Press
The National Exchange Hotel in the Media
8 Hotels Straight Out of a Wes Anderson Movie
Architectural Digest 2023
While the town alone is worthy of the opening credits, the recently refurbished, historic National Exchange oozes cinematic charm with every turn. - By Flora Tsapovsky
Located in the heart of Gold Country, the boutique hotel captures the director’s mood with antique furniture and bold floral wallpaper. At Lola, the downstairs restaurant and bar, the red velvet booths are as Anderson as it gets.Click above for full article
Hotel California: 10 Oldest Hotels In California With Tales To Tell
October 2023
Explore California's history through its oldest hotels. Discover tales of luxury, legends, and timeless elegance.
The National Exchange was built in 1856 and listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. It is also listed as a California Historical Landmark. In 2018, it underwent an extensive renovation and restoration. After a thorough three-year renovation, the property now provides guests with a luxurious stay that combines contemporary comfort with Victorian charm.Active guests can check out the equestrian, hiking, or biking trails near the hotel, while relaxed guests can sample some of the hotel's offerings, like the Grand Lounge and Lola.
The Grand Lounge is beautifully adorned and boasts a balcony with stunning views of Nevada, making it another great spot to lounge around.
For those seeking an upscale dining experience, Lola is an excellent choice. It was named after Lola Montez, the renowned Irish-born dancer and actress. This restaurant offers tasty dishes and an ambiance perfect for a solo lunch date or special occasion with loved ones.
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Where to Stay on the Left Bank and an Exquisite Ryokan in Japan
October 2023
Plus, Italy, Boston, and a few stops out west. These are the hotels our editors loved this month.
The next morning we took a short, nostalgic hike near the Yuba River to swim before heading to The National Exchange Hotel in Nevada City (a sister property of the Holbrooke that is also newly revamped and shiny, yet almost as old). Upon stepping inside, you are immediately presented with an array of colors and patterned wallpaper that is mismatched to perfection. To the left is the delicious restaurant, Lola, where I convinced my once-vegetarian friend to split oysters and beef carpaccio, plus whipped ricotta topped with farm-fresh tomatoes and peaches. We shuffled around Summer Nights — exploring makers’ booths and watching the fire dancers before turning in at our spacious room. We awoke early for coffee on the communal, sun-drenched second-floor patio overlooking the street where all the action had taken place the night before. As we chatted, it was clear that my hunch was true — my hometown is absolutely the West Coast version of the Hudson Valley.
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8 Haunted Spots in California's Gold Country
September 2023
Head up the ‘Golden Chain,’ Highway 49, in search of haunted history.
Local guide Mark Lyon, the author of Haunted Nevada City and Grass Valley, was leading one of his popular walking tours when two participants mentioned seeing a ghost at Nevada City’s National Exchange Hotel. Lyon’s ears perked up—the specter had been spotted in the hotel’s Presidential Suite, a room long rumored to be full of paranormal activity. They had been walking by the room’s door, which contained a large glass panel covered by a curtain, when they saw a hand pull back the curtain.
“A woman appeared dressed in Victorian clothing with a high collar and she had a stern, spooky look about her,” Lyon retells the story. “I was about to say to them,” he continues, “‘People dress up in costumes in Nevada City all the time,’ but before I could, they said they clearly saw her dematerialize before their eyes into nothing.”
Stories like these are common in these parts, Lyon says. “Nevada City and Grass Valley might be the most haunted towns in all of California, if not the entire American West. Why are they so haunted? Perhaps it has something to do with their long, turbulent, and sometimes violent histories.”
Lyon has spent the past two decades collecting ghost stories about Nevada City, Grass Valley, and surrounding boom towns, which fuel his walking tours and multiple books. He’s seen some paranormal activity himself, but most of his stories come from his sources’ firsthand or written accounts. Many of the ghostly characters in his books have been seen by multiple independent parties.
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National Exchange Hotel: A historic Nevada City gem worth visiting
September 2023
The hotel has hosted an impressive array of notable guests, from esteemed politicians and entrepreneurs to famous entertainers and artists.
