Pinehurst Resort to acquire Magnolia Inn and Villaggio Ristorante in the Village

Pinehurst Resort in North Carolina is continuing its long history of expansion, now agreeing to acquire the Magnolia Inn and its Villaggio Ristorante & Bar.

The Magnolia Inn opened in 1896, making it the second-oldest hotel in the Village of Pinehurst, trailing only the resort’s Holly Inn (1895). Terms of the deal were not released.

The inn was purchased in 2019 by Ron and Julie Milton, who opened the popular Villaggio. The Miltons’ success impressed Bob Dedman Jr., whose family owns the resort and its nine full-size courses, the popular Cradle Short Course and a vast range of accommodations.

“In their short time here, Ron and Julie Milton have not only restored the charm and elegance of the Magnolia Inn, their exuberance and commitment has established a new standard of excellence for those frequenting the Village,” Dedman said in a media release. “We want to bring the Miltons’ full vision for the Magnolia to life and look forward to continuing the traditions and spirit they have brought to Pinehurst.”

The resort plans to renovate the Magnolia’s rooms and outdoor patio. Ron Milton will continue to oversee the inn and Villaggio through the end of 2021.

“While we had the opportunity to sell the Magnolia Inn and Villaggio Ristorante to other buyers, Julie and I felt it needed to be owned by the resort,” Ron Milton said. “Pinehurst understands the rich history, and we believe they have the pride in ownership the Magnolia Inn deserves. We also wanted Villaggio to stay the way it is, and we are assured that it will.”

Pinehurst No. 2 in North Carolina (Courtesy of Pinehurst)

Pinehurst has long been a top destination for golf, and the resort operates four of the top 15 courses in North Carolina on Golfweek’s Best Courses You Can Play list for public-access layouts. Pinehurst No. 2 is tops in the state and ranks No. 16 on Golfweek’s Best list for all classic courses built before 1960 in the U.S. The recently renovated Pinehurst No. 4 ranks second in the state on the public-access list and ties for No. 88 on Golfweek’s Best list for modern courses in the U.S.

Growth in the area should continue as the U.S. Golf Association plans to establish a second headquarters at Pinehurst, with construction slated to start in the spring of 2022. The USGA’s new amenities will include a new equipment-testing facility, an innovation hub, a museum and visitor center, and office space. Pinehurst No. 2 also will be the site of five more U.S. Opens in 2024, 2029, 2035, 2041 and 2047.