The History of the Best Places to Stay in Kentucky

I stumbled upon Riverside Inn one weekend when my husband and I were coming back from Ohio. An accident had happened on the expressway (no surprise there), so we were rerouted off the highway by our map app. We happened to drive by Riverside Inn, where I automatically turned to my husband with much excitement and questioned, “Did you see that home?” My next question followed quickly, “Where are we?” On this day, I wasn’t the driver, so I really wasn’t paying attention. The home grabbed my attention, though, as we passed through Warsaw, KY. I then searched for the big white home in Warsaw on my phone, and just like that, I knew we had passed Riverside Inn.

Upon returning home, I sent a message to the owners of Riverside asking if I could visit to feature them on my website page, Historic Places to Stay in Kentucky. As you can see, the answer was yes. This past week, my daughter and I had the amazing opportunity to stay, wander through this beauty, and visit with the owners to discuss their story and the home’s history.

So, without further ado, let me introduce you to Captain James H. McDanell.

Captain James Henry McDanell Sr. (1823 – 1899)

James Henry McDanell was born on February 13, 1823, in Cynthiana, KY, to John Franklin and Sarah Hoggins McDanell. James was the oldest of eight children, four sons and four daughters. He grew up on a farm in Cynthiana until 1839, when his family moved to Gallatin County, KY. James was 16 years old when his family settled along Lick Creek near Sparta, KY. He attended school there, and in 1844, McDanell began teaching at the Lick Creek School.

“Starting as a poor boy when he first came to this county,
he had no capital to begin on but energy and pluck.”

James H. McDanell Obituary¹

On June 9, 1848, McDanell married Arena (also written as Irene) Crouch Calendar. In 1849, he moved to Warsaw and opened a meat business, Ginn & McDanell, with a small stock of goods and even less experience in merchandising. About 14 months later, Mr. D. P. Ginn retired, leaving McDanell to continue the business on his own.

Family & Business

James and Arena welcomed three children into the world: John Wesley McDanell b. 1850, Flora McDanell b. 1852, and James Henry McDanell Jr. b. 1858.

It was John and James Jr. who would become a part of the J. H. McDanell & Sons Mercantile business, one of the most important businesses in Warsaw, years later.

But before we get to the mercantile, we’ll talk about how McDanell got there. McDanell continued in the meat business, including pork packing, from 1851 to 1860. He made regular trading trips to New Orleans and places in between, building his fortune. In addition to the business, McDanell also farmed his land and established a wharf on the farm for commercial purposes. He was a lover of fine stock and would be found exhibiting his “fine string of short-horned cattle”² at various fairs nearby. He often won awards for those cattle. He expanded his farm to include hogs and sheep and built one of the finest farms in the state.

When the Civil War began, McDanell changed course and focused on his merchandising business, growing it into the most successful in Warsaw.

J. H. McDanell & Sons Mercantile

“McDanell & Sons is the most commodious quarters in town. Their main store building, an elegant brick, having a front of 60 feet and a depth of 99 feet, with two floors and containing 10,958 square feet of floor space. Added to this is their immense wareroom, 40×100 feet, with two floors, containing 8,000 sqare feet.”

NKY Views³

Customers are said to have “flocked” to the “bargain house” that carried the best of everything.

Under the department of Dry Goods, they carried silks, sateens, velvets, and the “latest weaves and most striking designs in woolen dress goods.” They carried clothing for men, women, and children, as well as hosiery, gloves, hats, shoes, boots, shawls, and coats. I believe that if you wore it, they carried it. They also carried home linens, carpets, and rugs. A service was also available in this department, where a tailor would take your measurements and have your clothing made-to-order. This sounds crazily upscale to me for this time period!

The Mercantile also had a Millinery and Ladies’ Shoes Department. This is where you’d find the latest styles, where you could match your hat and shoes to any outfit.

When you visited the Furniture, Stoves, and Hardware Department, you’d find “the largest stock, the best goods, and the most extensive assortment.”⁴ It was in this department that you could purchase heating and cooking grates, shelf hardware, tools, pocket and table cutlery, builder’s hardware, barbed wire, a bed to sleep on, a table to eat at, and a cabinet to store your dishes. Again, I think if you could think of it, they would have it.

