Home ReviewsHotels and Resorts Inn-side Story: Historic Brookstown Inn Perfect Location to Explore Winston-Salem

Inn-side Story: Historic Brookstown Inn Perfect Location to Explore Winston-Salem

by Jan Schroder
exterior Brookstown Inn

An historic building, wine and cheese hour, complimentary breakfast, and nightly milk and cookies are a few things that warmed my heart during our stay at Brookstown Inn in North Carolina.

Our room had a spacious living area with a fireplace, exposed red brick walls, soaring ceiling and kitchen area complete with dishwasher.

I highly recommend it for small conferences. I was attending one and could practically have thrown an olive from my front door to the ballroom. I loved the tree-filled courtyard where we had a reception and the location is within walking distance of downtown and Old Salem. 

Where: Winston-Salem, NC
Why you should visit: This historic inn is in a perfect location for exploring Old Salem and downtown Winston-Salem.

Rooms and Amenities at Brookstown Inn

sitting room at Brookstown Inn
The kitchen area and fireplace in our room.

Brookstown Inn has 70 rooms and suites decorated with period antiques and reproductions. We had a king studio suite that included a spacious seating area with exposed red brick walls, soaring ceiling and a fireplace.

The kitchen had a large fridge, sink, microwave, two-burner stove, silverware, dishwasher, cabinets and coffee maker. I could easily have settled down here for an extensive stay. The bedroom was separate and included a dresser and an armoire.

sitting room at Brookstown Inn
The spacious seating area in our room.

I’ve been to many conferences where I had to leave my room up to 15 minutes early to get to the conference meeting rooms. I was about a two-minute walk to the ballroom where we had our meetings, a big advantage when I wanted to run back to the room during a break.

A complimentary buffet breakfast is served in the cozy dining room that has several tables, fireplace, and art by local artists lining the wall. Just adjacent is the lounge area with a corner bar, fireplace with portrait over it, books, TV and several seating areas.

wine cheese hour brookstown inn
Brookstown Inn has a cheese and wine hour every day.

The complimentary wine and cheese hour is held here nightly and it’s also where you can pick up delicious cookies and milk every evening. There’s also a fitness room if you overindulge in the cookies.

The lobby is small with a hallway lined with historic photos. A tree-lined courtyard is between the two buildings of room.

Location of Brookstown Inn

street scene of downtown winston salem
Downtown Winston-Salem.

We love exploring cities by foot so took off to explore downtown Winston-Salem, just a short walk away. It was a Monday when apparently a lot of shops and art galleries close, but we found Mast General Store was open, one of my favorite places to browse, and my husband, Chris, was excited to find a map of Linville Gorge in North Caroline he had been searching for.

The Inn is also close to Winston-Salem’s Strollway, a tree-lined path that connects Old Salem to downtown. We walked on the path and through Old Salem both mornings before my conference started and before the heat really kicked in.

entrance to winston salem visitor center
The Winston-Salem Visitor Center is just on the other side of the courtyard.

We could also walk to two restaurants. At the recommendation of my college roommate, Judy Bass, who has lived in Winston-Salem for years, we walked across the street one night to Di Lisio’s Restaurant, a small Italian place with delicious, giant portions.

We met Judy and her husband Roberts for lunch at Willow’s Bistro, also just a short walk away.

Another advantage of the location for visitors is that Winston-Salem Visitors Center is adjacent with helpful staff and information for exploring.

History of Brookstown Inn

historic photo of arista cotton mill
The Arista Cotton Mill in 1880.

Brookstown Inn is housed in what was formerly the Salem Cotton Manufacturing Company and Arista Cotton Mill. Built by the Moravian congregation, it was completed in 1836 with a second building added in 1880.

The mill, founded by the Fries family, was bought and sold several times from the mid-to-late 19th century.

In 1977 it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places and opened as the Brookstown Inn in 1984.

Jan Schroder, Editor-in-chief

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