An Inn Full of Hometown Love
Each place we stay leaves us with a unique impression. What was it about The Inn at Piggott? We found hometown love as the key to their uniqueness—and this place has an Inn-full-of-love.
One of our recent trips took us across the far northeast corner of Arkansas. This is where you find the small town of Piggott. The Inn is in the heart of town, right on the square.
So, what did we find at The Inn?
The Inn at Piggott sits on the corner, across from the town square.
Location
193 W. Main Street
Piggott, AR 72454
Contact:
Tracy Cole
(870) 598-8888
Check In: 3-6 PM
Check Out: 11 AM
Breakfast: Included
Common area where you can relax, read, and enjoy a little bit of local history.
Ledger on display in the dining room from The Bank of Piggott shows handwritten entries dated 1927-29.
Historic Building in the Heart of Town
Built in 1925 in the heart of Piggott, the historic building first served the town as the Bank of Piggott. The bank lasted 4-years until the Great Depression hit.
Then, reorganized in 1929 as the Piggott State Bank, the bank remained in that location for nearly half a century.
Following the banks were several other businesses. Later it housed the Downtown Inn, predecessor to the Inn at Piggott.
Besides being almost 100 years old, the building has another claim to fame. Paul Pfeiffer, father-in-law of American literary great, Ernest Hemingway, had his land office in part of what is now the Inn. No doubt, Hemingway spent some time in the building.
The "Water Closet" off the common area houses antiques and memorabilia from Piggott.
Close-up of an old plumbing pipe in the Water Closet.
Exterior brick walls were left exposed. This one's in the dining room.
Portrait of Pauline Pfeiffer-Hemingway (wife of literary great, Ernest Hemingway) hangs in the "Pauline Room."
Town History at the Heart of the Inn
Renovated into a bed and breakfast, The Inn at Piggott highlights the town’s unique history. Owners, Tracy and Joe Cole, wanted the nine distinct suites to each tell a different story. (Check out their website to see the different rooms.)
We stayed in the Pauline Room, named so after Pauline Pfeiffer, 2nd wife of Ernest Hemingway. Incidentally, she worked as a fashion journalist for Vogue and was very successful. The room’s décor is definitely Parisian inspired, with all the feminine touches.
Movie script from "A Face in the Crowd" filmed in 1957 in Piggott.
Decor telling Piggott's history hangs in the common area.
Andy Griffith made his film debut in Piggott. A copy of the script sits on the bureau found in the dining room. We enjoyed skimming through the pages and watched the movie, A Face in the Crowd, after we returned home.
Likewise, the common area on the 2nd floor houses more items of interest about the town’s history. Some hangs on the wall. Some you will see stacked on shelves. Hometown love is abundantly shared at the Inn.
Sitting area in the Pauline Room is decorated with a Parisian theme. Pauline lived in Paris while working for Vogue.
Peace for the Soul, Healing for the Heart
Joe Cole’s desire and goal for the Inn was more than just lodging for the town. According to Tracy, he wanted The Inn at Piggott to “be a place of peace, place of healing, place of rest for anyone who came here.” That’s exactly what we experienced.
The Pauline Room has the most comfortable bed we have ever encountered.
Restful Rooms
When was the last time you were so comfortable, you slept 9-hours straight? We did during our stay here. The bed was ultra-comfortable. Room darkening draperies truly blocked the light, so much so, the time surprised us when we awakened.
Breakfast was beyond delicious. The Inn at Piggott serves our top favorite French toast.
Delicious Breakfast
Don’t expect the staff to serve you a generic breakfast. It’s anything but generic! Tracy’s goal is for breakfast to be an “event” you remember always.
Seeing the photos from our breakfast reminds me of just how delicious it was. I literally sat back in amazement after the 1st bite of my French toast. Request it when you stay!!
The dining room is available for guests any time of day.
There's No Place Like Home
We learned a great deal about the area during our short visit and stay at The Inn at Piggott. (More to come about that in future posts!)
But even more than what we learned, we felt something special. We could feel the history throughout the Inn plus the owner’s great love of their hometown.
The Coles definitely share their feeling that “there’s no place like home.” Be sure to visit. You’ll see what we mean.
Sign hanging above the staircase landing bench explains hometown love of a Southern town.
Tracy was a delight throughout our visit and her breakfast was incredibly delicious
About the Owner
Meet Tracy Cole, innkeeper and (along with her husband Joe) owner of The Inn at Piggott. Both were born in Piggott, grew up and went to school together, married there, then moved away to pursue their careers.
When the Piggott Downtown Inn came up for sale in 2013, Joe took notice. Tracy said he kept talking about it and she finally asked him one day, “Are you wanting to buy it?”
Joe’s reply was, “Well what do you think?”
Tracy told me running a B&B “wasn’t anything that I ever had a heart’s desire to do but we both love our hometown.”
Both had parents still in Piggott so, after 24 years away from the area, they returned. Tracy and Joe purchased the old bank building, remodeled, redecorated, and reimagined it into The Inn at Piggott.
And the rest, they say, is history.
**Thank you to Tracy and Joe for the interviews and allowing us to photograph your Inn for our Worthy Detours Travel Blog. Also, thank you for your kindness in providing our overnight stay and delicious breakfast!
Looking for more amazing places to sleep during your travels? Head over to our "Places to Sleep" page for other Worthy Detour stops.
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