House #4

The Wright Inn – 235 Pearson Drive. The oldest house on today’s tour, the Wright Inn was built in 1899 for Osella and Leva Wright.  It is one of Asheville’s best surviving examples of a Colonial Revival-influenced Queen Anne residence.  The Queen Anne style is characterized by irregularity of shape, plan, texture and color.

The Wrights have a colorful history.  A successful farmer from Illinois, Osella Wright came to Asheville in 1896.  He set up a carriage business, but it closed in 1901.  He turned to real estate development, subdividing several properties on land adjacent to his home.  In 1906, the Wrights separated, and Osella moved to a farm in Hominy Valley.  In 1910 he was indicted for immoral conduct, pleaded insanity, and was committed to the State Hospital in Morganton.  After his release, in 1913, he and Leva divided their property and he moved to Virginia and then to Florida.  Leva retained their home and lived there, ostensibly as a widow, taking in boarders and renting out the house for extended periods.   In 1930, when Osella was dying, he returned to his wife in Asheville and was buried secretly a few months later.  Leva remained in her home until her death in 1946, having lived in the house for 47 years.

In 1987, the house, by then in poor condition, was purchased by Barbara and Ed Siler, who completely rehabilitated it, gaining both a National Register Nomination and a Preservation Society Griffin Award.  The Silers opened the house as a bed and breakfast, and it has continued as such through several subsequent owners.

Sheri and Chris Riffle purchased the Wright Inn and Carriage House in June, 2019. They operate the bed and breakfast with the help of their daughter Jennah and son James.  James and Sheri serve as co-chefs.

Please enjoy cookies made by neighborhood bakers at the Wright Inn.