Luxury Hotels Atlas / Places / United States / Pinehurst / The Carolina Hotel
The Carolina Hotel
Pinehurst, North Carolina, United States · Independent · Accessible Luxury
James W. Tufts opened the copper-cupola Carolina Hotel in 1901, and the town called it Queen of the South. Two hundred thirty Four Diamond rooms came out of a renovation finished in spring 2024, in time for the U.S. Open. Gilded Age verandas, the Carolina Dining Room, and a putting green on the West Lawn still define the house, and sister hotel The Manor, a 1923 boutique, is a separate stay on the same resort.
- 230 rooms
- Opened 1901
- Neighborhood: Village of Pinehurst
- Rooms from 200 sq ft (19 m²)
About The Carolina Hotel
- Opened in 1901 with a T-plan so every room got sunlight; the original count was 250 rooms plus 49 suites.
- A renovation from November 2021 through spring 2024 redid the lobby and 230 guest rooms ahead of the U.S. Open.
- The signature is the copper-topped cupola and the fern-lined verandas; pinehurst.com still uses Queen of the South.
- Entry-level rooms start at 200 sq ft (19 m²).
History
Founded in 1895 by philanthropist James Walker Tufts, Pinehurst was originally designed as a health retreat by the firm of Frederick Law Olmsted. The resort's reputation as the "Cradle of American Golf" was established in the early 20th century under legendary architect Donald Ross, who designed the famed No. 2 course. It has since hosted numerous major championships and was designated as the first-ever U.S. Open Anchor Site.
The setting
5 miles from Sandhills Horticultural Gardens.
Amenities
- Ten championship golf courses, including the legendary No. 2 course
- The Spa at Pinehurst, a 31,000-square-foot full-service facility
- 24 tennis courts and world-class croquet and lawn bowling facilities
- Eight dining venues including the Four-Diamond 1895 Grille and Pinehurst Brewing Co.
- Lake Pinehurst Beach Club featuring water sports and swimming areas
- Extensive fitness center and three outdoor swimming pools
Awards
- AAA Four Diamond (2026)
Open The Carolina Hotel in the atlas for live weekend rates, photos, and the full folio.
More hotels in Pinehurst
- The Manor — Independent · Near Luxury