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Southern Living — May 2013
The jazz age is in full swing at The Willcox hotel in Aiken, South Carolina, for The Great Gatsby release this month. Story has it Tom Buchanan's character was inspired by Tom Hitchcock, Jr., whose mom helped Mr. Willcox open the hotel as a winter retreat in 1900.
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Wine Enthusiast — April 2013
Lavish celebrations, the power struggle between old money and new money, dizzying unrequited love. There’s only one thing we could be talking about, and it’s happening this Friday, May 10, 2013. The much-anticipated release of Baz Luhrmann’s The Great Gatsby, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, hits theaters, and what better way to celebrate the classic novel come-to-life than with a sophisticated soirée. We show you how to throw a party that will rival any hosted by Jay Gatsby at his West Egg estate. As the antihero himself puts it, “Can’t repeat the past? Why of course you can!”
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Hotels offer up Gatsby-gilded deals |
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NBC News — April 2013
Bring on the flappers, the swell fellas and the well-heeled hoofers doin’ the Charleston. With “The Great Gatsby” set to hit theaters on May 10, it seems Baz Luhrmann isn’t the only one hoping to recapture a bit of the Roaring '20s.
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The Great Gatsby's Carolina Connection |
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WLTX — April 2013
"The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald has a certain Carolina charm. "He liked certain things about the South. The luxuriousness of it, its attention to the past," USC Sumter English professor Park Bucker said. Author F. Scott Fitzgerald had the South on his mind when writing "The Great Gatsby."
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Hotels that evoke the Gilded Age of ‘The Great Gatsby’ |
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EuroNews — April 2013
As buzz around the Hollywood release of “The Great Gatsby” continues to build, travelers looking to time travel back to the Roaring Twenties have no shortage of options in the US, where select properties have either preserved or recreated the spirit of flapper chic opulence, jazz and the Gilded Age.
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Hotels where the Great Gatsby would stay |
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FOX News — April 2013
It seems like Gatsby fever is starting to take hold with the highly anticipated opening of the 3D adaptation of the classic novel hitting theatres May 10. Movie-goers will swoon for the epic love affair between Jay Gatsby, (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Daisy Buchanan (Carey Mulligan) as it heads toward its tragic end.
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Willcox to bring back ’20s |
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Aiken Standard — April 2013
Tommy Hitchcock Jr. has been called “the greatest polo player ever” and is a war hero. Around Aiken, he is known as a former Winter Colony resident and is part of the prominent Hitchcock family. But he also has another claim to his name – a character in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby.
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A weekend of wine and fun in Willcox |
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Eastern Arizona Courier— April 2013
The Willcox Wine Country Association announced its semi-annual Willcox Wine Country Festival will take place May 18-19, in Railroad Park located on Railroad Avenue in historic downtown Willcox. The event will include food, live music and wine tasting with 16-featured Arizona wineries. The event is scheduled, rain or shine, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.
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The Local Palate — April 2013
When we think about f. scott Fitzgerald’s literary masterpiece The Great Gatsby we rarely consider a Southern connection. While the novel is set in Long Island and Manhattan, a small town in South Carolina stirred up some inspiration for Fitzgerald as well: Aiken, South Carolina, home to the 114-year old Willcox hotel.
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The Willcox Celebrates Great Gatsby |
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Global Traveler — April 2013
Drenched in Southern charm, from the tall columns fronting its grand 19th century facade to the plush upholstered comfort in its swank guestrooms, The Willcox ranks among the best in grand manor house hotels. Located in leafy Aiken, S.C. — once considered the Newport of the South by elite travelers — the staff once turned down a lodging request from the Duke of Windsor during a long-ago Master’s Week because they were fully booked.
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Willcox co-owner a finalist for state award |
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Aiken Standard — April 2013
A local entrepreneur is a finalist for an award that recognizes outstanding small business owners across the state. Shannon Ellis, co-owner of The Willcox, is one of five finalists for the U.S. Small Business Administration S.C. District Office’s 2013 South Carolina Small Business Person of the Year award.
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Great Getaways : Aiken, South Carolina |
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Equine Journal — March 2013
Aiken, South Carolina is the perfect getaway for the horse enthusiast. Racing, polo, carriage driving, hunting, jumping, eventing, dressage and steeplechasing are all avidly pursued in this historic southern town.
