Charleston businessman Michael Bennett has acquired The Inn at Middleton Place from the Middleton Place Foundation, a move aimed at preserving and enhancing one of the Lowcountry’s most architecturally significant hotels.
Bennett Hospitality, owned by Bennett and his family, purchased the 55-room property overlooking the Ashley River. The inn sits next to Middleton Place, a National Historic Landmark known for having the oldest landscaped gardens in the country, according to a press release.
“The Middleton Place Foundation board has placed great trust in us, and we take that stewardship seriously,” Bennett said in a statement. “We’re proud that The Inn will remain locally owned and continue to welcome the Charleston community and visitors from around the world.”
Originally opened in 1987, The Inn at Middleton Place is recognized as a modern architectural gem. Designed to blend into the surrounding environment, it features floor-to-ceiling windows and a minimalist aesthetic. It earned top honors from the American Institute of Architects and helped bring national attention to architect W.G. Clark.
“We were seeking a partnership that would both preserve Middleton Place and take it into the future,” Mike Laughlin, board chair of the Middleton Place Foundation said in a statement. “This agreement ensures its powerful stories and beauty endure for generations to come.”
Bennett Hospitality will again partner with Salamander Collection, which will manage the inn, the Restaurant at Middleton Place and the Pavilion event space. Salamander also manages the Bennett family’s Hotel Bennett in downtown Charleston.
“We are thrilled to work with the Bennett family again in such a culturally significant setting,” Salamander Collection founder and CEO Sheila Johnson said in a statement. “We look forward to engaging with the Foundation and elevating the guest experience.”
The Foundation’s president and CEO, Dana Hand Evans, said the collaboration is built on shared values.
“Michael Bennett and Sheila Johnson bring not only industry expertise but also a deep commitment to inclusion, education and preservation,” Evans said in a statement. “With this partnership, we’re ensuring Middleton Place remains a place of learning and reflection for years to come.”
Middleton Place draws more than 100,000 visitors each year through immersive programming led by interpreters, artisans and educators. The Foundation remains focused on telling the complex and inclusive history of the site through its ongoing mission of education, preservation and research.
