1899 Wright Inn & Carriage House
235 Pearson Dr
Sheri & Chris Riffle
info@wrightinn.com

The O.B. Wright House was built c.1899 for Osella B and Leva D. Wright from George F. Barber’s collection of plans. The Wrights, proprietors of a leather goods shop on Patton Avenue, made their home on Pearson Drive until 1913, when they sold the property to State Senator Julius C. Martin and his wife, Emily. On the same day, the Martins sold back a portion of the property to Leva Wright who reportedly took in nursing student boarders over the years. 

Leva Wright lived in the home for 47 years, passing away in 1946. After her death, the once-grand property fell into disrepair and became affectionately known by neighbors as “Faded Glory.” In the late 1980s, the house was rehabilitated for use as a bed-and-breakfast—purchased for just $18,000—and changed hands several times before the current owners, Chris and Sheri Riffle, restored it to its present elegance.

The distinctive 5,848-square-foot residence, with twelve bedrooms and twelve bathrooms, remains one of Asheville’s finest surviving examples of Queen Anne architecture. Set on a beautifully landscaped one-acre lot, the property also includes a charming three-bedroom, two-bathroom cottage.

The home’s exterior showcases Queen Anne features: an expansive wraparound porch and gazebo, multiple gables, slate roofs, Doric-columned porches, decorative spindle work, and intricate ornamental details. Inside, the thoughtful and comprehensive restoration harmonizes the home’s historic character with modern comfort.