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Indulged Traveler — March 2013
Aiken, South Carolina has long been known as “The Winter Colony,” a charming and temperate environment in which elite New York City society of the last century continued its equestrian pursuits during the cold winter months up north. Names like Astor, Vanderbilt and Whitney were as prominent in Aiken as they were in New York, and patronage of the arts and culture was a year-round endeavor.
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Do You Deserve To Lose Money? |
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Bill Bonner's Instablog — March 2013
"Are you new to Aiken," said an attractive 70-something woman with a soft cotton accent named Sissy. We were coming out of the Willcox Hotel. She spotted us as visitors and offered help. She was wearing a floppy hat. She admired our hats. We admired hers. Later, we learned that she is known locally as the "hat lady."
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Julliard Goes South: The Must-Attend Winter Festival |
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Southern Living — March 2013
Suffering the winter doldrums? Then you might want to make like the Vanderbilt family and head to Aiken, South Carolina. Starting Friday March 9 and continuing through March 15, patrons of the arts from across the country will gather at sites like the Willcox Hotel and Joye Cottage for the 2013 Julliard in Aiken Festival. This series of chamber concerts, master classes, community outreach, and premier performances allows locals a chance to show off their Southern hospitality, while enjoying emerging talents.
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Warm Up With Aiken's Southern Charm |
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AAA Going Places — March 2013
I am an East Coast native who spent many summer vacations in Myrtle Beach, SC. Since my family never traveled inland, I had never heard of the city of Aiken until my dad and stepmom retired there a few years ago.
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The Willcox ‘The living room of the community’ |
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The Aiken Standard — March 2013
When the white wooden doors of The Willcox open, jazz music trickles out in greeting from the overhead speakers, as the concierges await you at the front desk. This year, this grand establishment was again listed as one of Travel + Leisure’s Top 500 Hotels worldwide for 2013.
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Bill Murray Visited The Willcox Last Fall |
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The Aiken Standard — February 2013
Actor Bill Murray was in Aiken last fall and made a stop at The Willcox. Murray didn’t stay the night but took a tour of the hotel and spent some time in the Roosevelt suite. Though it wasn’t clear at the time, it was later determined that Murray was interested in the suite and the hotel’s history because of his role in the new film, “Hyde Park on Hudson” in which he plays 32nd U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
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Tailgating, The Willcox Way |
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Equestrian Calendar of Aiken — February 2013
Equestrian events are hungry work. Whether you’re hunting, showing, playing polo -- or just playing the role of casual spectator -— you’ll be building up an appetite and ready for a hearty tailgate before you know it.
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The Willcox again named Best Hotel by Travel + Leisure |
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Aiken Standard — January 2013
Praised for its Southern charm and hospitality, The Willcox has been recognized by the same national publication for a second consecutive year. The Willcox was included in Travel + Leisure’s Top 500 Hotels worldwide for 2013 with a score of 94.25 out of 100. In 2012, The Willcox was 32 out of 50 on the World’s Best Hotels list.
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Joyful Victory and Willcox Inn make their 2013 debuts tomorrow Read more: Joyful Victory and Willcox Inn make their 2013 debuts |
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Aiken Standard — January 2013
Rick Porter’s Fox Hill Farm’s multiple graded stakes winner Joyful Victory will be making her 5-year-old debut, returning to the races after a 65 day layoff, and the gray daughter of Grade 1 winner Tapit has been entered in the 1 1/16-mile $400,000 Houston Ladies Classic Saturday at Sam Houston Park. The Ontario-bred conditioned by Larry Jones has drawn the rail, and will carry 115 pounds. Jockey Rosie Napravnik will be in the irons. Joyful Victory was broken and trained by Tim and Cary Frommer.
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Discovering Barley's Hidden Charms |
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NPR — January 2013
As someone who dines out a lot for work, I can tell you that barley doesn't appear on a whole lot of menus. And as a home cook, I can see how this grain maybe isn't perceived to be as sexy as farro, as healthy as quinoa or as versatile as oats.
