Press Room

Monty J. Sander Communications
707.253.8503
monsan@aol.com

or

Mary Billingsley
National Trust Historic Hotels of America
202-588-6061
mary_billingsley@nthp.org

NAPARIVER INN JOINS
NATIONAL TRUST HISTORIC HOTELS OF AMERICA

Napa, California, October 1, 2003 - The Napa River Inn in downtown Napa joined National Trust Historic Hotels of America, a program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
The Napa River Inn is one of more than 200 hotels and resorts throughout the country that is recognized by Historic Hotels of America for preserving and maintaining its historic integrity, architecture and ambiance.

"There's no better validation of a hotel's rich historic character than to be associated with the National Trust and Historic Hotels of America," said Thierry Roch, executive director of Historic Hotels of America. "By inviting The Napa River Inn into our collection of distinguished properties, we are continuing to encourage historic preservation. Our goal is to bring these historically special hotels and their authentic experiences to the attention of the traveling public by providing alternatives to commonplace lodging."

To be selected for membership in National Trust Historic Hotels, a hotel must be at least 50 years old, listed in or eligible for the National Register of Historic Places or recognized locally as having historic significance.

"The staff and owners of the Napa River Inn and Historic Napa Mill are thrilled to be included in this prestigious organization which gives us the identity we have been working towards for the last five years. We are the only National Trust Historic Hotel of America in the Napa Valley and welcome the traveler who enjoys and respects the preservation of the past."

The Napa River Inn is rich in history and architectural integrity. The cornerstone of the Historic Napa Mill, the Hatt Building was built in 1884 and serves as the primary structure of the Napa River Inn. It became Building #77000316 on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977. The preservation efforts began in 1990 when Harry Price undertook his vision to restore and transform the dilapidated and abandoned warehouse property into an entertainment complex. The Historic Napa Mill project is the largest historic redevelopment undertaking in the history of Napa.
The Napa River Inn features oversized quarters with fireplaces, canopy beds, tufted lounge chairs, velvet ottomans, slipper tubs and walk-in showers. Keeping with the historic restoration, these rooms have maple hardwood floors, massive cove and baseboard moldings and offer a perspective of the historic Napa Valley while providing the convenience of modern amenities. Art in the Hatt Building rooms is reflective of a burgeoning river town of the 1800's.

The Napa River Inn has three meeting rooms: The Keig Board Room, accommodating up to 12 people, the Parlor accommodating up to 12 people, and Hatt Hall with banquet and meeting accommodations for up to 100 people. Hatt Hall's interior appointment sinclude the original pressed tin wall panels and deep cove moldings, originally installed in the space when it was a music room in the late 1800's. Both spaces offer state-of-the-art audiovisual equipment and are equipped with T-1 data ports, with up to 30 users online simultaneously and wireless high-speed internet connectivity.

Established in 1989 with 32 charter members, National Trust Historic Hotels of America is a diverse collection of properties ranging form large luxury hotels in major cities to small-town inns, country retreats and polished resorts throughout the country.

The directory of member hotels can be purchased by sending a check for $3.50 to National Trust Historic Hotels of America, P.O. Box 320, Washington, D.C. 20055-0320. Rooms at any of the member hotels can be reserved by calling 800-678-8946 or a travel planner. Reservations made through Historic Hotels of America support the National Trust for Historic Preservation, a non-profit organization of 200,000 members that provides leadership, education and advocacy to save America's diverse historic places and revitalize our communities.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation is a private, non profit membership organization dedicated to protecting the irreplaceable. Recipient of the National Humanities Medal, the Trust provides leadership, education and advocacy to save America's diverse historic places and revitalize communities. Its Washington, D.C. headquarters staff, six regional offices and 21 historic sites work with the Trust's quarter-million members and thousands of local community groups in all 50 states.

For more information, visit the National Trust's web site at www.nationaltrust.org.
For more information, visit the Historic Hotels of America Web site at www.historichotels.org.

10/03