2005 Bon Air Hotel

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Contact Hal Carter (229) 776-6294 for property rental of the 10 apartments and 5 retail spaces.

In 1901, the Bon Air Hotel was a three-story hotel that utilized the first floor as commercial spaces and the upper floor as guestrooms.  However, the building was gradually deserted over the years and was condemned in February of 1999.  In July 1999, Hal Carter, a developer from nearby Sylvester, purchased the condemned Bon Air building from the Georgia Trust's Revolving Fund.  Mr. Carter has made great strides in rehabilitating the 39,000 square-foot building into a mixed-use building for downtown shopping and living.  He bagan repairing the back wall and followed with the roof structural system, opening up the atrium space, and rebuilding the grand straircase.  The city reconstructed the balcony and porticos on the facade with a grant from the OneGeorgia Authority.

1901 Bon Air Hotel

In 1869 a hotel called "The Sharon House" was located exactly where Sharon House Antiques is today.  Its builder was John Sharon, who came to Bainbridge after the War Between the States.  The structure, containing from 35 to 40 rooms, replaced a wooden building located on the north side of the square, possibly the Oakland Hotel.  The Sharon House was popular as a stagecoach stop back in the day.  The Sharon occupied a prominent place in the civic and social life of the community and even opened its parlors to the Episcopalians for services until their church was built.

In 1901 the Sharon was almost completely torn down and replaced by the Bon Air Hotel, a brick structure of 53 guest rooms and five store rooms on the first floor.  The three story Bon Air was a venture of Dr. J.D. Chason and brothers Middleton and Erasmus Powell and later was sold to John W. Callahan.  Duirng the period it was under the management of Mrs. B.D. Fudge, the Bon Air became famous for this lady's cream pear pie, which people for miles around came to enjoy along with the delicious regular fare.

In 1930 and 1940 the long second story porch overlooking Willis Park was utilized in warm weather as a delightful and charming open dining area in addition to the main dining room.