Throughout its storied past, the National Hotel has hosted an impressive array of notable guests, from esteemed politicians and entrepreneurs to famous entertainers and artists. The hotel's guest books date back to its earliest beginnings; when you visit, you can even request to flip through it. Ulysses S. Grant, Mark Twain and Jack London are just a few of the celebrities who have reportedly graced the premises. In its early heyday, the structure stretched to 100 rooms and included an annex building connected to the main structure via a "sky bridge." The annex was demolished in the 1960s, coinciding with the construction of Highway 49 that sliced through Nevada City, but nods to it can be found in a smaller sky bridge to one of the hotel's original turrets in the back of the building.
Now under the management of Acme Hospitality, pieces of history have been thoughtfully preserved even as the hotel underwent a three-year renovation, which began in 2018, that saved it from being condemned; even today, the hotel is delightfully topsy-turvy with slanted floors and slightly crooked stairwells. Its current incarnation features 38 guest rooms, an ornate terrace overlooking Nevada City's historic downtown, more than 400 pieces of art, and a food and beverage program that feels more California than Wild West. Oh, and did we mention the hotel is pet-friendly?
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9 of the friendliest towns in california's sierra nevada
August 2023
Nevada City
Similar to Mammoth Lakes, Nevada City is another community with a vibrant Gold Rush history, and its crown jewel is arguably its darling historic downtown. As if frozen in time, visitors can behold the Gold Rush era in all its glory. From the downtown saloons to its historic hotels, even those less interested in history will find themselves entranced by the plethora of picturesque architecture and carefully maintained landmarks.
Places like the National Exchange Hotel, for example, are considered one of the downtown’s anchoring features. Built in 1856, this incredible building displays a dazzling mix of old and new, especially since it was miraculously restored and renovated in 2018 due to the wear and tear of time. With meticulous care taken to maintain its original architectural integrity, today, the hotel (whose name is proudly listed on the National Register of Historic Places) sparkles with luxury and modern amenities while maintaining the same romantic charm travelers experienced so long ago. With 38 unique rooms adorned with vintage fixtures and furniture, the National Exchange is a once-in-a-lifetime overnight experience that happily welcomes guests from anywhere and everywhere.
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Plan your perfect escape around the Golden State's culterured cities
October 2023
Pretend you're a Victorian traveller at The National Exchange Hotel
Wonder what it would have been like to visit California during the gold-rush era? One of the state's oldest hotels was built in 1856 in Nevada City, the most important gold-rush mining town in the then new state of California. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this Victorian-style hotel once housed Nevada City's first telegraph office as well as a post office, while a major stagecoach line used to stop right outside. An extensive renovation, completed in 2021, has brought to life the elegance of the hotel's heyday while incorporating modern-day amenities. Its 38 rooms combine modern and antique art and furnishings; and while you won't find anyTVs here - although there is wifi and an in-room tablet -you will discover plenty of tales from the hotel's past. Other perks include a French-inspired fine-dining restaurant and a historic tavern that serves craft cocktails and local wines.
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Get a Room: Where to Stay Now
July 2023
The National Exchange Hotel
Step into a piece of the past at Nevada City’s National Exchange Hotel (aka, the Nash)—one of the oldest continuously operating properties West of the Rockies—whose storied (and now boldly wallpapered) walls were erected in 1856. Though a lot has changed since the hotel’s inception (the property recently underwent a massive top-to-bottom restoration), the Victorian-era opulence—along with much of the original architecture—remains. Upon entering the registered historical landmark, your eyes won’t know where to land first. The funky-tiled floors? Richly hued, velvet sofas? Brass accents and antiquities sprinkled throughout? After geeking out on the interior’s perfect blend of old and new, you’ll be equally impressed when you step inside the grand guest rooms (each with carefully curated vintage furnishings and modern amenities aplenty) and on-site restaurant, Lola—where glamour and good food collide. Set in Nevada City’s charming, mom-and-pop-shop-filled downtown district and surrounded by Sierra Foothill scenery, a stay here is akin to striking gold.
