James and Jessica Whitley of Athens, Ga., purchased Old Edwards Hospitality Group’s assets from long-time owners Art and Angela Williams. The 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.
The Williams purchased Old Edwards Inn in Highlands, N.C., more than 20 years ago. Since then, they renovated the original inn and spa and added rooms, restaurants, shops, wedding and event venues and two golf clubs. They also turned one property into a collection with the addition of other hospitality assets.
“As Angela and I entered 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,” Art Williams said in a statement. “But we weren’t willing to hand it off to anyone we didn’t think we could trust to treat it like we did. 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.”
“Art and Angela have created something truly special. Anyone that has ever stepped foot in one of their properties has surely felt this,” James Whitley said. “They’ve spent the last 20 years pouring themselves into this incredible place—ensuring that every guest and member feels truly taken care of—and setting a bar for hospitality that is studied by hotels, restaurants and private clubs all over the country.”
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, S.C.
“We had an immediate connection with Art and Angela,” Jessica Whitley said. “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."
According to Old Edwards’ President and Managing Director Richard Delany, all staffing, operations, events, memberships, partnerships, policies, vendors and contracts will remain active.