Mullin Hotel

Open Saturday and Sunday Second Floor only (elevator for handicap use is located in back of building)

Built in 1847 when West Virginia was the western part of Virginia, the hotel was originally known as the Moorefield Hotel Company and the stockholders included Charles Carter Lee, eldest brother of Robert E. Lee. In its day the hotel was considered to have every modern convenience. Each room had a fireplace and common areas were well appointed and spacious. Most people either arrived by wagon or horseback.
After the Civil War, it was operated by Captain C. B. Mullin, who made it into a renowned hostelry famous for its food. It was especially known for the oysters served. An old letter reads, “Only the finest oysters were brought to Moorefield because Captain Mullin had educated the people of Moorefield and
hotel guests to eat only the best.”
During Captain Mullin’s tenure in the 1860s and 70s, known as the Golden Days of
Moorefield, old hotel registers indicate that many men of note and distinction were guests,
including both Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee. The building carried the name The Mullin
Hotel for over 80 years and is West Virginia’s oldest continuously operated hotel, serving as
such for over 110 years.
Everyone who walked through its doors contributed to its history. The visitor today might
sense a ghost of a traveling salesman of the 1800s, the echo of boots down wooden hallway
or the rustle of the fine ladies’ dresses, all of which contribute to the ambiance of the Mullin
Hotel. One can imagine the chatter of guests as they sat on the long front porch on a summer
evening or around the fireplaces on wintry nights.
The Hardy County Historical Society Museum located on the second floor. A handicap
elevator is located at the back of the building. The museum offers a collection of artifacts
illustrating the county’s role in the development of the South Branch Valley. Exhibits include
local videos and memorabilia, and young people ages 6-16 can receive a special woven patch
after completing a fun fact sheet.
Open Courtesy of the Hardy County Historical Society and Ivan Cowger, III.
Directions: 104 South Main St., Moorefield