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Gourmet on the Go in the Equestrian World of Aiken |
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CNN iReport — January 2013
The Willcox's restaurant on wheels, The Food Truck, is a short-order patois of specialized dishes that goes beyond a traditional, low budget food truck. The equestrian-centric, high brow locals in the town of Aiken, SC, crave restaurant quality meals but now can get them served on paper plates. Dishes come with three-course plated options including Braised Beef Ravioli with Garden Peas in a rich beef sauce and Parmesan Mascarpone; Seared Salmon with Wasabi Mash and Sugar Snap Pea and Ginger Salad; and a Cumin Dusted Pork Loin with Butternut Squash Puree and Baby Spinach. The Food Truck also makes appearances at special events offering Aiken residents and guests a range of gastronome-minded options including a traditional cook out with all of the fixings; hors d'oeuvres receptions; as well as children's parties. First time white gowned brides have had their dinner produced right out of the food truck.
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Residents Enjoy Cocoa, Cookies At The Willcox Toys For Tots Celebration |
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Aiken Standard — December 2012
The Toys for Tots collection boxes at The Willcox were filling up fast Monday as people stopped in to donate, to see Santa and Mrs. Claus and to enjoy hot chocolate and cookies. This is the third year the historic Aiken hotel has hosted the U.S. Marine Corps. Reserve's Toys for Tots celebration, a “great organization,” according to The Willcox co-owner Geoff Ellis.
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Santa, Carolers To Be At The Willcox For Toys For Tots Drive |
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Aiken Standard — December 2012
The Willcox will host the U.S. Marine Corps. Reserve’s Toys for Tots celebration – and Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus – from 4 to 5:30 p.m. on Monday. The festive afternoon will feature the North Pole’s most famous residents having their photos taken with area children followed by a lobby full of carolers at the grand piano. Santa and Mrs. Claus will sit in their bright red sleigh in front of a roaring fire in the lobby of the 114-year-old Aiken landmark, listening to the dreams of Aiken-area children.
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Moustaches Are Sprouting In Aiken To Raise Awareness For Men's Health |
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Aiken Standard — November 2012
Movember begins today where male members, or Mo Bros, traditionally shave their face and start to grow their folical masterpiece over the next 30 days, all to raise awareness about men's health issues.
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The Traveler's Journal — November 2012
Aiken, South Carolina is the heart of America’s storied thoroughbred country, “The Winter Colony,” where the cream of New York society once gathered in cold-weather months to continue their equestrian pursuits. No town in America features a more traditional or communal Thanksgiving celebration than Aiken, nor is there a more special place to enjoy it than at the town’s 114-year old, beautifully refreshed and preserved hotel, The Willcox. The holiday is launched with a beloved custom signifying the start of the festive holiday season, the Blessing of The Hounds, and a traditional Thanksgiving buffet feast at the grandest white-pillared dame in South Carolina.
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When It's November, It's Movember! |
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Bella Magazine — October 2012
When some guys in Melbourne, Australia decided to raise awareness and money for men’s health issues, they didn’t create pink bows or red dresses. They did what comes naturally: they grew facial hair for a month, specifically mustaches, and renamed the month Movember! Their motto? “Knowledge is Power; Mustache is King.” That was seven years ago, and the organization Movember has since spread around the world and raised $120 million in the fight against prostate and testicular cancer.
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The Today Show — October 2012
Travel + Leisure readers ranked the hotel No. 3 on the 2012 World’s Best Awards list of Top Inns and Lodges in the Continental U.S. And it’s easy to see why, as rooms have plenty of antebellum charm: crown moldings, four-poster beds and fireplaces. The Willcox even has its own food truck serving dishes such as spicy fish burritos and fried chicken biscuits. Fuel up and then head outdoors to enjoy local parks or go for a horseback ride.
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Musician Comes Home To The Willcox |
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Aiken Standard — September 2012
John Vaughn's music career has taken him all over the world. But, for now, he's settling back in to his native Aiken. Vaughn will be in Aiken through the winter season and is playing piano at the Willcox Inn each Friday night. It's a venue that holds many fond memories for him.
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The Willcox Is One Of The World's Best Hotels |
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WJBF Channel 6 — September 2012
Try to imagine the best hotel in the world. Perhaps the Plaza comes to mind, or the Four Seasons, Paris. WJBF News Channel 6's Aiken Bureau Chief, Ashley Bridges, has the story of one of the worrd's best hotels ... right here in Aiken.
