Originally was opened as a health resort in 1833, its origins date back to 1764 when Sweet Springs was discovered. William Lewis constructed several log cabins to promote the area's healthy attributed east of Peters Mountain. His son, John B. Lewis took ownership in 1805. The elongated 110,000 square foot hotel, reportedly designed by Thomas Jefferson, was not constructed until 1839. In 1852 the resort was sold to the Beirne and Caperton families of Union, West Virginia who managed the resort until 1860.
