There are 88 counties in Ohio, some of which are more well-renowned than others. And while many of us are familiar with Dayton and Lima, I urge you to adjust the coordinates slightly so you can check out Darke County, Ohio. Same general vicinity; totally different experience.
Currently, Darke County might be a strange target for a weekend getaway, but there’s a great chance that this will change in the next few years. You see, there is a movement to make Versailles, Ohio a great spa destination, on par with the Grand Hotel of Michigan or the Greenbriar Hotel of West Virginia. And to be perfectly honest, it just might work.
The Cultural Hub in the Middle of Nowhere
Versailles (ver-SALES) is not a happening place yet, but it is definitely experiencing a significant growth spurt. You can see it in the remodeling of downtown buildings, with great care taken to preserve the European architectural influences and common gathering places, like the town’s Fountain Square. Lawns are immaculate, and the air is clean and crisp. Local businesses are fine-tuning their business models to allow for growth. The overall optimism and good cheer are contagious, and I couldn’t help but feel terrific as I traveled throughout Darke County.
As I headed towards a full two days in town, I couldn’t help but wonder how Versailles plans to become a top-notch destination, and – perhaps more pressing – why?
At the center of the experience is the Hotel Versailles. The property on which the Hotel Versailles exists today has a long history of providing lodging to travelers, whether they came on horseback, railroad or on foot. Today, a hotel van will cheerfully pick them up at the nearby private airstrip.
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Most recently, the property was purchased by local employer and U.S. medical supply magnate, Midmark as a place for customers, clients and employees to stay during their travels. But as the team in charge of developing the property took stock of their options, they realized how very amazing they could make this experience.
I had the opportunity to speak with Managing Director Jack Olshan to discuss the overall vision for Hotel Versailles, as well as plans for the future. The goal, he stated, was to provide exceptional hospitality for every visitor, from those in “jeans and t-shirts to three-piece suits.” Everything at the Hotel Versailles is designed to provide guests with what he describes as “comfortable luxury” that celebrates the regional experience. From their partnership with local businesses, farmers and crafts people who provide the amenities, food, furniture and decor for the hotel, to their plans to upgrade the local fishing lodge to a wellness retreat, Olshan confirmed that the goal of the hotel is to take “every chance we have to continue to the storyline” of this part of the world.
So does the Hotel Versailles manage to lay the foundation for a destination retreat? I spent the night to find out.
Check-In and Check Out the Hotel Versailles
Unsurprisingly, I have stayed in plenty of hotel (/motel/Holiday Inn) rooms. From the humble airport motels with raggedy duct tape patchwork carpets, to opulent resorts with maze-like suites and unlimited free cucumber water.
But my favorite type of hotel is that which pays attention to the little details. Not just the hospitality details, but the sort of little things that make sleeping there so much better than at home. I won’t include too many spoilers, since finding these “Easter eggs” is half the experience. Still, consider an in-room tablet that offers a variety of fitness activities you can perform in your room, or a full-length mirror with impeccable lighting in the entryway of your room.
Or my personal favorite: a carefully curated mini-bar that celebrates local Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky producers so travelers from all over the world can experience local favorites like Anthony Thomas candy and Grippo’s barbecue chips. The mini bar even includes bottles of the house white and house red wines, which are collaborations with The Winery at Versailles, and house bourbon, created in conjunction with Ohio’s own Hayner Distilling Co.
The storyline is reflected everywhere in Hotel Versailles. Many of the ingredients carefully showcased by the dishes at the hotel’s restaurant, Silas, are grown either on the Hotel’s farm property or by local farmers. The honey is a particular stand-out. Sweet, golden and flowery, it’s unlike any local honey I’ve ever tasted, and it’s fantastic on the hotel’s house-made biscuits. Versailles may be located seemingly in the middle of nowhere, but the food at Silas reminds us all that farmers and local producers are the foundation of amazing cuisine.
All told, yes, I would absolutely return to the Hotel Versailles for a relaxing, pampering weekend. Sometimes we need to be away from it all to find a little peace and quiet, and with the skilled attention to detail that helps build the overall story, guests of the Hotel Versailles can immerse themselves in the experience wholeheartedly.
Around Town
Of course, I can’t go on an adventure without checking out multiple points of interest. While I was waiting for check-in time at the hotel, I spent a few hours at The Winery at Versailles. The Winery is about a mile and a half from the hotel, and if the weather is nice, you can actually borrow a bike from the hotel to make the trip.
The Winery kindly asks that you make reservations ahead of time if you plan on doing tasting flights. This allows them to provide a staff member to help guide you through the wine list, answer any questions, and make sure you have an amazing experience.
And I most certainly did! The list of wines – which start their lives in the vineyard onsite – was long and compelling, so I did a flight of 10 wine samples. Ranging from dry to barrel-aged to sweet and sparkling, there is something for every oenophile or casual grape fan at The Winery. A small kitchen provides snacks and light meals to complement your experience. I highly recommend the house-made beer cheese in particular.
I also wandered over to nearby Greenville for some local history. The county seat of Darke County is the former site of Fort Greene Ville, where the Treaty of Greenville was signed as part of the Northwest Territory negotiations. I stopped by the Garst Museum to learn more about the history of this part of Ohio, now that I had insight into the plans for the future.
Notable Darke County residents (besides CU’s own Susan Post!) include Lowell Thomas – the explorer who chronicled the adventures of Lawrence of Arabia – and Phoebe Ann Moses. You may know her better by her stage name of Annie Oakley, and after a visit to the Garst Museum, you’ll have a more complete picture of who she was as a person and her history in Ohio.
The Garst Museum also provides insight into local historical culture, with many rooms set up with donations from local residents to depict the lifestyle of Darke County ancestors, from the very first natives who figured out how to farm here, to those in the semi-Utopian settlement of Longtown.
I like to tell folks that the best part of my job is discovering amazing, out-of-the-way places that just blow my mind with how enjoyable they can be. Versailles is one such place. Yes, it’s in that flat part of Ohio that has somehow become the stereotype for the state. But the experience is unlike any other.
Darke County is approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes west of Columbus, easily accessed via I-70. Hotel Versailles is located at 22 N. Center St. in Versailles. I received media accommodations through the Hotel Versailles, but this did not impact my stay or review.
For more information, visit hotelversaillesohio.com.
All photos by Mer Farrar