The main and carriage houses were originally built in 1927 by Dr. B.C. Thomasson and his wife, Lillian Franklin Thomasson. In 1932, McKinley Edwards, a highly decorated World War I Marine veteran, purchased the property and made it his family home until his passing in 1960.
The Edwards family moved to Bryson City in 1920, where Counselor Edwards embarked on a distinguished 40-year legal career. Notably, he defended 88 first-degree murder cases without a single death penalty conviction—an extraordinary record that speaks to his skill and integrity.
His wife, Annie Angel Edwards, was a trailblazing businesswoman in her own right. In 1940, she designed and oversaw the construction of the adjacent Edwards Apartments, which she managed for 46 years. These apartments were later thoughtfully transformed into the Inn's 13 spacious guest rooms, preserving the legacy of the Edwards family while welcoming guests with timeless charm.