On top of all those departments, this was also where you went to get your groceries. It sounds like an amazing place to shop, don’t you think?

Now, when McDanell’s sons were old enough to get in on the family business, they did. Under their father’s careful watch and guidance, both John and James Jr. became “the best businessmen in the state.”

McDanell Sr’s other Accomplishments

James Henry McDanell was seen as the most highly esteemed citizen of Warsaw, KY. He was a Captain in the Kentucky Militia from 1847 until the Civil War began. (Being a Militia Captain, he was expected to serve the Union, but he sided with the Confederacy. So, he hired a man from Ohio to take his place. This was a common practice at the time.) Prior to 1856, he was the Gallatin County assessor. He joined the “Know Nothing” party and made a run for the state Legislature. He served in the General Assembly from 1856 to 1857. He later switched to the Democratic Party and was elected to the State Senate in 1884 and was reelected in 1888. He served as the County Democratic Chairman for numerous years, as well as a general party advisor. He helped establish the Deposit Bank in Warsaw and then served as its director. He was a member of the Methodist Church and was superintendent of the Sunday School.

“In all the improvements of the County, his finger-marks can be discerned, his assistance being given both in contributions and by advice.”

Warsaw INdependent⁵

Lynwood Hall

Captain James Henry McDanell Sr. built his gorgeous home in 1869. It became known as Lynwood Hall. Originally, the front and back of the home were identical, as one side faced the Ohio River and the other faced today’s US Hwy 42.

The original section of the home still features heart pine hardwood floors, gorgeous fireplace mantles and hearths, a stunning staircase, a parlour, a library, what is now a billiards room, and bedrooms. While I don’t have measurements, the bedrooms are large enough to hold a king-size bed, 2 bedside tables, a chaise lounge, a side chair and table, and a desk. The rooms feature 14-foot ceilings on both floors and nearly floor-to-ceiling windows. The library floor still features inset hardwood designs.

The entrance hall, stairway, bedrooms, billiards room, parlour, and library are all a part of the McDanell’s original 1869 home. / All photos property of KHT unless noted otherwise.

The home stayed in the family until McDanell’s death in 1899. He was buried next to his wife, who died in 1887, in the Warsaw Cemetery. Mr. McDanell was so loved by the community and the surrounding counties that seven to eight hundred people attended his funeral.

I don’t have any information on what happened to the home for the next 50 years, but in 1950, the Hill family acquired the home.

Hill’s Nursery & Heritage Hall

William H. Hill purchased the property in 1950, turning the farmland into a large tree nursery. Some of the trees grown on the property can still be found on the grounds, including Magnolias, Dogwoods, American Hollies, Oaks, American Lindens, Tulips, Persimmons, and Weeping Cherry, just to name a few.

It was during the Hills’ ownership that the home’s front facade was changed, adding the 2-story brick columns that are still seen today. I also believe this would have been when the summer kitchen was attached to the home, and the porch on the far right of the photo was enclosed to become an interior part of the home. Also at this same time, the name of the property changed to Heritage Hall.

Front views of the Riverside Inn, Left c. 1940s, Right c. 1950s / Image credit: Riverside Inn and Find-a-Grave

William Hill’s daughter, Marie Hill Roberts, later inherited the home, followed by Harry and Bonnie Roberts. The home was sold out of the family in 2010. The new owners, Dennis and Joyce Griffin, had plans to give this beauty a new life.

Riverside Inn Bed & Breakfast

Dennis and Joyce Griffin spent more than a year on the restoration and renovation of the McDanells’ original home. The couple spent roughly $1 million on the project, which included adding on the west wing of the home. With the west wing, the Griffins added a large conference room with a men’s and women’s restroom, a first-floor bedroom, a bridal suite with a private bathroom, and private restrooms for two original upstairs bedrooms. An addition was also built out the back of the home on the east side to create a beautiful breakfast room with a full wall of windows so guests could enjoy the view of the river. The renovation allowed the Griffins to offer 5 private suites with newly added restrooms and an elevator so that all guests could enjoy a stay in a second-floor room.

