Dennis and Debbie Emery are the new owners of the Armour Hotel in Red Boiling Springs.

They were entertaining a “full house” for the weekend of the annual Antique Auto Show, and said they were delighted to be the new owners of the historic hotel.

“I'm retired from Ford Motor Company, after thirty years as a human resources manager,” explained Dennis. “We've been living in Franklin (TN), and Debbie has worked the past twelve years at Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville. She's always dreamed of owning a lovely bed and breakfast like the Armour, and I've always dreamed of making her happy by actually doing it.”

The Armour's Red Boiling Springs Hotel the Emery's now own is a two story native brick structure built in 1924 by attorney John Smith. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and was first called Smith's Brick Hotel, being the first brick hotel structure in town.

In 1991, Brenda and Bobby Thomas renamed the hotel of today. Their desire to preserve Red Boiling Springs' history motivated the Thomas' to purchase the hotel, and they immediately began renovation of the building.

For many years, they continued their efforts to help revitalize the healing tradition of the area for all of the seasonal and year-round guests.

The Armour was sold to Reba and Laban Hilton in 1999 and managed by Reba's mother, Joy Pike until 2008. The Emery's bought the historical hotel from the Hiltons just this past month.

“One of the things we loved about it is the fact that this is the only facility in the whole State of Tennessee that offers a mineral bath house,” said Dennis Emery.

“The people who stay with us are a delight,” added Debbie Emery, “and we've met wonderful people everywhere we go in Red Boiling Springs.”

The Armour's new owners are looking forward to another busy and long weekend with the upcoming Cyclemos Second Annual Motorcycle Show and Swap Meet, a four day event open to the public Thursday, September 18 through Sunday, September 21.

For more information on the Armour and the other fine old hotels in Red Boiling Springs, go to www.rbstn.com.