I grew up hearing stories about how lumber from my grandparents' land was used for this hotel, so when I went back to do some genealogical research, I had to stay there.

The Donoho Hotel was built around 1914. It is one of only three left from when Red Boiling Springs was a major tourist attraction in the South. People came for the "healing waters". The hotel went into a state of disrepair but has slowly been restored by local owners in recent years.

The rooms aren't fancy, just basic rooms. If you want something really nice, your best bet would be the Thomas House. But there is something neat about staying at a huge old hotel and imagining it bulging with vacationers in the early 1900s. I also enjoyed getting up at dawn and watching the hotel cats outside. You can sit out on the huge porch and rock or walk over the grounds and along the creek enjoy the peace and quiet.

There isn't much in the way of restaurants in Red Boiling Springs right now (2010), so eat dinner before you come unless you have reservations to eat here. There is a good place for dinner (Mexican) and breakfast in Lafayette -- LaTia.