Originally built in the 1800's, the City Mills Hotel is located on the banks of the Chattahoochee River in a once functioning grist mill that was left abandoned and decaying. Today the City Mills Hotel echoes the rich history of Columbus in the attention to detail that went into crafting each room and is a beacon of a new era in the history of our city.

By R. Caligaris- Photography by S. Saxon

City Mills is Columbus' first luxury boutique hotel. Filled with custom furniture, original artwork and potters, state-of-the-art technology, and preserved pieces from the Mill's historic past, City Mills revels in the details. City Mills is being run by Valley Hospitality, a hotel and restaurant management company based in Columbus, GA with more than 25 years of experience in the hospitality industry. SVM sat down with Cassie Myers, Pezold Companies Director of Marketing and Public Relations to learn more about the history, services and features that City Mills Hotel offers.

Tell us a bit about the history of the City Mills Hotel: City Mills was originally established by wealthy planter Seaborn Jones in 1828, the same year as the founding of Columbus, GA. It is the site of the oldest manufacturing operation on the Chattahoochee River. City Mills spent 150 years grinding corn and wheat, cornmeal and flour, while at the same time generating hydro-electric power that made Columbus one of the earliest large-scale textile centers in the South. Under the leadership of the Historic Columbus Foundation and Columbus attorney Ken Henson, City Mills has been included as part of the Columbus Historic Riverfront Industrial National Landmark District.

City Mills ownership transferred several times through the years and ultimately shuttered completely in the late 1980’s. It remained vacant in decay for the next 30 years and in 2015 Historic Columbus Foundation and Ken Henson, seeing the need to save this wonderful last remaining 19th century Riverfront mill, purchased and stabilized the buildings. If not for their efforts, these irreplaceable buildings would have been lost forever.

In mid-2018, Jack Pezold, owner of The Pezold Companies, shared the vision and desire to save these wonderful buildings and transform the complex into a boutique hotel, riverfront restaurant and event center extending toward the river. Pezold, having an extensive hospitality background and construction development experience, purchased 50% interest, and brought in his team to develop the project. He immediately engaged Mazolla Architecture, who had extensive hotel design and construction experience. Jack Mazolla Jr. used his outstanding creative talents, and cost-control background to develop a cost-effective project. Pezold also engaged Newt Aaron of Aaron and Clements, who has helped guild Pezold’s projects for scheduling and cost control for more than 20 years, completing more than $50 million in Pezold Companies projects.

Phase I, opened 30 hotel rooms on September 15, 2021, along with Riverflow Yoga Studio and Phases II and III will bring 30 plus additional rooms in the River Building, Millhouse Restaurant, and Event Space scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2022. March of 2020 marked the City of Columbus’ completion of the extension of the Riverwalk, between City Mills’ Mill and River buildings.

What are some of the main features that City Mill Hotel will be offering to their guests? City Mills will offer 64 hotel rooms between three different buildings: The Mill Building, The River Building, and The River House. The River House will house a bridal suite that overlooks the Chattahoochee River as well as our event space. City Mills will also be home to Millhouse, a terrific riverfront restaurant located on the ground/Riverwalk level of the River Building. At river level, just below Millhouse’s dining room, it will offer a wonderful private dining area perfect for groups and will accommodate 75 guests. City Mills will feature a new 5,000+ SF covered event pavilion on the Chattahoochee River connected to the River Building. This one-of-a-kind unique space will provide outstanding accommodations for several hundred guests and flows onto a large grassy event space adjacent to River Walk.

What makes your hotel memorable and unforgettable? City Mills is located on the banks of the Chattahoochee River in a once functioning grist mill that was left abandoned and decaying. This group revitalized the building, saving the historic integrity and converting it into a 3 building, 64 room luxury boutique hotel with a river-front restaurant, event space, yoga studio and more.

City Mills will feature a large Bridal Suite with a stunning river view and event space view, along with adjacent other suites for family members, bridal party, and guests! Brides have the ability to book the entire hotel for their wedding day which really makes it feel like a destination wedding much closer to home. All of your favorite people can be in one place for the best day of your life!

What makes City Mills Hotel a destination within itself? There are so many wonderful things to do and see in Columbus and having a great place to lay your head down and rest after you’re done adventuring is very important! City Mill marries historic preservation with modern conveniences for an experience unlike anything else in Columbus. Every room enjoys river views or the beautiful Columbus Historic District. City Mills is located on the Riverwalk, allowing our guests walking access to everything Uptown Columbus offers. Guests can park their car and never get back in it until check out time. Walk to Uptown Columbus, rent a bike, ride down the Riverwalk to Whitewater Express, raft down the Chattahoochee and pass City Mills, enjoy locally brewed craft beers and lunch at The Cannon Brew Pub, then head back to City Mills for a quick nap, walk down to Millhouse for drinks and dinner, and finish the night sitting by City Mills’ fire pits or playing yard games with new friends you’ve just met. The entire stay will be an unforgettable experience.

What do you want travel advisors to know about booking with you? Our original brick walls, hand-crafted metalworks, preserved artifacts. and decorative local works of art. Every square inch of City Mills reflects our unique history and integrated collaboration between historians, designers, architects, and artisans who brought a vision to life.

When will the hotel be fully operational? City Mills opened 30 rooms on September 15, 2021, and they are available now for booking. Expect additional rooms and Millhouse restaurant to open early 2022 and the event space in mid-2022.

CITY MILLS HOTEL