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photo by Luke Horton
Construction crews install new molding in Monmouth’s conference room. The Natchez hotel is currently expanding and changing it offerings.
Monmouth Plantation adding to its history
Published Sunday, November 4, 2007
NATCHEZ — Even at a centuries-old house, some change is good.
That’s the theory behind Monmouth Plantation’s recent updates — an expanded and refurbished meeting room and the transformation of parlors into dining rooms.
The meeting room on the hotel grounds received a large patio a little more than a year ago, providing more space. The kitchen was remodeled and expanded.
Photo by Destiney Robb
Monmouth Plantation owners Ron and Lani Riches are updating and improving the antebellum house and adding a restaurant. At top, the Natchez hotel has added a chapel for weddings and other celebrations. The hotel’s parlor, above, will be turned in a dining space.
These days, carpenters are measuring wall space for new large, gilded mirrors. Soon, the slightly faded carpet will be replaced with a lush new one. Fresh paint on the ceiling is also on the to-do list.
Lani Riches, who, along with her husband Ron, owns Monmouth, said it’s important to keep facilities up-to-date.
“We want people when they come here to experience another world, like they’ve escaped,” Riches said. “We want them to come back and it be more beautiful every time.”
The meeting room is used for everything from business meetings to wedding receptions.
Another change the hotel is making is to turn two downstairs parlors into dining rooms.
Currently, hotel guests are invited to a five-course dinner at 7:30 nightly. But the Riches wanted to make dining more flexible and invite the public.
So, while guests may keep the current dining schedule, they’ll also be able to make reservations and order what they like.
The parlors will keep their rich décor for added ambiance.
“We want to be the most elegant restaurant in Natchez, for special events or just a fun night out,” Ron Riches said.
The hotel recently remodeled a number of their bathrooms, incorporating marble and granite surfaces and new fixtures.
To keep a small hotel successful, things must constantly be examined and added.
One of the couple’s dreams is to build a spa on the estate’s grounds to add to Monmouth’s draw.
Lani Riches said they’d like to see it nestled in among the trees in a wooded area a little way from the house.
“We want it to be so tranquil and gorgeous,” she said. “We feel it would be wonderful, not just for guests but for our local people, too.”
A full spa would make the hotel even more of a destination, she said.
Ron Riches said he hopes to see the spa finished by the end of 2008.
Change for the better keeps business alive, Ron Riches said.
“You have to keep going if you want to keep doing good business,” Ron Riches said. “We’re constantly upgrading and renovating.”
Comments
Posted by sayitloud (anonymous) on November 5, 2007 at 6:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I guess there will be nothing left to see of the house tour then.....what will I get to see.....a HALL?
Posted by xenon314 (anonymous) on November 5, 2007 at 10:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Wow - could you possibly be a little more negative? Did you ever see Monmouth before the Riches took ownership of it? For all of the people in Natchez that rip tourism, consider the jobs that the Riches have created, and the nationwide exposure their little hotel gives Natchez.
Honestly, I am so tired of negative people! So many people do nothing but whine and moan, but never offer anything positive. Get over yourself.
Posted by sayitloud (anonymous) on November 5, 2007 at 11:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
whatever xenon314.....and the tourists are what I am thinking of....thank you.
btw....I do NOT care what you are tired of....I will give my opinion
Posted by lowrider (anonymous) on November 5, 2007 at 4:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Go Ron, I'm just glad to see someone trying to change something old and make it better, the blue hair mafia wouldn't dare do this. /cheer :) Such as Longwood they would rather let the place rot, instead of living out the original owners dream, and actually finish it.
Posted by scarlettohara (anonymous) on November 5, 2007 at 10:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Xenon,
THANK YOU for that comment! Couldn't have said it better myself. Sometimes, I think people only get on this thing to gripe. There's tons of good things happening around our little neck of the woods, yet there's always that 'Negative Nora' to try to knock it.
Just curious, sayitoutloud, have you ever even been inside Monmouth, or was this just the newest story to pick apart? Seriously, can't you see the positives of this story??
Lowrider, I'm 50/50 with you. I know they drone on about the "mystique" of Longwood never being finished, but if someone ever tried to finish that house, I would cry my eyes out!! It would be magnificent to see it finished, I'll admit. But don't you think it would lose the magic that truly makes it so special?
Posted by sayitloud (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 7:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
scarlettohara;
(my what a name) but to answer your question,YES as a matter of fact as I have been inside Monmouth numerous times which is why I know you'll see nothing now on the tour but a hall! I remember when the wing was open and you could see the bedroom of General Quitman along with his study....what is that wing now? A bar
Posted by lambchop (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 8:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Who care about the tours? Hey, if you have been there earlier and have seen it, what is wrong with increasing the warmth and love of a beautiful old home which is now a hotel. I think it is grand what the Riches have done and encourage them to continue. There is a good reason to spout your opinions but to be so negative or downgrading only reflects on the person giving it. Sorry your feelings are on your shoulders - take a likewise criticism the same way you dish it out. I know - I am preaching -- but my dad taught me as a kid to not dish it if you can't take it! Grow up and expand on the ideas of change. Look at the money being poured into Natchez. I love my city and would not want to live anywhere else!
