Our Story

A Timeless Corner of Savannah

On Oglethorpe Avenue, The Douglas rests quietly within Savannah’s historic grid, a peaceful, residential stretch that feels truly local. The nearby blocks are framed by deep porches and well-loved homes, with hidden corners that invite slow, curious wandering. Here, the city’s past and present meet gently, held in a timeless embrace.

Old Soul. New Spirit.

“OLD soul NEW spirit.
A story still UNFOLDING.”

Our History

From the Foundation

The Douglas began as a private residence in 1853, built along Oglethorpe Avenue—one of Savannah’s most storied streets, named for the man who mapped the city’s iconic grid. Over the years, it passed through the hands of influential Savannahians, including Captain Henry Blun, a German-born entrepreneur, Confederate officer, and later, one of the city’s most prominent bankers. Blun expanded the house in the late 1800s, adding flourishes that hinted at European influence and Southern permanence.

From there, the property evolved with the city itself: home to a gentlemen’s club in the roaring 1920s, a boarding house known as The Lester House through the Depression era, and post-war apartments filled with returning veterans and long-term residents. For a time, the Girl Scouts used it as an administrative annex—just steps from their founder’s birthplace.

Each chapter added its own texture, but the house never lost its sense of structure—or its sense of self. It quietly withstood wars, economic swings, and cultural shifts, always finding a way to be useful, to be occupied, to be loved. In the 1980s, it became an inn. Today, it is The Douglas: thoughtfully restored, intentionally restrained, and ready to host its next century. The spirit of the city lives in its walls—not preserved, but carried forward.

1853

The home is constructed along Oglethorpe Avenue, in Savannah’s historic grid, during the city’s architectural golden age.

1881

Captain Henry Blun, a prominent Savannah businessman and banker, purchases the property and commissions a major expansion that adds to the home’s scale and character.

1925

The City Progressive Club, a private men’s social club, occupies the property—adding a new chapter of late-night gatherings and low-lit conversation.

1932

The house is renamed The Lester House, operating as a boarding house for travelers and locals alike. The name inspires what will later become the hotel’s restaurant, Lester’s.

1947

Post-WWII, the home was converted into Troy Apartments, offering long-term housing to returning veterans and young families during Savannah’s postwar growth.

1970

The Girl Scouts of the USA take over the building, using it as overflow office space for the Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace next door.

1985

The property is purchased by local attorney Morton Gold, who begins its transformation into a boutique inn.

1986

It opens as The Ballastone Inn, welcoming guests for the first time and marking its shift into hospitality.

2023

Renovation begins to transform the inn into a new vision: one that respects the home’s bones but reimagines the experience entirely.

2025

The Douglas officially opens—offering 16 tailored guest rooms, a private bar, a la carte breakfast, and a quiet return to Savannah’s slower, richer rhythm.

2026

The Douglas expands to include six additional guest rooms and welcomes the debut of Lester’s, the hotel’s restaurant open to the public.

Our Acclaimed Sister Restaurants

At The Douglas Hotel, we proudly present the culinary masterpieces behind Charleston’s acclaimed sister restaurants, The Obstinate Daughter and Wild Olive, now gracing Savannah with their renowned depth of flavor and hospitality. This transference of Southern excellence brings signature coastal charm, seasonal artistry, and Italian-inspired elegance straight to our tables. Prepare to embark on an epicurean journey as rich in heritage as it is in taste.

The Obstinate Daughter

The Obstinate Daughter

Perched on Sullivan’s Island, The Obstinate Daughter is a love letter to the Lowcountry with a modern, coastal twist. Its menu celebrates the freshest seasonal ingredients, from delicate seafood and handmade pastas to wood-fired pizzas that exude rustic charm. The airy, nautical-chic interiors pair perfectly with the warm hum of conversation and ocean-breeze ease, creating a space that’s equal parts refined and relaxed, where every plate feels like a seaside indulgence.

Explore
IMG_0703

Wild Olive

Nestled among the quiet landscapes of John’s Island, Wild Olive is a sanctuary for lovers of authentic Italian cuisine, elevated with Southern hospitality. The menu brims with hand-rolled pastas, farm-fresh vegetables, and thoughtfully sourced meats, each dish layered with flavor and soul. With its candlelit glow, rich wood tones, and inviting energy, Wild Olive offers the kind of timeless dining experience that lingers long after the last sip of wine.

Explore