New ownership group takes over The Schoolhouse Hotel

By Stephen Baldwin, RealWV

The world’s first fully-ADA compliant boutique hotel is under new ownership as of today. 

“To quote a famous song, ‘The boys are back in town,’” says Josh Baldwin, one of the partners in the group. “All of us in the new ownership group were all involved in the hotel’s opening and first couple years. To be honest, it hit some stumbling blocks. We’ve got the right team in place now to do it.”

The new ownership team includes Josh and Mary Baldwin, Adam and Candace Whanger, Marsha Fernandez, Mark Burnette, Charles Hammerman, and Nanci Freiman.  

“We’re local strong,” Josh says of the group. “We’re here to stay.” 

All those who are part of the new ownership group have been of the history of The Schoolhouse. The Whangers owned the construction company who renovated the historic building, the Baldwins did the marketing when it opened, Fernandez has worked in hospitality her entire career (including at The Schoolhouse since its inception), Burnette is a lawyer from White Sulphur and attended school in the building, and Hammerman and Freiman were the original owners/developers of the property. 

“It’s a tall task,” Baldwin says of the decision to take over operations. “But we have deep roots here.” 

 Part of the team’s deep roots are in Candace & Adam Whanger, owner’s of multiple businesses across the Greenbrier Valley. “I am honored to be a part of this new business in White Sulphur Springs, turning a fresh dream into reality alongside my husband and our new partners,” Candace told RealWV. “We are so excited for the future and to contribute to the new things growing in our town.

Adam echoed those sentiments, saying, “You know, I love community. I love people. I love the trials and errors, how people come together to make something happen. It  just makes me happy to see people succeed.”

“I love this analogy. You see a chair and it looks beautiful. The people don’t stop and think about the screws and glue that hold it all together that nobody ever sees. That’s been Candace throughout these 15 years as I grew my businesses in the background, holding everything together, you know what this new adventure she has educated herself and worked very hard it’s her turn to be the chair and for me to be the glue. She deserves it,” Adam shared.

Changes coming?

Asked what travelers and locals alike can expect from the new ownership group, Baldwin said, “You should expect an upgrade in the facility, standards of service, and its role as a cultural hub for White Sulphur Springs.” 

But the most impactful change will be a temporary one for this winter. 

“It’s important to talk about what’s happening at the restaurant,” Baldwin noted. “We’ve made the difficult decision to take a winter break at the restaurant. January and February are traditionally very difficult months for food and beverage. It’s a good time for us to hit reset and reimagine what the restaurant is and could be moving forward.”

While the group says that economic development in White Sulphur has been slower than they’d like, they remain very optimistic about the town’s future. 

“Having Gustards and Max on Maine downtown is great, and Barnwood Living being an anchor store as well. They have their cabin rentals in town. I think those were all great things,” says Baldwin. “It’s our hope that we can put more feet on the street. I think I’m definitely a believer in a rising tide lifts all boats. So, you know, if we can create a renewed energy, and get more and more people to come in and stay the night in White Sulphur, then that benefits the community as a whole.”

Baldwin believes they can do that by getting back to basics. “With 30 boutique rooms, each completely individualized, a restaurant, an event space, and a rooftop bar, we’ve got our hands full with a lot to offer.” 

White Sulphur’s Mayor, Thomas Taylor, is excited for the new ownership group, telling RealWV, “The hotel brings a lot of tourists and adds a special touch to our community. We look forward to their success for many years to come.“

The Schoolhouse Hotel is located at 125 Schoolhouse Way in White Sulphur Springs, WV. It has received rave reviews from publications including Southern Living, Frommer’s, and Travel + Leisure since opening in 2022.