Situated high on the geological wonder that is the bluff, the city of Natchez has been renowned across history for its panorama views of the great Mississippi River. For centuries, the unparalleled riverside sunsets begged for front porches to be built in their direction, and today several of Natchez’s finest historic buildings are all the more distinguished by their view.
Some of the most exclusive vantages in the city are on the properties of the Victorian mansions in the Cemetery Bluff District—many of them now operating as bed and breakfasts, allowing visitors to experience the intimate majesty of the Mississippi River sunset for themselves.
Weymouth Historic Inn offers one of the best views of not only the River, but also the surrounding farmland, forests, and the Gothic style Natchez City Cemetery. Built in 1850 for Virginian Colonel John Weymouth, the mansion is one of Natchez’s most remarkable examples of Greek Revival architecture, situated right on top of one the highest bluffs. In fact, part of the mansion’s tragic magnificence is its precarious position on the edge, which—due to erosion over time—is growing ever closer to the house itself. Guests will not be able to resist an evening in the pool, which overlooks the bluff and is overseen by Romanesque statues. $145–$150 per night.
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Weymouth Hall
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Another luxury bluffside inn is the Kings Daughters Bed and Breakfast—a Colonial Revival style building with Shaker and Bungalow influences, overlooking the cemetery, a yard draped in mossy live oaks, and of course, the river. The Kings Daughters, built in 1911, was run for almost sixty years as a home for unwed mothers and children, and then through 1980 as a home for disabled adults. After falling into disrepair for more than two decades, a Natchez couple purchased the property and completely renovated it—honoring its history while incorporating modern amenities. Today, its suites are named for women who once lived within these walls, as well as women who supported the cause of the Kings Daughters organization. Guests can enjoy the property’s splendor hand-in-hand with their hosts’ hospitality through daily gatherings such as homemade breakfast in the dining hall, tea on the front porch, and a self-serve happy hour in the parlor every evening. $160–$229 per night.
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Kings Daughters Bed and Breakfast
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If being in the center of things is more your style, the Riverwalk Inn in the downtown Bluff District offers its own perspective of the river, with a comfortable balcony positioning you just right for a sunset toast. The luxury space is more modernly appointed than its above counterparts, with a touch of the eclectic antique. But you can’t enter any building in Natchez without being bombarded by history; this is the only surviving antebellum cotton warehouse in city, and has also been home to a wholesale grocery, a body shop, and the WPA. The Inn sits atop Bowie’s Rabbit Hole, putting you at the heart of Natchez’s live music scene, and mere steps away from the river itself. Around $200 per night.
Learn more about Natchez’s many historic overnight accommodations at visitnatchez.org.