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Stay Here Next: The National Exchange Hotel in Nevada City, California
February 8th, 2023
After an extensive three-year renovation, a historic hotel in Northern California’s gold country welcomes a new generation of guests. - By Julia Cosgrove
The AFAR take: The National Exchange first opened in the gold-mining boom town of Nevada City, California, in August of 1856. Today it’s one of the oldest hotels in continuous operation west of the Rockies. In 2018, the Santa Barbara–based firm Acme Hospitality came in to restore the property to its Victorian-era glory—while adding modern comforts, more than 400 pieces of art, and opulent design touches.
Who’s it for? Road-trippers interested in California history who want a well-mixed cocktail after a day spent swimming in the nearby Yuba River, hiking in Tahoe National Forest, or tooling around the compact town. Good for couples or friends traveling together. Families with young kids should book either a double queen or double full room. Pets are welcome for no additional fee. LGBTQ-friendly: The hotel was hosting a gay wedding the weekend I visited, and the bar hosts recurring Drag Queen Bingo nights.
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GOLD STANDARDS
January 21st, 2023
Mine the history of California’s wild west - By CLEO GLYDE
Travel is all the more enriching when the journey takes us to another time as well as place, and the 19th-century Californian wild west era is as colourful as it gets.
...Holbrooke Hotel’s design team also reimagined Nevada City’s grand dame, the National Exchange Hotel (1856), bringing its distinct personality back to life and reducing the number of guestrooms from 100 to 38 to add ensuites. Original touches, such as glinting Victorian red glass lights, blend with new, gloriously bold wallpaper. The richness of chocolate, claret and teal creates an envelop- ing opulence; 400 pieces of art include a wonderfully sinister photographic portrait with the optical illusion of a second, deathly face – a nod to the 19th-century fascination with mesmerism – and a settee from the set of Alfred Hitchcock’s horror classic film Psycho.
The daylight-flooded ground floor restaurant Lola, resplendent with peacock blue tufted banquettes and gold tubular lights, honours the infamy of Lola Montez. Hearty yet hipster pioneer fare is updated with healthy NoCal ingredients. Bone marrow is graced with shimeji mushrooms, served in the canals of two long bones and smeared on fresh baguette; smoked salmon and lobster cream enhance cod and potato chowder; and lacinato kale adds a burst of freshness to strip loin steak.
Lola flows on to The National Bar, a black and gold cocoon that blends original tin metal detailing with new scalloped pattern wallpaper. The extensive spirits menu is worthy of the fiery, hard-drinking characters of the west.
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12 Winter Getaways in California That Don’t Involve Skiing
January 20th, 2023
Swap the chalet for desert hikes, hot springs and snowshoe tours among giant sequoias.
This Gold Rush-era town in the Sierra Nevada foothills is an hour’s drive east of Sacramento. Stay: A gathering spot since 1856, the purportedly haunted National Exchange Hotel has 38 elegant rooms, a high-spirited restaurant, Lola, and historic tavern which features special events like drag queen bingo and live music.
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Winter in Grass Valley and Nevada City: Gold Rush Lore, Modern Luxury + Old-Fashioned Holiday Fun
December 12, 2022 - By Aja Goare
History and hauntings await visitors to this small California community.
One of California’s small, preserved Goldrush communities is appealing to a new generation of travelers through revitalized history. In Nevada City and Grass Valley, located about 60 miles northeast of Sacramento, a uniquely spooky fall experience awaits visitors – and these towns take it much further than pumpkin spice lattes.
A hub for the spirited fun is The National Exchange Hotel on Broad Street. Built in 1856, the hotel was once the most sophisticated of the gold rush mining camps. As hotel Marketing Manager Erin Lewis explains, the now chic yet historic venue once drew in miners looking for a place to rest their head and, well, a lady of the night to do so with.
The three floors of the red brick building contain much of the original décor from that era. “Original Victorian glass chandeliers, wall sconces, black and white photography, and bank vault,” says Erin. Among the mainstays is an original vanity, which has a face subtly etched into the glass. “They were pranksters back then.”
