Resort Status
Downtown Vicksburg’s new swanky hotel hybrid

by Elizabeth W. Jones • photography by Jay Adkins

Traditionally known for its National Military Park and abundance of beautiful antebellum homes, Vicksburg would hardly top a traveler’s list as a luxury resort destination. That is, up until two years ago when Robert Ware fell in love with Vicksburg and decided to take another look at how tourism was coming into the city. Veer towards the recently revived Washington Street downtown; a clear transformation is being made with a progressive eye towards Vicksburg’s potential as a destination city.

“I wanted to help affect change in a city, and Vicksburg’s growing infrastructure instantly drew me in,” says Ware. He grew up in Mobile and now splits his time between California and Vicksburg. “After losing a house on the Gulf Coast to Hurricane Ivan, I knew I had to keep a home in the South. After spending three hours in Vicksburg, I was already buying property!” Ware had found what he was looking for: a home and the potential to develop a space that would cater to tourists and residents of Vicksburg alike.

The Ware House occupies a significant strip along the west side of Washington Street. With the help of contractor Todd Molino, they developed the complex so that it kept as much of the original exterior as possible. Behind the façade, The Ware House meanders throughout five buildings, taking advantage of every inch of the initial construction. The hotel lobby connects to a sports bar and on to thirteen exquisite suites and hotel rooms that stop along the way at courtyards and an ultra-mod lounge.

“This project has been an organic process. I started out considering long-term housing, but eventually realized that a hotel/resort with restaurant and bar options would make the space appropriate for tourists as well as citizens of Vicksburg,” says Ware. In addition to the already-successful lounge and sports bar, Ware has plans to build two restaurants and a wine bar, as well as a spa and sports area, which will connect to the back of the complex.

As an all-inclusive concept bent towards contemporary design, Ware is taking the traditional small-town B&B approach to a new level. The charm of uniquely decorated and named rooms is applied at The Ware House. The Big Apple suite has a chic, streamlined black and white aesthetic with punches of green accessories referencing the Statue of Liberty. Next door, the affectionately named Firehouse suite has a distinct palette with white leather couches and a cherry-red curio and dining chairs. Accents of antique fire trucks and vintage art further supplement the suite’s successful mixture of the high-end and the kitsch.

Originally designed as basements, these particular suites are elongated and span beneath two of the buildings on Washington Street. “I wanted to prove that I could use these spaces effectively and efficiently,” Ware explains. The suites stair-step from an enclosed bedroom and expand out to the kitchen and living areas, following the original layout of the basement. Ware’s use of space is based on Frank Lloyd Wright’s tenet that the form of a design should follow the building’s original function.

Other suites at The Ware House follow a similar train of thought. No two are alike, and they rely upon an updated approach to the original buildings, which were constructed in the mid-1800s. While the suites’ layouts are universally linear in design, Ware constructed the units with differing levels and chose bold furnishings such as sleek leather sectionals that encourage guests to entertain while staying at The Ware House.

Ware traveled extensively throughout the States to furnish each room, yet stayed continuously aware of what could be reused. The stair treads and countertops in the loft suites come from timber in the original buildings. Even the landing in the Modern Lodge suite is constructed of vertical slivers of the original post, so that the facing tree rings create a repeated pattern across the “tiles.” This suite offers a sprawling living area and kitchen space and winds its way up to a bedroom. From there, guests merely have to open the door to have access to The Ware House Lounge.

Ware designed the Lounge to be an edgy, modern bar with a nod to its Vicksburg roots. Residents might remember the space as a jewelry store, and Ware kept the cabinetry lining the walls but modified it to suit his needs as a bar. Neutral toned leather furniture and stainless steel ceiling panels serve to reflect a changeable computer-generated lighting system mounted within the cabinetry. Alternating from deep red to blue hues on differing nights, the lighting is meant to reflect the mood of the Lounge. “We have live music during the week, and on late evenings we turn it into a ‘music video bar,’ which is a very L.A. trend,” says Ware. “It’s a new concept for Vicksburg, and that is what I wanted to offer.”

Nearby is the Sports Bar and Grill, a more casual space than the Lounge. “My spaces offer something for everyone. I’ve found that it’s been great for groups who can split up but still be in the same area.” This inclusiveness has been Ware’s focus all along, and he’s finding that visitors are realizing that he offers something you can’t find anywhere else.

Continues Ware, “I’m so excited to be able to offer a luxury weekend getaway to regional travelers. We’re truly in a geographically desirable area, and it’s becoming a destination spot.” Much like small European cities that maintain a cosmopolitan air, Ware sees a similar potential with Vicksburg. His enthusiasm has trickled into the community and has gotten people eager to expand the city’s image. He will be providing visitors to The Ware House with even more to choose from when the wine bar and two restaurants open in the coming year.

Ware’s immediate plans include getting ready for his third-annual Christmas show. Free to the public and accessible from Washington Street, he sets up numerous snow machines to surround viewers with an authentic winter experience. A 25-foot projector plays clips of classic movies with voiceovers that give viewers a little context of Vicksburg’s rich history. Giving guests an alternate view of Vicksburg has been Ware’s goal all along. Sums up Ware, “I want to highlight the city’s historical importance…but keep it swank.” DM

1412 Washington Street, Vicksburg, www.thewarehouse.ms, (601)-634-1000. Starting on Thanksgiving, Christmas shows run every Friday and Saturday night at 6, 7 and 8 p.m. Each lasts about 15 minutes, running until the Saturday following Christmas.