Today in Wheeling History: March 4—McLure House Hotel, one of Wheeling's most historic hotels, opened its doors in downtown Wheeling (1852).
The McLure House Hotel, constructed by John McLure Sr., opened on March 4, 1852, at the corner of Market and Monroe (now 12th) streets in downtown Wheeling. At the time, it was the largest hotel in Virginia, as West Virginia would not become a separate state until 1863. Throughout its illustrious history, the McLure hosted numerous dignitaries, including Civil War Generals Frémont, Rosecrans, Sherman, and Grant, as well as at least 11 U.S. presidents such as Theodore Roosevelt, Harry Truman, Dwight Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, and Richard Nixon.
The historic hotel underwent extensive renovations between 1982 and 1984, demolishing the Market Street side and adding 135 additional rooms and a glass-enclosed supper club on the top floor. In 2021, Roxby Development, led by Jeffrey Morris, purchased the hotel for $6.245 million and began another series of renovations. However, by May 2023, Roxby filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy with estimated liabilities between $10-50 million, owing $5.3 million on the McLure purchase alone. The situation worsened when Morris was sentenced to five years in federal prison in September 2024 for defrauding investors of more than $5 million.
By November 2024, the hotel was condemned by Wheeling officials due to numerous safety issues including mold, sewage leaks, broken fire alarms, and elevator problems, forcing both hotel guests and apartment tenants to vacate. In December 2024, Joe France from Arkansas announced plans to purchase the property with an April 2025 closing date, intending to rehabilitate the building over 12 months and reopen it as a branded hotel.
To learn more: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV (https://tinyurl.com/3zcxhdnu); Weelunk (https://tinyurl.com/3xye9jjh), The Intelligencer/Wheeling News-Register (https://tinyurl.com/5673vxvk) (https://tinyurl.com/2sb84yb8) (https://tinyurl.com/mrhfy5mc) (https://tinyurl.com/29puk7es), WTRF (https://tinyurl.com/4uwtmtfx) (https://tinyurl.com/267ub3tr), LEDE News (https://tinyurl.com/3tdu4ysr)
Photo credits: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV; Google Maps
The McLure House Hotel, constructed by John McLure Sr., opened on March 4, 1852, at the corner of Market and Monroe (now 12th) streets in downtown Wheeling. At the time, it was the largest hotel in Virginia, as West Virginia would not become a separate state until 1863. Throughout its illustrious history, the McLure hosted numerous dignitaries, including Civil War Generals Frémont, Rosecrans, Sherman, and Grant, as well as at least 11 U.S. presidents such as Theodore Roosevelt, Harry Truman, Dwight Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, and Richard Nixon.
The historic hotel underwent extensive renovations between 1982 and 1984, demolishing the Market Street side and adding 135 additional rooms and a glass-enclosed supper club on the top floor. In 2021, Roxby Development, led by Jeffrey Morris, purchased the hotel for $6.245 million and began another series of renovations. However, by May 2023, Roxby filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy with estimated liabilities between $10-50 million, owing $5.3 million on the McLure purchase alone. The situation worsened when Morris was sentenced to five years in federal prison in September 2024 for defrauding investors of more than $5 million.
By November 2024, the hotel was condemned by Wheeling officials due to numerous safety issues including mold, sewage leaks, broken fire alarms, and elevator problems, forcing both hotel guests and apartment tenants to vacate. In December 2024, Joe France from Arkansas announced plans to purchase the property with an April 2025 closing date, intending to rehabilitate the building over 12 months and reopen it as a branded hotel.
To learn more: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV (https://tinyurl.com/3zcxhdnu); Weelunk (https://tinyurl.com/3xye9jjh), The Intelligencer/Wheeling News-Register (https://tinyurl.com/5673vxvk) (https://tinyurl.com/2sb84yb8) (https://tinyurl.com/mrhfy5mc) (https://tinyurl.com/29puk7es), WTRF (https://tinyurl.com/4uwtmtfx) (https://tinyurl.com/267ub3tr), LEDE News (https://tinyurl.com/3tdu4ysr)
Photo credits: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV; Google Maps
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