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Winter in Grass Valley and Nevada City: Gold Rush Lore, Modern Luxury + Old-Fashioned Holiday Fun
November 11, 2022 - By Amber Turpin
In a silver lining of the pandemic for this neck of the woods, Santa Barbara–based Acme Hospitality upped the game for accommodations with the refurbishment of two historic hotels, the National Exchange and, four miles away, the Holbrooke. While you can expect modern touches, rest easy knowing each property retains its individual identity and keeps true to history through meticulous restoration of the buildings, refurbished original antiques, and even some furnishings donated by locals as a way to preserve the character of these sites.
In Nevada City, the iconic National Exchange was built in the mid-1850s and is said to be the oldest continuously operating hotel in the state. A registered historical landmark, it's known locally as “the Nash.” After a three-year, floor-to-rafters renovation, you can laze around on a gold velvet sofa in the grand lounge while pondering the bold women who are said to have run a brothel here. The guest rooms blend Victorian-era touches like floral wallpaper and tufted furnishings with modern creature comforts such as sleek electric kettles and custom Mascioni Italian robes.
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11 magical California gold rush towns you should absolutely visit
November 10, 2022 - By SHARON BOORSTIN
Today, you can explore California Gold Country by meandering along State Highway 49, which runs north-south about an hour east of Sacramento, and points nearby. You’ll discover parks, hotels, saloons, restaurants, antique shops and more with an Old West ambiance. It’s a road trip — and a step back in time.
While Grass Valley was a town built by miners, Nevada City, four miles northeast, was a town built by mine owners. Stately Victorian homes and commercial buildings line streets shaded by evergreen trees. Like Grass Valley’s Holbrooke Hotel, Nevada City’s National Exchange Hotel, built in 1856, recently underwent a top-to-bottom renovation that added modern amenities while preserving its historic charm. Request a “Haunted by History” candlelight hotel tour led by general manager Anthony Jones.
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Two Design-Driven Hotel Restorations Paint Historic California Gold Country In Technicolor
November 9, 2022 - By Kim Westerman
Two Wild West towns. Two historic hotels, both possibly haunted. And a big vision by Acme Hospitality Group to bring the history of these important places and spaces into the 21st century, while retaining their period vibe, right down to the cocktails.
When Sherry Villanueva, owner and managing partner of Acme Hospitality Group, decided to jump into the massive undertaking of restoring these two hotels —Holbrooke Hotel in Grass Valley and The National Exchange Hotel in Nevada City, one of her wisest decisions was to engage designers who could successfully bring these spaces to life for contemporary travelers, while retaining each property’s unique language of the past, often encoded in design details such as wallpaper, lighting, and balcony construction. Interior designers Bri Ingram, Anne L’Esperance, and Doug Washington brought it all home over the course of three years, which sounds like a long time until you go to consider the outcome, which is nothing short of genius.
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Gold Futures and Past
November 3, 2022 - By Jessica Ritz
With a duo of newly revitalized landmark hotels in grass valley and Nevada city, Nevada county gold country is your next historic California destination.
The National Exchange Hotel (211 Broad St.) has stood proudly on Nevada City’s main drag since 1856. Today its idiosyncratic character is layered with fresh interpretive flourishes. Lush floral wallpaper patterns originally designed or inspired by British decorative arts hero William Morris emblazon the interior walls, and original guest registers on display in the lobby stairwell. The 38 guest rooms are coordinated in a brighter palette that contrast with some of the National Exchange’s moodier corners. Largely female local historic figures—as well as traveling theater troupes who regularly passed through Nevada City and added to its flourishing bohemian culture—maintain a presence through the vintage photographs on display.