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Skyware Hospitality Solutions is Proud to Service The Willcox Hotel, Awarded as one of the Top 50 Hotels in the World by Travel & Leisure Magazine |
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PR Web — August 2012
When Shannon and Geoff Ellis took over The Willcox, their goal was to make the historic hotel feel like Aiken’s living room. Today, the inn welcomes many visitors from out of town - in fact, the room occupancy rate has tripled in the two and a half years that the Ellises have owned it.
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The Willcox: Aiken's Favorite Inn |
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Aiken Polo Club Magazine — August 2012
When Shannon and Geoff Ellis took over The Willcox, their goal was to make the historic hotel feel like Aiken’s living room. Today, the inn welcomes many visitors from out of town - in fact, the room occupancy rate has tripled in the two and a half years that the Ellises have owned it.
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Aiken's Willcox Hotel Named One Of Top 50 Best Hotels in the World |
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WJBF Channel 6 — August 2012
It’s an exciting time at The Willcox Hotel, in Aiken. Especially, because it’s only been the about two and half years since Shannon and Geoffrey Ellis bought it. They call it a miracle purchase, because the deal came through just minutes before hotel would close for good.
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Aiken Hotel With Ties To Pres. FDR Named One of ‘World’s Best’ |
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WRDW Channel 12 — August 2012
Things are buzzing inside the doors of The Willcox, an historic Aiken hotel.
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Mom and Dad Can Combine Back to School Time With Some Leisure Time |
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Atlanta Journal Constitution — August 2012
fter you've dropped Junior off at State, where can you go for a good meal, an entertaining walk, a night on the town? We offer some diversions along the return trip for parents seeking a little entertainment. (Provided they have any money left after paying tuition.)
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Residents Mix It Up at The Willcox Cocktail Class |
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Aiken Standard — July 2012
The Willcox announces the appointment of Katy Judd as Catering Sales Manager. Judd has many years of experience in marketing and the hospitality industry, including work in Aiken for the past six years and five years as Casino Events Manager for The Atlantis Resort, Paradise Island, Bahamas.
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Katy Judd Named Willcox Catering Manager |
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Buzz on Biz — July 2012
The Willcox announces the appointment of Katy Judd as Catering Sales Manager. Judd has many years of experience in marketing and the hospitality industry, including work in Aiken for the past six years and five years as Casino Events Manager for The Atlantis Resort, Paradise Island, Bahamas.
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The Willcox Sets Itself Apart |
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The Aiken Standard — July 2012
Travel + Leisure, a respected international travel magazine, has named The Willcox one of the top 50 World's Best Hotels overall. Actually, it's No. 32 on the list. And, note it is the "World's Best, which ramps up the prestige-factor significantly. The Willcox topped well-known luxury resorts in exotic locations like Capella in Singapore, a palace in India, the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai in Hawaii and even a luxury mountain resort overlooking the coast in Capetown.
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Travel + Leisure — July 2012
Thanks to that special southern hospitality, The Willcox feels more like a home than a hotel. Flanked by grand white pillars and big oak trees, it oozes Southern charm. The rooms look like you’ve just stepped into Scarlett O’Hara’s house—four-poster beds, fireplaces, and stitched floral pillows.
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The Willcox Ranks As One Of the World's Best Hotels |
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Aiken Standard — July 2012
An international travel magazine announced Friday that The Willcox is one of the top 50 World's Best Hotels overall, and owners Geoff and Shannon Ellis haven't stopped smiling since.
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26 Women To Watch: Shannon Ellis |
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WAGT Channel 26 — June 2012
Nestled in downtown Aiken, the Willcox Hotel is in its 114th year. People like Winston Churchill and Franklin D. Roosevelt have walked the historic Willcox’s halls. But, in 2009 the hotel's story nearly ended when its current owners decided to shut it down.
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Celebrity chefs will cook to benefit mental health group |
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Aiken Standard — June 2012
Chefs and patrons of Aiken's Cookin' with Celebrity Chefs, Mental Health America of Aiken County's annual fundraiser, will sample the creative variety and flavors Aiken has to offer at its new venue on Friday.