Posted by sayitloud (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 8:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
lambchop;
What makes you think I TOO do not love Natchez?? Where did that come from??
whatever
Posted by faulkner (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 9:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
why not strike a match to the drapery?
the history of the house should be enough.
they don't touch up the Mona Lisa every few years.
if your pockets aren't deep enough to properly preserve the home, sell it to someone with better sense and more class.
pack up your cheap wine glasses and move up north!
Posted by sayitloud (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 10:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
my thoughts exactly faulkner
Posted by sayitloud (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 10:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
OH and by the way!! For those of you who think this brings money as you've said to Natchez.....THINK AGAIN!! They have the rooms...so no hotel gets that money, they have a restaurant....no restaurant gets that money, they have a gift shop so no shop in town gets THAT money so explain how this helps the town???
Posted by csguidry (anonymous) on November 7, 2007 at 7:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
sayitloud: I agree with you.... These tours keep going up in price and you see less and less. If they in fact wanted to have a retsaurant and spa then why not have a seperate business in town because they are forgetting that this is also going to hurt the B&B. This is supposed to be a quite home, a retreat to get away and relax, peace and quite with a taste of the old south now it will be a noisy restaurant with people running all over the place. Considering what it cost for rooms this may not have been such a good move after all.
IN some of the homes you only see the down stairs but you pay the same rate as other homes you see the whole house. Monmouth only shows the down stairs now which is the parlors and dining room etc.with this being turned into more dining space there will no longer be any tours. Natchez tours are mostly by word of mouth so in the end this could hurt more than help!
I do not think that sayitloud was being negative but just pointing out the facts and affects of the new changes and the impact it could very well have. I do not think the Riches have a bad idea but maybe have took the wrong road to get there! At this rate the home will cease to be a tour home and B&B and become more or less a business not suited for the purpose of the home as well as could loose the integrity and historical value of the home.
As for the blue hairs ... had it not been for this small group of ladies these houses would have long been done away with and Natchez would be like other small towns dead and dried up. I can also understand that small towns do not always have alot of jobs that provide good livings to raise a family on however had those ladies not interviened who is to say what would have became of Natchez? I know the homes would not be there and more than likely not as much as is there now it could have been just a plaque on the side of the road stating this is where the city of Natchez used to be! Those ladies deserve alot of repsect and praise for the hard work they have done to preserve Natchez and its history not only for the city and the many, many tourist but for history and future in it's self.I know I am incredibly thankful for all their efforts, hard work, and dedication...and so should everyone else.
Posted by lambchop (anonymous) on November 7, 2007 at 1:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Talk about twisting everything said. I am for Natchez all the way and the tours -- one house is not going to make a difference. Many of the owners come from outside of Natchez to upgrade the houses to make them tour ready. Good grief. Sure are a lot of testy people here. Go do whatever you want and that is to gripe anyway. You may not realize this but there is only a few people responding to these and I wonder why. Goodbye -- not worth the effort --
Posted by csguidry (anonymous) on November 7, 2007 at 7:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It sounds to me like those reading the replies seem to be the ones who are taking things wrong. I was simply pointing out a few facts as it was and just so everyone knows if they start letting one change a house then before long all of them will be doing it.... some of you may be from Natchez but if modernization is such a big issue for you then maybe you are in the wrong place.
I know that in past there has been some remarks made against the garden club and it's members ... yes the rules sometimes do seem strict but that is how you keep conformity. If this was a nilly willy thing then that beautiful victorian home could be a modernized version and would look awful. in short some modernization can ruin the historic fiber of a home.that is why the garden club sets high standards. They do deserve credit because without this orginization these home would more than likely not be standing for any of us to appreciate. You have to give credit where credit is due! They do work hard planning various events and so forth to keep things going if not then all the past efforts would go up in smoke.
By the way as for it being just one home maybe.... Devereaux is no longer open to the public and if that kept up then there would no longer be any tours or B&B. Like before mentioned I do not think the Riches have a bad idea in fact it is a very good one but I personally am just not too sure about them doing this in Monmouth. After all it is going to severly limit an already limited home.
Posted by sayitloud (anonymous) on November 7, 2007 at 8:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
csguidry;
Great post!! You are dead on! I also get a little P'O'd when people FROM NATCHEZ talk badly about the Garden Clubs!! Look around you people...were it not for them your town, that you obviously love or you wouldn't be living here, would be a mere ghost town and THAT would be stretching it! It would be NOTHING!! These women work harder than most others in town and this is the thanks they get?? Be appreciative you live in a town that these women love and care enough about to stick their necks out for and give their blood sweat and tears for!
