HGTV “Building Character” and “ReZONED”

HGTV’s program on the Elkhorn Inn’s “Building Character” show was called “Coal Miner’s Clubhouse – A West Virginia meeting house becomes an elegant home”. Their follow-up program on us was on “ReZoned”.

In October 2004, HGTV filmed the Elkhorn Inn & Theatre for “Building Character”,HGTV’s program devoted to people who have transformed commercial buildings into unique homes. Each program tells of the history, motivation and challenges behind the conversion, and provides a tour of these one-of-a-kind dwellings. In Feb 2006, HGTV again filmed the Elkhorn Inn & Theatre, for Episode 403 of “ReZONED”. New additions to the Elkhorn Inn since the first filming included our Gift Shop/Museum room, and our newly restored Theatre.

“We were thrilled by HGTV’s filming the Elkhorn Inn” said Elisse Goldstein-Clark. “This is a wonderful ‘thank you’ to Dan for the extraordinary restoration work he has done, not only to save this historic building, but to create something special here. We are pleased, not only for us, but by HGTV filming us ATVing & fishing here in McDowell County, part of the dream we had when we first embarked on this great adventure, undertaking this rather monumental task”.

Referring to the building as “Dan & Elisse’s Really Big House”, the Clarks have welcomed guests from across the country and overseas in the four years since they bought the building and began their restoration. On West Virginia’s “Coal Heritage Trail”, the building is one of the last surviving historic buildings in the area, and the Clarks have left many of the original architectural details they uncovered intact, including the coal company pay-window, hemlock bannister, original transom room windows and turn-of-the-century tile

flooring.

Purchasing the 1922 Empire Coal and Coke Company “Miner’s Clubhouse” in 2002, they saved it from demolition and have restored it from the roof to their newly-laid marble floor, transforming it into both their home and the Elkhorn Inn bed-and-breakfast. “Elisse’s fine arts and gallery background is what really makes our home unique,” said Dan. “Because of her design capabilities, we have been able to create an art-filled home that culls inspiration from a variety of sources. She is my inspiration and the reason this is such a special place.” It’s truly amazing to live in such an historic building”, said Elisse. “It really seems like a palace sometimes, with the archways and balcony- I call it my “palazzo italiano nella montagni di West Virginia”, and Dan my Medici. We really are living in a piece of local history: we’ve found coal-core samples in the building and are collecting exhibits so as to eventually have a small museum on the premisis. I feel we are so lucky to be able to live here and do this! McDowell County is full of wonderful historic buildings similar to ours that we hope others will save and restore”.