Each room in the home is named for a tree found on the property. We stayed in the Tulip Room. Additional options are the American Linden Room, the Magnolia Room, the Oak Room, and the Chestnut Room.

Awards and Reviews

Top 10 Most Romantic Inns in the World
Top 10 Inn for Business Travel
Glowing Reviews from Guests on TripAdvisor, Facebook, and Google

BedandBreakfast.com

Changing Hands

The Riverside Inn Bed and Breakfast has changed hands twice since it first opened in 2011. The B&B was run by Ray and Mandy Branscum for a bit before Chad and Rachel Ely purchased the historic property just last year, in the Spring of 2025. Since then, Chad and Rachel have been going strong! Nearly every weekend between now and the end of 2026 is booked with a wedding. They’ve remodeled the bridal suite, repainted where needed, added their own spin to the breakfast menu, and they’re currently repairing the veranda on the back of the home.

In other ways, they’ve left things the same – why mess with a good thing, right? The rooms are still as cozy as the day the B&B opened in 2011, and the room names remain the same. The comfy beds, gorgeous furnishings, plush towels and robes, and phenomenal hospitality are still a priority… and the reviews, well, those are still raving on both Google and Facebook. After our own visit, I understand why!

Our Visit…

My daughter and I pulled into the drive with that view I had seen weeks before. We pulled right up to the front door and were greeted by both Chad and Rachel. We were welcomed into the home, where we were told about the property and all the amenities available to us. Rachel then took time to show us around the first floor. We were told that we were the only ones in the home that night, so we would have the opportunity to see every room in the home, including all the guest suites. We were given the code to the front door, told what time to arrive for breakfast, and shown to our room, with Chad carrying our bags for us. They bid us farewell and headed off to their apartment in the far east wing of the home, and left us to explore the home, which you know we did!

The view of the Ohio River from our room, the conference room, bedrooms in the west wing addition (these are carpeted), a bathroom in one of the suites, the breakfast room, and the coffee and tea bar available throughout your stay. / All photos property of KHT

We explored every room in the home, and I took more photos than I know what to do with! The ones I am sharing with you are just a fraction of what I took. We were excited to see Scrabble, Chess, and card games on every side table throughout the home. We were told about the Pac-Man console table in the conference room, and we located an entire cabinet of board games. Basically, if we could name it, they had it! My daughter and I made plans to play games and watch movies once the sunset. When we finished exploring the inside, we headed out the back door to explore the grounds. More than anything, we simply wanted to sit and watch the water go by on the Ohio River. Seriously, I delved into the binder of the home’s history while my daughter sat on one of the many swings available on the property and read a book. We watched the sunset over the river, and just before it became too dark to see, we went back inside.

Upon return to the home, we each made ourselves a cup of hot tea from the selection of flavors, and then meandered into the parlour where we played a game of Scrabble (I won) and played a few songs on the piano. We then moved into the conference room, where we played a few games of Pac-Man on the console table. I felt like I was back at Pizza Hut from my childhood. My daughter didn’t have a clue how to play, but watching me beat her taught her really quickly! We then explored the game cabinet and played a few more games before deciding to turn in for the night. Once we were back in the Tulip Room, snuggled up in the king-size bed, we turned on a movie, and both fell asleep pretty quickly in such a comfy bed.

The next morning, we were up bright and early, got ourselves ready, and headed straight for the breakfast room for our 9:00 AM gourmet meal. The table was already beautifully set with our spots picked out, so that we could face the river. We were greeted with a very cheery, “Good morning! How’d you sleep?” from both Chad and Rachel. We were then served a bowl of fresh fruit compote and a plate heaping with food! There was French toast, skillet potatoes, sausage patties, and scrambled eggs. We were also offered orange juice and coffee, and a special glass of Strawberry Delight.

I truly don’t have enough words to describe the deliciousness of our breakfast. While I loved everything, my favorite was the French toast. Let me say this, I have told myself for years that I don’t like French toast, and maybe it was because I never had anything like this French toast. It was incredible! It was so creamy and custard-y (Is that a word?) that it was like eating a lighter version of a cheesecake. Holy cow! Scrumptious is the word that comes to mind. I was so incredibly full, but I didn’t want to leave a single morsel of that French toast on my plate. YUMMY!