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Historic Luxury at The Willcox |
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Bella Magazine — Summer 2012
Having completed our tours of the Aiken Barn Bed and Breakfast, The General Elliott Inn, and the Oakland Bed and Breakfast, the Bella Bed & Breakfst Tour now moves into Aiken with a look at The Willcox.
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The Masters? The Willcox! |
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IMINA Travel — May 2012
Yeah! I got the email! Although I shouldn’t be too excited — it was just a message letting me know I could “apply” for tickets to the 2013 Master’s Golf tournament, which approval of said application, is only by a random selection. So, with all those other applicants; my chances are pretty slim, but I can always wish, right?
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A Look at the Cost of High School Prom |
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Aiken Standard — April 2012
With one senior prom down and three to go, Aiken teens are hitting the stores and calling for reservations in preparation for their big night. In categories such as formal wear, fine dining, flowers, accessories and transportation, young shoppers are hunting up the best supplies - and the best bargains.
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SC Educational Television — February 2012
The Willcox Hotel, located in Aiken, was built in the late 19th century for Yankees seeking warmth. Closely located to downtown Aiken and Hitchcock Woods, the hotel embodies the history and culture of the area. The hotel was voted one of the Best 50 Small U.S. Hotels and also has a restaurant that offers an innovative, delicious cuisine.
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Shannon Ellis and The Willcox |
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Aiken Woman Magazine — February 2012
Shannon Ellis has been everywhere. She grew up in Tornoto, Canada, finished high school at the Lycee Canadien en France in St. Jean cap Ferrat, France. Did her undergraduate work at the University of Western Ontario, Canada and has an MBA from the university of Waikato in New Zealand. She was involved in politics in Charlotte, N.C. Lived in Los Angeles for several years and opened six restaurants with her husband, Geoff Ellis, while living in New Zealand.
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Willcox Honored for Green Efforts |
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Aiken Standard — February 2012
The Willcox hotel and restaurant has once again been recognized for being kind to the environment. On Monday, The Willcox owners Geoff and Shannon Ellis, along with staff members, traveled to Columbia to accept the Good Earth Keeping Award from the South Carolina Hospitality Association.
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Historic Aiken Foundation Honors Those Who Have Helped Preserve City |
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Aiken Standard — January 2012
he Historic Aiken Foundation's 2012 Awards, held Sunday afternoon at the Aiken Center for the Arts, was an opportunity to recognize those individuals who helped to preserve the historic character responsible for making Aiken one of the nation's most charming and unique cities.
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Oak Tree Gets New Home at The Willcox |
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Aiken Standard — January 2012
The Willcox saw a bit of excitement Wednesday afternoon as a large, live oak was delivered and planted in front of the hotel.
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Letter to the Aiken Standard: Get Spelling of Willcox Correct |
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Aiken Standard — January 2012
I would like to remind people in the community that the Willcox is spelled with two ls.
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Cross Gate Gallery to Open Exhibit at Willcox on Jan. 18 |
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Aiken Standard — January 2012
The Willcox will host an opening reception for an exhibit of fine sporting art by famed Cross Gate Gallery from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday. Cross Gate owners Greg Ladd, son Field Ladd and daughter Catherine Ladd Kenneally will be on hand with exceptional equestrian sporting art paintings and sculpture. The exhibit will close March 28.
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Caroling With the Clauses |
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Verge Magazine — December 2011
It's a Christmas party for all ages and all walks of life.
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Verge Magazine — December 2011
According to the United States government, Chef Regan Browell is a person of "exceptional skills." Browell cam to Aiken and The Restaurant at The Willcox as its executive chef in August 2009 on what U.S. Immigration calls and Exceptional Skills Visa.
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From New Zealand to Aiken and Loving It: Chef Regan Browell |
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Bella Magazine — December 2011
Regan Browell is both a person and a chef of "exceptional skills." The U.S. Government says so. Now executive chef at The Willcox, the New Zealand native is in America on what the U.S. Immigration Service calls an "Exceptional Skills Visa." She has worked all over the world in restaurants from San Francisco to London.
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Toys for Tots Will Be Collected at The Willcox |
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Aiken Standard — December 2011
The Willcox invites the community to join it in bringing toys to local children who might otherwise have none for Christmas when it hosts the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve's Toys for Tots celebration on Wednesday.
