Bennett Hospitality, owned by Charleston hotelier and businessman Michael Bennett, has acquired The Inn at Middleton Place from Middleton Place Foundation.
The company will again collaborate with Salamander Collection to manage the 55-room inn, which is perched on a bluff overlooking the Ashley River and neighbors Middleton Place National Historic Landmark—home to the oldest landscaped gardens in America and one of the Charleston area’s most visited historic sites. In addition to operating the inn, Salamander will also assume management of the Restaurant at Middleton Place and The Pavilion meeting space.
“I am honored and humbled for the trust that the Middleton Place Foundation board has placed in me as we undertake this exciting endeavor,” said Bennett, who was born and raised in Charleston. “Middleton Place is a national treasure, and my family and I take the stewardship of The Inn at Middleton Place very seriously. We are extremely proud that the inn will remain locally owned and welcoming for the entire Charleston community and beyond.”
Over the past year, the Middleton Place Foundation Board of Trustees has explored opportunities to secure the long-term sustainability of the historic site. This new partnership strengthens the foundation’s ability to deliver on its core mission—education, preservation and research—while entrusting hospitality operations to respected partners who share its values, it reports.
“We were seeking a partnership that would both preserve Middleton Place and take it into the future,” said Mike Laughlin, chair, board of trustees, Middleton Place Foundation. “Middleton Place is not just a historic site; it is a national treasure. The foundation remains deeply committed to its mission. With this partnership, we are ensuring that its powerful stories and its beauty endure – not just today, but for generations to come.”
Located near downtown Charleston, Middleton Place welcomes more than 100,000 visitors annually. The historic landmark has a history spanning three centuries of one family—with one member being a signer of the Declaration of Independence—and tells the stories and contributions of more than 3,200 enslaved people who lived and labored on Middleton properties. Today Middleton Place encompasses 110 acres and, in addition to including America’s oldest landscaped gardens, also features a house museum, stable yards, and Eliza’s House, an African American freedman’s dwelling.
“We are thrilled to work with the Bennett family again in such a culturally significant setting, while also engaging closely with the Middleton Place Foundation,” said Sheila Johnson, Salamander Collection founder/CEO. “We are excited to introduce our many Salamander loyalists to this unique Lowcountry setting and look forward to working with the Inn’s team to further elevate the guest experience.”
The collaboration among the three groups is grounded in a shared commitment to ensuring that Middleton Place continues to engage, educate, and inspire future generations. The collective goals are to welcome a new generation of visitors, enhance the visitor experience and advance the Foundation’s mission to preserve and interpret the rich and complex history of Middleton Place.
“Michael Bennett and Sheila Johnson bring stellar reputations in the hospitality industry—and just as importantly, they bring values that align deeply with our own,” said Dana Hand Evans, president/CEO, Middleton Place Foundation. “Sheila Johnson’s lifelong commitment to inclusion across business, sports, hospitality and culture resonates strongly with our mission. With Bennett Hospitality and Salamander Collection, we are ensuring that Middleton Place remains a place of learning, reflection and stewardship for generations to come.”
