Under new ownership, Washington’s ancestral home is poised for a historic refresh
Imagine boating up the thousand-foot-wide Severn River past densely wooded banks punctuated by restored Antebellum-era estates, upscale homes, undeveloped tidal creeks and marshes. You dock at a historic boathouse with a posh waterfront bar area and sunset viewing deck on the grounds of a plantation home turned boutique inn that was originally established in the 1640s by George Washington’s great-great-grandfather.
A well-dressed porter greets you with a decadent amuse bouche and glass of champagne then ushers you into the rear seat of a luxury golfcart. You ferry across wide, immaculately landscaped lawns toward a regal, Colonial Revival style central manor dominated by a grand, column-lined solarium and sprawling single-story 18th century wings.
Inside is an upscale pub, Tavern 1642, and sister fine-dining-leaning restaurant, Austin’s, with historic touches like salvaged hardwood floors, 19th century antiques, vintage paintings and ornately carved molding. There’s an elegant bar area with exposed brick walls from the 1700s and a fleet of craft cocktails that honor famed descendants of the property’s progenitor—including Washington, Meriwether Lewis, Queen Elizabeth II and Robert E. Lee. Austin’s boasts an a la carte menu studded with upscale New American small plates and entrees that showcase the best of Chesapeake Bay foodways.
TRUE BLUE: Warner Hall was purchased by Florida-based BluWater Group in late 2024. The company has plans for sweeping upgrades intended to honor the property’s rich history while transforming it into a luxury travel destination. Above: the boathouse. Below: Washington parlor, Washington suite bath and grand entry staircase.
This is what’s coming to Gloucester’s historic Inn at Warner Hall. Florida-based private equity firm, BluWater Group, bought the property in late 2024 and is in the process of implementing sweeping upgrades they say will transform the 16,210-square-foot boutique into one of the state’s premier luxury travel destinations.
“This is a very special property with a deep and amazing history,” says Bryan Guillot, CEO of the Thomas Lee Group, a management company that specializes in luxury hospitality and is overseeing renovations and day-to-day operations at the inn. Guillot says BluWater’s owner, Blake Plumley, fell in love with the idea of buying Warner Hall when he discovered he was a distant relative of founder Augustine Warner—and it’s since become a flagship passion project.
“Our primary goal is to showcase and really leverage the property’s history,” says Guillot. “But we want to do that in a way that seamlessly blends with modern comforts and amenities to create a sophisticated and elevated lifestyle experience.”
BluWater completed the first phase of interior renovations in February and the inn relaunched with a sleek new website in early March. Physical upgrades cost about a million dollars and included a general spruce-up, new period-style soft-seating in common areas and a complete revamp of the inn’s 11 rooms.
The latter now feature new themes and names intended to showcase the property’s history and the high-profile family tree it helped birth. The Meriwether Lewis Suite, for instance, is decorated with antique maps and objects that pay homage to the explorer’s groundbreaking, 1804 cross-country expedition with William Clark. There are also new luxury king beds, period-style curtains, linens and dramatically upscaled modern bathrooms.
“We want to immerse visitors in the property from the moment they arrive,” says Guillot. An app will augment the experience through interactive self-guided tours of the inn and a mile-long walking path that encircles the 38-acre property. It will feature a curated mix of visual materials, factual history and local legends, “like unverified tales that claim George Washington took respite here to celebrate his pivotal victory at Yorktown over Cornwallis.”
Leading the pack of other new perks are complimentary sunset wine cruises on the Severn River aboard Warner Hall’s luxury pontoon boat. The vessel is decked to the nines and available for daytime swimming or sightseeing charters as well. Austin’s and 1642 are currently under construction and slated to open in early summer. The former will offer occasional special prix fixe tasting dinners that highlight Virginia’s top wine producers. Special culinary-centered events like, say, summer bivalve or fall beer fests are also being discussed.
Guillot calls all of this the opening sally of an ambitious reenvisioning that will take five to ten years to complete. BluWater’s goal is to make the property a destination that will satisfy the discerning demands of even the most well-heeled international travelers.
“A major plus is that our due diligence revealed that Warner Hall has been incredibly well taken care of from a structural standpoint,” he says. That means “we can focus immediate investments on things like improving and adding amenities, and elevating the overall aesthetic, as opposed to spending a bunch of time and money trying to bring everything up to baseline.”
The next phase of improvements will take place over the next year or so and add a garden-lined stone swimming pool and grotto area with an onsite bar. A large historic complex of wooden stables will be converted into a spa area. The Severn-fronting boathouse will also get a significant makeover. A new dock, outdoor deck and patio area will compliment a cocktail lounge with restaurant-serviced small plates.
Future plans include expanding the property and adding a colonial-themed village of suite-style cottages.
“We are tremendously excited about this project,” says Guillot. And while they’re dotting I’s and crossing t’s to get everything just right, “we’re very much looking forward to seeing the vision come alive as soon as possible.”
Learn more at warnerhall.com.
Photos courtesy of BluWater Group
Eric J. Wallace
Eric J. Wallace is an award-winning lifestyle journalist based in Staunton who has contributed to WIRED, Outside, Reader’s Digest, Atlas Obscura, Best American Food Writing, All About Beer and more.
