Observer Remembers: Merry Christmas from the Hotel Chiquola

Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer

Merry Christmas from The Hotel Chiquola, built in 1888 downtown on the square.

The Hotel Chiquola was one of the finest hotels of its day when built. By the 1930s the Hotel Chiquola had been renamed the Plaza Hotel, and suffered many setbacks largely due to the lack of parking and private restrooms.

By the 1960s the Plaza was scarcely used and began to decline even further. By the 1980s the building was home to a few ground level businesses and a few retirement tenants. The Chiquola faced demolition several times in the 1990s but was revived in 2006 by a group of investors rebuilt the Chiquola to luxury condominiums, and a private club with restaurant and bar. 

Most of the property was later donated to Anderson University in 2014.

This photograph is courtesy of one of Anderson County's brightest and best sites, the Anderson County Museum where you can discover things you never knew about your hometown or adopted hometown. Exhibits change regularly, so visit often to support one of the most extensive museums in the state.

For more on this and other Anderson County history topics you can visit the Anderson County Museum on Tuesdays from 10AM to 7PM and each Wednesday through Saturday 10AM to 4PM. Their Roper Research Room is open every Tuesday from 1PM to 7PM or by appointment with the curator. The museum is located at 202 E Greenville Street, or contact them at 864-260-4737. Also, visit their social media pages and website: andersoncountymuseum.org.