Ryan Hanchett
rhanchett@highlandsnews.com
Highlands’ largest hospitality company has been sold.
Old Edwards Hospitality Group’s assets, including Old Edwards Inn, 200 Main, and the Old Edwards Club golf course have been purchased by James and Jessica Whitley, of Athens, Georgia.
The sale was finalized on Friday, but terms have not been disclosed.
Art and Angela Williams purchased Old Edwards Inn more than 20 years ago after visiting and falling in love with Highlands. Over the past two decades, they renovated the original inn and spa, added rooms, restaurants, shops, wedding and event venues and two golf clubs. A full hospitality group began to grow as Old Edwards Inn and Spa, as well as the Old Edwards Club, became destinations for travelers from around the world.
“As Angela and I entered into our eighties (we both turned 82 in April), we began to realize we didn’t have the energy or stamina to continue owning and overseeing this amazing company. But we weren’t willing to hand it off to anyone we didn’t think we could trust to treat it like we did,” said Art Williams. “Only when the Whitleys came to us did we believe we could hand it off with full confidence our friends and guests and members would continue to experience Old Edwards hospitality at the same level of excellence.”
The list of assets in the transaction includes Old Edwards Inn and Spa, 200 Main, Half-Mile Farm, Four65, Highlands Burrito, Old Edwards Club, GlenCove and Norton Ridge.
According to information provided by Old Edwards Hospitality Group, the Williamses will continue to be visible at Old Edwards properties while they enjoy their home in Highlands.
James Whitley is the co-founder and COO of Athens-based Landmark Properties and has been involved in the orchestration, design, development, construction, and management of over $4 billion worth of student housing projects across the United States. Jessica Whitley is the creative director of Jessica Whitley Studio and leads the design across all the family’s projects, including their recently opened boutique hotel in Athens, Rivet House. The couple also owns The Reserve at Lake Keowee, a private, mountain and lake club in Sunset, South Carolina.
“Art and Angela have created something truly special. Anyone that has ever stepped foot in one of their properties has surely felt this,” said James Whitley. “They’ve spent the last 20 years pouring themselves into this incredible place – ensuring that every guest and member feels truly taken care of - setting a bar for hospitality that is studied by hotels, restaurants and private clubs all over the country.”
Art Williams noted that the Whitleys’ track record of building and managing world-class properties was what made he and Angela comfortable with the sale of the entire Old Edwards Hospitality Group collection.
“We had an immediate connection with Art and Angela,” said Jessica Whitley. “The conversation of us taking over their properties has been a long and thoughtful one on both sides. Our intention is to let this unbelievable team keep doing the same great work they’ve always done and honor the Williams family by being great stewards of the legacy they’ve spent decades building.”