Built between 1840 and 1852, in the heart of the Victorian Era, the lovely Cedar Grove Mansion Inn & Restaurant on the banks of the Yazoo River is among the premiere bed and breakfasts in the South. Five elegant buildings set among five acres of verdant gardens. The beauty of Cedar Grove, however, tends to belie its sordid past. The original owners, John and Elizabeth Klein, were northern sympathizers during the Civil War; which did not make them social standouts in this Confederate state. In fact, it even served for a time as a Union hospital. Locals began telling tales of the house being cursed for the Klein’s loyalties. This was bolstered by the fact that four of their ten children died at a young age. Despite all of this, the Klein family stayed on at the home until 1919. For over 60 years, the mansion passed through various owners who didn’t have the same affection for the home as the Kleins. As such, it was in pretty bad condition when purchased in the early 1980s by people intent on making Cedar Grove shine the way it was supposed to.
With a lot of love and a little more elbow grease, Cedar Grove was turned a magnificent bed and breakfast. Among the largest in Mississippi, it is probably the most luxurious. When John Klein built the Greco-Roman style mansion as a present for his wife, he spared absolutely no expense. Touring Europe together they amassed a glorious collection of furnishings. There are Bohemian glass windows, substantial Italian marble fireplaces, French gas lit crystal chandeliers, and wonderful artwork from around the world. They also had the top artisans of the time come to design special pieces of furniture, a roof top garden, fountains, and a simply gorgeous swimming pool. All of these were restored to their original beauty and make for a truly welcoming and comfortable stay. Each of Cedar Grove’s 33 uniquely and stunningly designed guest rooms is replete with authentic antique furnishings. Many feature spa style bathtubs set in marbled bathrooms, canopy beds, private patios, garden views, and chandeliers. Rooms are available in the main house, the garden cottage, the carriage house, country cottage, and river view suites and each is more spectacular than the next.
Clearly Cedar Grove Mansion Inn & Restaurant is a gloriously beautiful place to stay, but incredibly they do have more to offer. Their restaurant is superb, featuring Southern style cooking with a touch of elegance and class. Meals are served overlooking the colorful gardens in lovely glass walled rooms. Paired with impeccable service, it’s hard to go wrong booking a room here. In fact, so beloved is this homestead that it is rumored to still be the home of the original owners and quite a few others. There have been numerous purported ghostly incidents and sightings including Civil War soldiers walking past the mansion, babies crying, mysterious pipe smoke, and even a lost looking little girl who frequents the second floor of the main house. None of this has deterred the numerous couples who frequent Cedar Grove for romantic weekends and even grand fancy weddings. The air of the grounds simply exudes warmth and welcome. Beautiful surroundings, luxurious interiors, award winning dining, and world class service make Cedar Grove Mansion Inn & Restaurant a place you will certainly return to again and again.
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