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Reborn Luxury Vacations in Nevada City, California
October 26th, 2022 - By Sierra Rec Magazine
Looking for your next Luxury getaway with all the charm of a hallmark movie? Head West. To the western foothills of the Sierra Nevada and Nevada City and get set to experience one of two stunning renovations to California’s history that have to be experienced. The National Exchange Hotel built in 1856, once considered the beacon for sophistication for western hotels, has been restored and reinvigorated with a few modern touches. Now providing visitors to Nevada City with an opulent hotel and dining experience that matches the spirited history of the streets and hills of Nevada City.
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The Best Hotels in the USA
October, 2022 - By Fiona Chandra
National Exchange Hotel is a 166-year-old historic landmark in the once-bustling gold rush town of Nevada City. Under new ownership, it recently underwent a meticulous three-year renovation project that brought back Victorian opulence and fused it with unobtrusive modern luxuries. Each of the 38 guest rooms has a distinctive character with William Morris’ naturalistic wallpapers and antique furnishing, some of which are original, and all come with the finest Italian linens and robes.
As one of the first hotel ventures of culinary-focused Acme Hospitality Group, the hotel’s restaurant and bar are some of the region’s best. The main restaurant, Lola, serves a French-influenced menu served in a bright and elegant dining room. The centerpiece of the National Bar is the bar itself, partially built using the hotel’s old radiators that glow golden in the warm lighting. The hotel is conveniently situated at the edge of downtown Nevada City, a historic district that has preserved its charm with Gold Rush-era buildings that now house restaurants, wine tasting rooms, and boutique shops. National Exchange Hotel also partners with Kind Traveler, where travelers can unlock perks with a $10 donation that goes toward natural land preservation through Bear Yuba Land Trust.
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For Eye-Popping Leaf Peeping, Visit These Sierra Towns
September 22nd, 2022 - By Krista Simmons
Some of the Golden State’s best fall colors are found in the historic Gold Rush towns along the Yuba-Donner Scenic Byway in the northern Sierra. Exhibit A: Nevada City. Walk down Nevada Street, dotted by Victorian homes, to see century-old sugar maples and American sweet gums turning a stoplight red. For hiking, it’s worth checking out the Cascade Canal trail, shaded by red-hued dogwoods and rich green Douglas firs. If you can’t make it this fall, the area is also magnificent for wildflower super blooms in the spring.
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Quite Possibly the Most Haunted Hotels in America, and the Ghosts Who Haunt Them
August 31, 2022 - By Molly O'Brien
Nestled into the Sierra Nevada Foothills in California’s Gold Country are two exceptionally historic hotel properties with some seriously spirited stories: The Holbrooke Hotel and the National Exchange Hotel. The 28-room Holbrooke Hotel dates back to 1862 and feels like stepping back in time. It’s home to the Golden Gate Saloon, the longest continually running watering hole west of the Mississippi. Just down the road in Nevada City is the National Exchange Hotel, which dates back to 1856 with 38 guestrooms with an eccentric aesthetic that combines Victorian-era design with a mysterious gothic aura.
For two special weekends in October 2022 (October 1st and 15th), those who book a two-night weekend stay at The National Exchange Hotel can gain exclusive access to a candlelight tour with the hotel’s resident history expert detailing the stories of past inhabitants rumored to haunt these fabled halls still.
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Gold Country Booms Again
August 30, 2022 - By Jill Robinson
Even if you’re not a design fan, you may find yourself combing the entire property to view different styles of beautiful William Morris wallpaper, notable for its dense, Victorian-style prints inspired by nature. King suites with large windows that open to the balcony are optimal for guests seeking a more semi-private living space with fresh air and views of Nevada City’s Broad Street, which is basically its main drag. Walk-in showers and Mascioni robes ensure comfort while giving guests the feeling they’ve traveled in time — exactly how a vacation should be.
On the ground floor, the hotel’s restaurant Lola is named after Lola Montez, a woman of the new Western frontier whose unconventional, multi- hyphenate career titles included dancer, actress, courtesan, and author. The European-inspired menu consists of various dishes, from a half-grilled chicken with Blue Lake beans, chimichurri, and spring onion to a strip loin steak with truffle-braised mushrooms and fried Walla Walla onions. Sink into history while enjoying a craft cocktail at the National Bar, where gilded radiators from the historic hotel work together to support the bar counter.
