A century-old landmark in downtown Fairhope is set to reopen its doors this week, inviting the community to tour the restored property during a ribbon-cutting celebration.
The Fairhope Hotel will hold its grand reopening from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, July 30, with an open house and refreshments at 131 Fairhope Ave. The event gives residents and visitors a first look at the newly restored boutique hotel before it welcomes overnight guests.
The property, which sits within the Bayfront Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places, features six guest suites along with shared common spaces and a wraparound porch. Its location puts guests within easy walking distance of the Eastern Shore Art Center and the shops and restaurants that line downtown Fairhope, one of Baldwin County’s most popular tourist destinations along Mobile Bay’s Eastern Shore.
The building’s history stretches back a full century. It was constructed in 1925 by Marmaduke Dyson, who at one point served as president of the Fairhope Single Tax Colony — the utopian economic experiment that helped shape the young city’s early development and civic identity. The building operated under the Fairhope Hotel name for decades before later housing a rotation of other businesses over the years.
Current owner Shelley Springer most recently ran the property as the Summit Street Inn. After completing an extensive renovation, she made the decision to bring back the original name from 1925. “Restoring this property has truly been a labor of love,” Springer said. “Returning to the original name felt like the right way to honor the history of the building and everyone who has been part of its story over the past 100 years. We’re excited to finally welcome guests and share the space with the community.”
The reopening adds another lodging option to Fairhope’s small but distinctive collection of historic inns and boutique hotels, a draw for visitors who come to the Eastern Shore for its art galleries, waterfront parks and small-town charm. The Bayfront Historic District designation reflects the city’s broader effort to preserve buildings from Fairhope’s early 20th-century growth, even as the surrounding downtown continues to add new restaurants and shops.
Rates at the Fairhope Hotel start at $179 per night on both weekdays and weekends. First-time guests can save 15% using the code FOUNDER when booking. More information on amenities, availability and reservations is available at fairhopehotel1925.com.
Thursday’s open house is free and open to the public, offering a chance to walk through the renovated suites and common areas before the hotel begins taking overnight guests.
Update (Aug. 1, 2026):
Owner Shelley Springer, a Fairhope resident, said she is the fifth owner of the century-old building and set out to restore it “to its former glory.” “Fairhope was founded by visionaries,” Springer said. “I want to honor them and preserve this.” Historic photos from the Fairhope Single Tax Corporation archives, dating to the late 1920s, describe the original hotel as “a homey place to spend your winter.”
Each of the hotel’s six guest rooms carries its own design inspired by a different piece of Fairhope’s history, Springer said, including a room called Ecor Rouge situated across from a space honoring the Bay Queen, a nod to the steamships that once carried early visitors to the Fairhope Pier. “It’s kind of like going to stay with your family … It’s that nice southern touch,” she said.
With guests already booking stays, nearby residents say the boutique hotel is a natural fit for the community. “What’s so great about it is it’s close to downtown, walkable distance there, walkable distance to the bay. And it just fits into the personality of our community so well,” said Fairhope resident Ann Silvernail.