I happen to love Monmouth I just simply do not love what it is becoming....too commercialized.
Posted by luv2travel (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at 11:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
sayitloud and csguidry what GREAT post you have posted...
Lambchop you sure do have alot of negative things to say about people period...You are kinda like the old saying "Pot calling the kettle black"
Posted by peacerulz (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at 5:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Thank Worley for the commercialization of the Antebellum homes.
Posted by sayitloud (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at 6:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
THAT'S THE TRUTH!!!!
Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on November 9, 2007 at 4:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Monmouth is a beautiful home with lots of history. I hate to see it go off tour because of the changes. And I know that will happen. I agree, if they want a restaurant and spa, locate it downtown. There are lots of empty historical buildings there. How did the garden club let this happen. As for Devereaux, the man who bought it is also from Ca. and wants nobody on his property, is planting a very ugly thick hedge all around it so no one can even see it. Why did he buy it anyway?
Posted by sayitloud (anonymous) on November 9, 2007 at 6:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
he probably bought it because as you said he too is from California and after selling his double wide out there he could afford Devereaux! the man has no taste......he parks a jeep cherokee out front so you can't drive thru! WE DON'T WANT TO COME SEE YOU!!!
Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on November 9, 2007 at 7:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey sayitloud, I just remembered one good thing about the guy with Deveraux. He won't let Tricky Dick on his property at all, and called him some very bad names. LOL Dick tried to sell him a bunch of plants, even though he said he didn't want them - had them delivered and sent a crew to start digging. The staff called the police - it was fun!
Posted by sayitloud (anonymous) on November 9, 2007 at 7:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
REALLY???? maybe he ain't half bad if he has already picked up trickey dickeys character!!
Posted by csguidry (anonymous) on November 9, 2007 at 7:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Thanks luv2travel & sayitloud.... Just stating the obvious.
peacerulz: I agree totaly that is the problem these homes are loosing their appeal with all the commercialisim.
It seems that the whole concept has gotten lost in the shuffle. people come to get away from modern society and relax and enjoy the ambiance of these old homes and the south. kinda hard to do that with some much modern stuff staring you in the face.
freedom42: I agree I am not sure how the garden club let this happen. I do know they cannot make someone who buys the homes keep them on tour. I also know that they can't stop them from planting plants on the property but it seems the owner would have had more sense than to do what he has planned. I have not seen anyone try to come and see the home. I am not saying it hasn't happened but I always see that jeep there. It seems to me that if money was so plentiful why not buy land and build a replica and then they would have both worlds rather than do what they are planning.... I don't mean to be ugly but people from California should stay there simply because their ideas and ours are just way too different.I have family there too and it is like two totaly different worlds.
I have to say that money seems to take procedence over common sense these days. I would be lying if I said I was not worried about the future of these old homes. I was told Monday that Monmouth has already made the entire downstairs into dining space so I suppose the tours will be no more. I was also told that the renovations are beautiful and no doubt they are but I still feel as if they could have found a better place to do this. It kinda makes you wonder what they will come up with next or who else will adapt to these kind of ideas and make yet more significant changes.
Posted by sayitloud (anonymous) on November 9, 2007 at 8:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
csguidry....excellent points and excellent post!!
The Riches that have Monmouth are out for more and more money and care nothing about Natchez....only what they can suck out of Monmouth.
Posted by sayitloud (anonymous) on November 10, 2007 at 6:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
more of the rich getting richer.....I sure don't want to help with THAT one!
Posted by csguidry (anonymous) on November 10, 2007 at 9:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
sayitloud- I agree. I have the video when the Riches first purchased Monmouth and it seems like a total flip in personality from then to now. I have nothing against anyone improving their selves personally or financially BUT I just feel there are better ways they could have done this than the route they took.
It saddens me to know that Monmouth will no longer be on tour because of this and makes me wonder what they have done with the parlor furniture that was in the down stairs?
The more the world moves into the future the less I like it. Very little of this technology is needed and most of it is a joke! I feel most people are ready to get back to basics because of all the junk in the world that is happening. I used to think the Amish were not al together there but I think they have had the right idea all along LOL
Posted by sayitloud (anonymous) on November 10, 2007 at 7:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
you are correct! I have "known" them for about 8 or something years but TRUST me....they don't always "know" me! funny how that works huh?
Posted by sayitloud (anonymous) on November 20, 2007 at 6:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"Monmouth Plantation adding to its history"
MY point exactly! You cannot add to a houses history!! Only take away from it as the Riches have done with Monmouth!
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