Staunton's Timeless Landmark

Known as Staunton's "Grande Dame," Hotel 24 South would never have been built if not for the efforts of Alexander Tobie Moore, "one of the best-known hotel men of the South," according to the Staunton News-Leader. Moore came to Staunton in 1909 to buy the old Virginia Hotel at a foreclosure auction. He fixed it up and quickly became Staunton's most prominent hotelier, but he knew Staunton needed a bigger, more modern hotel for the 20th century.

Moore enlisted New York’s H.L. Stevens & Company for the Georgian Revival design, blending neoclassical restraint with elegant details like balustraded windows that impart timeless dignity. Construction kicked off in April 1923, yielding the hotel's May 1924 opening—complete with a grand two-story walnut-furnished lobby, balustraded mezzanine, Fountain Dining Room's chandelier-lit fountain statue, Colonnade Ballroom's bay windows, and a bespoke Wurlitzer organ perched above.

Moore yearned to expand, demolishing the old Virginia Hotel in early 1930 to make way for a larger Stonewall Jackson extension—yet the Great Depression made financing impossible, leaving the addition unbuilt. Tragically, Moore died in a 1935 automobile accident, entrusting the property to his widow, Elizabeth Clemmer Moore, who renovated and operated it until selling in 1947. In the early 1960s, a massive rooftop neon "Stonewall Jackson Hotel" sign aimed to draw motorists to downtown, but it couldn't stave off closure in 1968.

In 2003, a successful renovation plan materialized through a multi-party financing arrangement, enabling a new conference center on the hotel's north side alongside thoughtful updates and restoration of the original structure. The newly renovated hotel featured 124 guest rooms, 10 new meeting rooms in the conference center, and a brightly restored lobby, ballroom, and dining room. Throughout the project, discussions centered on the hotel's name, with the landmark rooftop sign influencing the decision to retain "Stonewall Jackson Hotel" initially; however, by 2020, it was renamed Hotel 24 South to reflect its address and 1924 legacy. As it embarks on its second century, the hotel stands as a vital part of Staunton's ongoing downtown revival.

The thoughtful expansion introduced a grand porte-cochère for seamless arrivals, 4,453 square feet of flexible meeting and event spaces, a cutting-edge business center, inviting indoor pool, fully equipped fitness center, and charming gift shop. This landmark renovation celebrated the hotel's architectural legacy while delivering contemporary conveniences.

Guest rooms grace the preserved historic wing, where original hallways and entryways evoke 1924 elegance, seamlessly adjoining the newer extension. This thoughtful design accommodates more travelers while supporting intimate meetings, group gatherings, and memorable weddings in the heart of downtown Staunton.