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Discover the National Exchange Hotel's Haunting History
August 24, 2022 - By Alysia Gray Painter
Peek around the vibrant and vintage building, a Nevada City landmark, and learn tales of its ghostly past... and present.
You'll need to book a two-night stay at the hotel to enjoy the complimentary peek-around, flickering fun which will take you into the various nooks and crannies of the atmospheric inn. Your guide? That role will be filled by the hotel's general manager, Anthony Jones, who will arrive with numerous tales to tell. The Haunted by History tours aren't the only treats on the hotel's calendar; look also for A Phantom of the Opera Dining Experience, which will mask-up for a meal of marvels at the National Bar near the end of the month (Oct. 26, to be precise). That's a gorgeous time to visit the foliage-lush town, which is famous for its brilliant red, gold, and orange trees as Halloween grows closer. For everything happening this autumn at the National Exchange Hotel, haunt this site now or ring the hotel for more information.
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A Pair of California Hotels Mine History for a New Chapter
August 17th 2022: Jessica Ritz
Restoring two of California’s oldest, most storied hotels was not technically an adaptive reuse project, but the scope of the undertaking was no less daunting. “It was instantly both exciting and terrifying,” says Acme Hospitality managing partner and owner Sherry Villanueva, recalling her initial 2018 visit to the Holbrooke Hotel in Grass Valley, California and the National Exchange Hotel in nearby Nevada City. The landmarked properties were built during the Gold Rush in the mid-1800s, and are located four miles apart in the Sierra Nevada foothills—approximately an hour drive from Sacramento.
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Westward Whoa: 6 Off-the-Beaten-Path Destinations in the West
July 18th 2022: Leilani Marie Labong
Nevada City, California:
For a Gold Country weekend, check in to the historic National Exchange Hotel, an old Victorian building painstakingly renovated by Acme Hospitality and newly bedecked in the luxuriant floral patterns of vintage William Morris wallpaper and storied furniture. (One refurbished love seat in bordello-burgundy velvet is from the set of the original Psycho.) At the on-site restaurant named after eccentric old-school burlesque dancer Lola Montez, who famously walked around Nevada City with her pet bear on a leash, feast on fried artichoke hearts, roasted bone marrow, and smoked salmon chowder before catching a sultry lounge act next door at the National Bar.
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One Fine Weekend in California Gold Country
June 17th 2022
Built in 1856, the National Exchange Hotel is arguably the grand dame of the neighborhood; even if you’re not staying here, you’ll want to spend some time dining at its French-inspired restaurant, Lola, or enjoying the ambience of the National Bar. Dedicated to the women of the Wild West, the bar is decorated with personality-laden historic photographs.
In the late 1800s, the National was Nevada City’s social center—boasting a saloon, a bank, a post office, and the companies that would later become Pacific Gas and Electric, in addition to lodging. A contemporary hot topic at the National is its wallpaper, as vivid William Morris paper artfully covers what seems like every room in the recently renovated property. History buffs will want to book room 313, where President Herbert Hoover lived long before making the move to Washington, D.C.
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Relive California’s past with 5 reimagined hotels
June 11th 2022
The pandemic spurred an even greater love for far-flung destinations away from city life. These areas breathe air/life back into your soul and quite frankly, they may not have been on your radar until the pandemic.
Lovingly renovated by a team of locally skilled artisans, designers, and craftspeople, this 38-room property originally opened in 1856 in Nevada City, California, and now is re-created as an intentional unique experience celebrating the past. The sophisticated National Exchange Hotel tells a story through its décor and design – some original artifacts from 1800 and some sourced, donated, or reimagined. The hotel is a national landmark located near Tahoe and about 45 minutes from Truckee. Once a Gold Rush refuge, the area continues to be a thriving hub for creatives.
