a TV, a mini fridge, a microwave, and a coffee maker.
We enjoyed staying here. It was the perfect location in the middle of Downtown Americus, and it’s a unique historic stay that you can’t find anywhere else.
Oh, and did I mention it might be haunted? Enjoy your stay!
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Ready to visit Americus, Georgia? Plan your trip with these tips.
- Book Your Flight: Find the cheapest flights using Skyscanner, my favorite flight search engine.
- Find Accommodation: You can find top hotels in Americus using Booking.com.
- Start Packing: Make sure you’ve packed everything you need with my packing list resources.
Cheers!
Paige
Would you stay at the Windsor Hotel in Americus, Georgia? Let me know if you found this review of the Windsor Hotel helpful!