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Gingerbread Barns Will Be Displayed at The Willcox |
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Aiken Standard — November 2011
The Willcox hosts a spicy holiday fundraiser for equine charities this weekend in cooperation with Polo America. Polo America has enlisted local pastry chefs to create replicas of Aiken horse barns in gingerbread for a silent auction to benefit Toys For Tots, the Aiken County Polo Club, Equine Rescue, STAR Riding Academy and the Aiken Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame. The gingerbread barns will be on display from 3 to 10 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday at The Willcox, located at 100 Colleton Ave. The silent auction will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday evening; admission to the auction is a new, unwrapped toy for Toys For Tots.
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Pampering, Picnicking and Polo in Aiken |
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Discover South Carolina — November 2011
When planning a girlfriend getaway, do you really want a jam-packed itinerary that will have you trudging through a blurred array of “must see” monuments by day or screaming over your cocktails at trendy nightspots by night? Saying your goodbyes after a long weekend at a fast-paced tourist enclave might have you feeling that you haven’t really reconnected with your pals at all.
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Congratulations to The Willcox |
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Aiken Standard — November 2011
Those of us who live here know that Aiken is a special destination for travelers - even though it's still a well-kept secret. That secret has slowly been getting out of the bag, and now it's got a jump-start with the announcement that The Willcox has been named among the Top 50 Best Small Hotels in the United States in Conde Nast Traveler's annual 2011 Readers' Choice Awards.
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The Willcox Rates High: Condé Nast Traveler Readers Vote Aiken Landmark in Top 50 Best Small Hotels in U.S. |
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Aiken Standard — October 2011
The Willcox has been voted one of the top small hotels in the U.S. by some of America's most discerning and demanding travelers: readers of Condé Nast Travelermagazine. Even sweeter, we're one of three South Carolina hotels to represent the top 50.
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Condé Nast Traveler — October 2011
The Willcox has been voted one of the top small hotels in the U.S. by some of America's most discerning and demanding travelers: readers of Condé Nast Traveler magazine. Even sweeter, we're one of three South Carolina hotels to represent the top 50.
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All Restaurants Should Be Conscious of Environment |
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Tuscaloosa News — October 2011
I have entered many restaurants in the past year with the expectation that I was in for a fine meal. In two instances, I got more than I expected and came away with a positive attitude about the ecological and environmental stance of the restaurant owners.
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Augusta Magazine — September 2011
Polo has been an integral part of Aiken's history since the 1800s, when the Winter Colony residents flocked to the city to escape the cold. That tradition has prevailed over the past centurty and Aiken today boosts multiple polo fields and professionals as well as Whitney Field the site of the longest consecutive period of play on one field in the country.
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Arlington Park News Release: Road to the 2011 |
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Horse Race Insider — June 2011
In the United States, fireworks go off this weekend in celebration of America’s Birthday, but included in the upcoming holiday excitement are three important graded stakes in different sections of the nation that will help rocket the upcoming 2011 Grade I Arlington Million Aug. 13 prominently into the public consciousness.
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Ford CEO Makes Special Delivery in Aiken |
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Aiken Standard — June 2011
The president and CEO of Ford Motor Company, based out of Dearborn, Mich., came to Aiken on Friday to keep a promise to a friend. Alan Mulally visited Satcher Ford Lincoln Mercury on Friday, where his friend, Rob Johnston of Aiken, picked up his new F150 Ford truck.
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Breathing New Life In To The Willcox of Aiken |
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Verge — May 2011
Shuttered for decades and then operated in a stuffy style the locals shunned, new ownership and management have restored The Willcox hotel and restaurant to the lively center of fun and good taste in Aiken.
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Local Celebrities Serve to Benefit Fundraiser |
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Aiken Standard — May 2011
The celebrity waiters stationed at various restaurants around Aiken Monday had one overarching strategy: raise as much money as possible.
They employed jokes, warm smiles, songs and, at The Willcox, a variety of activities from a silent auction to casino games, all in an effort to raise money for Children's Place during the agency's biggest and certainly most well-known fundraiser.
