Sweet Briar’s Florence Elston Inn & Conference Center debuts refreshed rooms and event spaces

For the past several months, The Florence Elston Inn & Conference Center on the campus of Sweet Briar College has been updating and refreshing its guest rooms and event spaces. From 5 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, May 2, the Inn will host an open house for members of the community to view the new spaces.

The updates are possible because of a gift from the Beemers, the family of Florence Elston and Gordon Beemer, who established an endowment in 1997 to support the expansion of The Florence Elston Inn & Conference Center. At the time it was created, the endowment also provided funds for future maintenance of the facility. The updates this spring include painting and the replacement of the soft furnishings, including upholstery and bedding.

The Inn’s goal has always been to provide a comfortable and elegant facility for members of the Sweet Briar community, as well as members of the public. The refreshing of the event spaces and accommodations will not only enhance the guest experience, but will also strengthen the Inn’s reputation as a destination for meetings, weddings, reunions and more.


The Beemer Lounge in The Florence Elston Inn


In addition to being a source of pride to the College and a place to welcome both prospective families and alumnae, the Inn provides an alternative stream of revenue for Sweet Briar, helping ensure the College’s future financial sustainability. “The enhancements to The Florence Elston Inn wouldn’t be possible without the generosity of the Beemer family,” said Mary Pope Maybank Hutson ’83, Sweet Briar’s vice president for development and alumnae relations. “We’re grateful for their continued commitment to, and stewardship of, the Inn.”

The Inn is open to the public and provides a number of venues around campus for events ranging from weddings to business meetings. To reserve a room or get information about hosting your event at the Inn, visit elstoninn.com.