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Mining Memories in Nevada City
June 6th 2022
It’s an eight-hour trek by car from our parts to Nevada City, but if you love history, historic hotels with a hip edge, and mountain scenery, it’s worth the miles. Located approximately 60 miles northeast of Sacramento, Nevada City was once a booming mining town – and they play off their past. A recently restored historic hotel – one of the oldest continuing lodgings west of the Rockies – has undergone a major facelift and is a mix of 21st century style and comfort with a huge nod to the past. All this is thanks to Santa Barbara’s talented Sherry Villanueva of Acme Hospitality Group, who seems to like historic venues and menus (think La Paloma restaurant, formerly the Paradise Café). BY LESLIE WESTBROOK
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10 Destination Restaurants in Nevada City and Grass Valley
May 26th 2022
LOLA:
The renovated National Exchange hotel, the younger sister property to the neighboring Holbrooke, is filled with design eye candy and hosts the city’s newest fine dining restaurant. Lola has a French-Californian vibe — think cheesy onion soup and steak tartare served with a baguette — and a classy atmosphere accented by tufted velvet booths and intimate lighting. For brunch, a croque-madame or a quiche, paired with the day’s newspaper, will deliver proper vacation vibes.
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FOOD FINDS: Standout spots for your road trip off the beaten path.
May June 2022:
Built in 1856, The National Exchange is a historic Nevada City landmark at the base of the Sierra foothills, with easy walking access to saloons, restaurants, shops, and a bucolic hike down to the Yuba River suspension bridge. The Vic- torian-style hotel has many fascinating nooks and crannies amid the William Morris wallpaper, but you’ll want to base yourself in THE NATIONAL BAR or at French restaurant LOLA, which could hold its own next to Bouchon in Napa or Bicyclette in L.A. With executive chef Tom Bevitori at the helm, you’ll enjoy standouts like French onion soup, wal- nut pâté, steak frites, and chocolate pudding cake. And this is one time in your life you should definitely not skip breakfast or brunch—with spinach quiche, croque madamd, and mushroom tartine on offer.
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After the Gold Rush
Hotels Issue - May 2022:
With the revival of a historic hotel, a former mining town in California kicks off the dust-and discovers some hidden gems. By Eleni N. Gage
THE FIRST TIME I saw Nevada City, California, I turned to my sister, Marina, and said, "I can't believe there's a place that still looks like this."
What really stunned me was Broad Street, the main drag. 11 looked like a film set for a western, dominated by two prime examples of the Mother Lode style of architecture: the 1865 Nevada Theatre -one of the oldest in California, where Mark Twain once spoke-and the 1856 National Exchange Hotel, where Twain, and any other bigwigs who came to town, slept...
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US Presidents
May June 2022:
It's no surprise that two Northern California landmarks-the Holbrooke Hotel in Grass Valley and The National Exchange located 4 miles away in Nevada City, sister lodgings built post-Gold Rush have hosted their fair share of American historical figures, given the region's literal gilded past. U.S. President Herbert Hoover stayed at The National, while oral history suggests that commanders-in-chief like Ulysses S. Grant, Grover Cleveland, James Garfield and Benjamin Harrison visited the Holbrooke.
Other notable guests at The National have included U.S. Senator George Hearst along with his suffragette wife, National PTA founder Phoebe, and their media-magnate in-the-making son William Randolph -- and Mark Twain, then a regular lecturer at the Nevada Theatre. Modern-day visitors can walk the same hallowed halls and snag some shut-eye in the same fabled rooms as these American legends.
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PROSPECTOR’S PARADISE
The Travel Issue - May 2022:
Sister hotels in historic Nevada County celebrate the spirit of long-ago visitors who came in search of the mother lode.
The National Exchange’s second floor, known as the Grand Lounge, used to be the main entrance. Today, the ballroom-sized space is the heart of the hotel, framed by an expansive, u-shaped, golden-yellow couch and crowned with six round chandeliers, each with 150 bulbs and beveled mirrors that send light dancing around the ceiling.
“We knew this hotel was leaning feminine, and it had to be grand,” says Doug Washington, one of the designers on the team. “You don’t get much grander than a tufted couch that’s 100 feet long and moves around a whole room.”
