The Great Southern Hotel in the early 1900s, shortly after its opening. Photo: Courtesy of Columbus Metropolitan Library
Columbus' oldest hotel is getting a $30 million facelift, but it still doesn't look a day over 129.
Flashback: The downtown Westin originally opened in August 1897 at 310 S. High St. as the Great Southern Fire Proof Hotel and Opera House.
At the time, downtown had lost seven theaters and four hotels to fire in a short span, per a historical marker.
The goal was to spur development — and make it last.
The intrigue: The hotel's impressive guest list includes presidents William McKinley, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft and Woodrow Wilson.
Yes, but: At one point, much of its rich history disappeared. In the '70s, red carpeting covered the grand lobby's original marble flooring, among other "misguided renovations," Ohio Magazine recalled in 2013.
Luckily, that look didn't last.
Fast forward: Today, the seven-story, Marriott-operated hotel advertises "a seamless blend of historic charm and modern comfort."
Whitestone Capital bought it last year for $10.65 million and is starting renovations this month with the help of nearly $3 million in state tax credits.
What's next: Work will include "repairs to windows, the roof and exterior masonry, as well as updates to interior finishes," Columbus Business First reports.
It'll remain open during construction, and the project should wrap in 2028.