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Environmental Practices Earn Top State Honors For The Willcox |
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Bella Magazine — March 2011
Having “gone green” since it went under the ownership of Geoff and Shannon Ellis, The Willcox and The Restaurant at the Willcox were awarded the State’s top certification this past winter for the highest level of sustainability Palmetto designation offered by the South Carolina Green Hospitality Alliance. The coveted Three Palmetto certification was given to both the hotel and the restaurant at the Willcox, only the fourth hotel and the first restaurant in the state to reach the top. Douglas O’Flaherty, director of operations of the South Carolina Hospitality Association, acknowledged that no other establishment in South Carolina has ever been awarded six Palmettos.
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Aiken Tourism Brings In Big Money |
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WAGT TV, Channel 26 — March 2011
Tourism is South Carolina’s money train. The $18 billion business is getting is vamping up efforts to bring even more people this summer—and not just to the beach.
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The Willcox Hotel: Celebrating 113 Years As a Treasured Southern Retreat |
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Tango Diva — March 2011
Nestled amidst the beautiful oak lined streets and stately homes of Historic Aiken, South Carolina, The Willcox Hotel has lived a grand and graceful life over the last century. The hotel’s magnificent white pillared entrance leads us to an illustrious past full of delightful tales and monumental memories. This quaint and intimate property, despite its size, is larger than life in terms of its history and hospitality.
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Willcox Awarded Environmental Sustainability Certification |
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Aiken Standard — February 2011
Some may say it's not easy being green, but The Willcox Hotel and Restaurant proved otherwise as it was recognized for its environmentally-friendly facility.
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The Perfect Blend of Creativity and Function |
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The Willcox— February 1, 2011
Shannon and Geoff Ellis teams up with Innovative Solution's design department to showcase the historic Inn and Restaurant.
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Aiken Standard — January 3, 2011
Garrett and Caroline Boswell hang out with Santa and Mrs. Claus at the Willcox Inn Christmas party and Toys for Tots drive.
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WAGT NBC Augusta 26 — December 2010
This week's Restaurant Report Card includes four perfect scores and showcases The Restaurant at The Willcox at 100 Colleton Avenue in downtown Aiken.
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Sleigh Bells and Christmas Carols Coming To Aiken's Willcox Inn Wednesday |
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WJBF News Channel 6 — December 2010
The sounds of Christmas will return to The Willcox Inn hotel Wednesday when a most-festive hay wagon full of carolers winds up an hour-and-a-half singing tour of downtown Aiken at 5:30 Wednesday.
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Party at The Willcox Benefits Toys for Tots |
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Aiken Standard — December 2010
Agnes Hobson couldn't resist bringing children Austin and Annie to the Willcox Inn's Christmas party Monday.
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Toys for Tots to Hold Holiday Party |
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Aiken Standard — December 2010
Aiken's Toys for Tots campaign will hold its second Christmas party on Monday, Dec. 20 from 4 to 6:30 p.m. at Willcox Inn.
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Skirt — October 2010
Winston Churchill had good times at The Willcox, but go there today and you can one up him: you can toast the good life and enjoy Regan's gastropub fare made with fresh local ingredients.
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The Restaurant Celebrates Its First Birthday |
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Aiken Standard — October 2010
Shannon and Geoffrey Ellis cut the first birthday cake for The Restaurant at the Willcox. A large group of about 100 regular customers helped them celebrate with champagne and birthday cake.
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Augusta Magazine — October 2010
Sometimes it only takes a 20-minute drive to find yourself a world away.
In the late 1930s, Georgia O'Keeffe painted an evocative oil she titled, "From the Faraway, Nearby," a piece that blends skeletal and landscape imagery in a way that captures the mystery and magic of the American Southwest, the region that influenced much of O'Keeffe's work, particularly that created later in her life.
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Augusta Magazine — September 2010
Whether you're an overnight guest of the historic Willcox Hotel or an Aiken resident looking for a new place to hang out, the Restaurant at the Willcox is the place to go. Owners Geoffrey and Shannon Ellis have succeeded in creating a place with the relaxed social atmosphere of a neighborhood bar that at the same time offers upscale cuisine.