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11 Reasons to Drive to Grass Valley-Nevada City Cultural District
March 24th 2022:
Grass Valley and Nevada City are home to two historic hotels that recently underwent major renovations under new ownership, outfitting them with modern comforts while bringing back the architectural and design details of the Gold Rush era.
The Victorian-style National Exchange Hotel first opened in 1856 and holds the designation of being one of the oldest continuously run hotels west of the Rockies—outside of a fire that briefly shut the hotel down in 1863—as well as being recognized in the National Register of Historic Places and as a California Historical Landmark.
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Waking Up the Wild West
March 1st 2022:
Santa Barbara’s very own Acme Hospitality recently undertook an authentic remodel of its two historic boutique hotels, the Holbrooke and National Exchange, respectively located in Grass Valley and Nevada City, California.
“Acme’s three-year remodel has Produced an environment more Authentic to the ethos of the era Than perhaps the era itself.”
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The National Exchange Hotel Vs. Holbrooke Hotel in Northern California
February 17th 2022:
Emerging from an extensive, multi-year restoration, a pair of California’s oldest hotels — The National Exchange Hotel in Nevada City and the Holbrooke Hotel in Grass Valley — are giving guests a new way to strike travel gold.
Built during the Gold Rush, both hotels offer the romance and intrigue that guests crave, but with an upscale and modern experience that this stretch of Gold Country has never seen before, thanks to massive renovations undertaken by Santa Barbara, Calif.-based Acme Hospitality.
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Old Glory
December 2021:
The National Exchange Hotel in Nevada City and Holbrooke Hotel in Grass Valley feature refined elegance and historic charm, along with delectable food and drink.
Unwind from the grind and take a trip to the captivating Gold Rush towns of Nevada City and Grass Valley, just an hour and a half from Reno. Better yet, treat yourself to a stay at The National Exchange Hotel in Nevada City or Holbrooke Hotel in Grass Valley.
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Sacramento Magazine: Wild West luxury
November 2021:
Nevada City, the National Exchange Hotel reopened this past spring after a three-year closure for renovation. The results: fabulous.
The hotel, which opened in 1856, began as a gathering spot and communication hub - the stage coach stopped right outside its barroom doors, and it housed the first telegraph office in Northern California in the late 1800s and later, till 1942, a post office...
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Lonely Planet: See mining towns and mountain tops on these Lake Tahoe road trips
Aug 27 2021:
Next, you’ll arrive in Nevada City, where you must stop at The National Exchange Hotel – a destination itself, originally built during the Gold Rush in 1856. The building’s architecture reflects the style of its Victorian-era roots. Here, guests can check out the 38 unique rooms, the 400 pieces of art or dine at the new restaurant, Lola.
The 15 Best Small Towns To Visit In 2021
June 07 2021:
The National Exchange Hotel, an 1856 Victorian brick property that’s also one of the oldest continuously operating hotels west of the Rockies, underwent a massive renovation. Now reopened, this historic 38-guest-room treasure pairs vintage furnishings with modern amenities (think electric kettles and Italian linens).
A Gay Goldrush of a Good Time in Nevada City, California
June 01 2021:
Roaring back to life (which began even before the pandemic) after hibernation, Nevada City's crown jewel, the historic National Exchange Hotel, had just reopened, its vintage splendor rejuvenated in a top-to-bottom three-year overhaul.
NBC Los Angeles: Admire a Gold Country Hotel's Elegant, Ye Olde Renovation
May 21 2021:
...if you had to select a single stately structure that stands tall on Broad, you'd surely look to the grand National Exchange Hotel, with its sizable second-story balcony, pressed ceilings, ornate details, picturesque stairs, and cinematic air.
Sacramento Magazine: Small Towns: Nevada City
April 21 2021:
Here’s one from our series on small towns in the foothills, with some highlights from our visits. This picturesque foothill town has preserved its historic downtown to such charming proportions that it’s impossible not to walk a little slower as you wander along the wooden sidewalks.
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