Once we had finished our food and could eat nothing more, Rachel offered us a look at the Summer kitchen. It had once been a free-standing building, but was connected, or built into, the expansion of the east wing of the home. Of course, I said yes! After passing through the Elys’ kitchen, we stepped into the brick room that has now become a mini-museum of all the artifacts found on the property from days gone by. While I was entertained by all the items in the kitchen, I was well aware that the hearth and fireplace typical of a Summer kitchen were missing. I then wondered if maybe the space, although a wee bit large, had been used as a smoke house, or maybe the chimney had been removed and the wall bricked in when the expansion was completed?? Oh, the things that historic buildings make me wonder!

We finished up our time in the Summer kitchen and bid farewell to Chad and Rachel. We couldn’t thank them enough for such a wonderful stay, and we really didn’t want to go, but we needed to head on down the road to discover more history in Warsaw. We loaded up the car with our bags, but before we pulled out, we walked the property one last time and took our traditional selfies to remember the trip. This time we decided on two: one with the house and one with the river. Just like that, we were back in the car and on our way to make more memories together.

…and Reflection

Everyone who reads my blog regularly knows that I am going to say… I loved this trip. It’s true, I always say that. That’s because I only write about the best places to visit, and now I also write about the best places to stay. So, of course, I’m going to love it!

This visit made my heart happy in a completely different way. This was only my second overnight stay for my blog. The first one I did by myself out at Maple Hill Manor, which was awesome, by the way. If you haven’t read that one, make sure to check it out, too. Having my daughter with me for this trip made it extra special. It was nice spending extra time with her, since she’s back home from her freshman year of college. This was also her first-ever experience at a Bed & Breakfast. It was nice to still provide her with new experiences. Man, did she get a great experience to be her first!!

With no one else in the house with us, we talked a lot and played so many games together. It was so nice to be face-to-face with neither of us behind our screens. The experience was simply relaxing and peaceful. We both agreed that we would spend almost all of our time on the swings by the river if this spot were our own.

This home felt different, too. Because of all the updates, the home doesn’t feel old, and for this home with this atmosphere, it works. The floors in the original section do creak, but the windows have been upgraded and the bathrooms are practically new, having been built in 2010. The walls and trim are all in fabulous condition because the restoration was so well done. It’s simply gorgeous from top to bottom, inside and out. The beds are cozy, the rooms are massive but feel quaint and warm like a fuzzy blanket. The bathrooms are lovely, with plenty of space and extra amenities. The water pressure and temperature were perfect. Each room also has a cart of “extras” that you can pay for in cash or add it to your room stay. Our cart had sodas, candy, chips, and crackers – a nice treat when you’re feeling the need for a small snack.

Honestly, I could go on and on about how wonderful this stay was for my daughter and me. She loved it equally and said more than once that she’d love to visit some day again. I can’t possibly agree more! I would love to visit again and do everything on repeat. It was simply that perfect. (Although I would also love to spend some time playing pool in the billiards room. I would love to spend more time on the swings reading by the river. I would love to use the gas fire pit in the screened-in gazebo, too! We simply didn’t have enough time to do everything there was to enjoy!)

If you ever have a chance to stay, you absolutely must. Even if you don’t have a chance, you should make it happen. It is totally worth it!

I can’t thank Chad and Rachel enough for the wonderful opportunity to enjoy a night in their absolutely lovely B&B. I’ll close by saying, go on, get and see Kentucky and visit Riverside Inn B&B while you’re at it!

Until next time…

Happy Travels!

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1. History papers available at Riverside Inn Bed & Breakfast ↩︎
2. Obituary of James Henry McDanell, Warsaw Independent, September 2, 1899 ↩︎
3. “Our Old Reliable and Well Known Merchants: J. H. McDanell & Sons,” nkyviews.com ↩︎
4. The Warsaw Independent, January 22, 1898 ↩︎
5. The Warsaw Independent, October 17, 1885 ↩︎