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Ancient Knowledge, Modern Convenience and Old Fashioned Fine Service Come Full Circle |
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Just Breathe Studio — 2010
The owners and management of The Willcox hotel and Just Breathe Studio announce a sharing of their exquisite services for the enjoyment of their clientele and those interested from the general public, starting Monday, May 17. Guests of The Willcox will have the luxury of taking Yoga, beginner’s Tai Chi and Water Aerobics classes in the hotel’s beautiful and cloistered pool area, taught by the highly accredited instructors of Just Breathe Studio. What’s more, if they choose to, hotel guests will automatically be regarded as members of Just Breathe Studio at 1501 Whiskey Road, and able to make use of their full range of classes in Yoga, Tai Chi, Pilates and much more. There is no charge for hotel guests.
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Historic Hotel Ownership Changes |
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Front Gate Properties — January 2010
Geoff and Shannon Ellis, who opened The Restaurant at The Willcox in November, now own the historic hotel. The couple recently purchased the stately Colleton Avenue property from The Garrett Hotel Group, which had owned the hotel since 2000. Specific details on the sale have not been released.
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New Proprietors for Aiken Landmark |
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Aiken Horse — 2010
During the gilded days of the Winter Colony, Aiken was known for its wonderful hotels, especially The Willcox. The Willcox grew out of a catering business started in 1897 by Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Willcox. Over the years, the Willcoxes converted their home into a sumptuous inn that became the social nucleus of Aiken’s winter visitors. In the 1920s and 1930s, the guest book read like the New York Social Register – Vanderbilt, Harriman, Pulitzer, Iselin, Astor. Even Franklin Delano Roosevelt stayed at The Willcox – his private railway car would pull up to the back door and he would enter unannounced.
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Metro Spirit — 2010
Located in a newly rejuvenated historic inn that used to entertain wealthy winter colonists in Aiken, The Restaurant at The Willcox offers locals delectable dishes like salmon filet with stone-ground grit sticks, asparagus and smoked tomato sauce, or risotto of roasted, marinated artichoke, lemon, arugula and feta.
It wasn’t that long ago that dining options in Aiken were limited to a handful of oldtime establishments, barbecue joints and fast-food restaurants.
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South Carolina Living — April 2010
When Hollywood hoofer Fred Astaire would retrieve his mail at the Aiken post office, he would dance up and down the stairs, to the gathered crowd’s delight.
While perhaps a bit apocryphal, the story speaks to the spirit of Aiken, a long-time haven for well-heeled horses and horse owners alike, thoroughbred champions
and captains of industry who made the little South Carolina town their home away from home.
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Willcox to host new pool volleyball league |
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Aiken Standard — July 11, 2010
The Willcox Inn will be featuring digs, spikes, blocks and sets as part of a new pool volleyball league organized by Aiken resident Todd Stilp.
The games will be casual and will offer an informal setting with the Willcox Inn being one of the venues, said Stilp. Topspins, floats and underhand serves will add to an environment renowned for its outstanding hospitality. Stilp brought the idea to the Willcox Inn's Geoff and Shannon Ellis, Mattie Sayer and Tina McCarthy.
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Toys for Tots gathers gifts for hundreds |
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The Augusta Chronicle — December 24, 2009
Shannon Ellis, the owner of The Restaurant, approached Mr. Parker about hosting the toy drive. She enlisted the help of employees and friends — to play Santa and Mrs. Claus — and professional photographer Todd List to make the holiday portraits possible.
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The Restaurant at The Willcox is 'gastropub' |
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Aiken Standard — November 6, 2009
Local restaurateurs Geoff and Shannon Ellis are bringing a new dining experience to Aiken. The two recently opened The Restaurant at The Willcox, a gastropub, which is the first of its kind for the area, according to Geoff.
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Restaurant owners buy historic Willcox |
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The Augusta Chronicle — January 8, 2010
The owners of The Restaurant at The Willcox announced this morning that they’ve purchased the historic Aiken hotel, the Willcox Inn, from Garrett Hotel Group.
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Historic hotel ownership changes |
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Aiken Standard — January 24, 2010
Geoff and Shannon Ellis, who opened The Restaurant at The Willcox in November, now own the historic hotel.
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Jazz group is draw for The Willcox |
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Aiken Standard — February 1, 2010
By midweek, unwinding from the stresses of work and life is necessary; there are some new cats in town who are helping folks do just that.
Four Cats in the Doghouse is a newly formed jazz quartet sharing its chops with Aiken audiences every Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. at The Willcox. The combination of the music and ambiance create an atmosphere in which you can leave your worries behind.
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