The Limestone House

Built in 1915, this luxurious Shoals B&B is set in the heart of historic Florence, AL. Centrally located, Limestone House Bed & Breakfast is just a short stroll from the University of North Alabama (UNA) as well as to great restaurants, fine shopping and unique historical sites found in downtown Florence.

Literally fifty feet from the UNA campus, Limestone House Bed & Breakfast is the perfect place to stay when visiting your college student, attending a UNA football game or other sporting events. Our inn is also ideal lodging when attending the Front Porch Storytelling Festival and/or the annual W.C. Handy Music Festival as well as the various performance arts events that take place on the UNA campus each year.

As you approach the two-story Limestone House Bed & Breakfast, you will note its Georgian Revival architecture. Built by the leading citizen and Mayor of Florence, Colonel Cyrus Washington (C. W.) Ashcraft, the B&B is constructed with thick limestone blocks, which were mined and cut from area limestone formations. Colonel Ashcraft, who is known to have served as the Chief Secretary of the YMCA during its WW I European based support to the Allied forces, lived in this house the remainder of his life.

Added to the National Register of Historical Places in October 1978, Limestone House was the first home in Florence, Alabama to be wired for electricity and, likely because of this, with an annual Christmas party it quickly became the center of social events. This southern hospitality has continued throughout the last century with celebrities Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, Humphrey Bogart and more recently George Lindsay and Kris Kristofferson lodging here. If walls could talk! Just think how WW I, WW II and other far-reaching historical events impacted those who lived here.

Located in the beautiful Tennessee Valley and the Shoals, Limestone House Bed & Breakfast currently offers you two lavish guestroom options. The Henry Ford Guestroom is named to honor his 1921 effort to bring his auto industry to the Shoals. The beautiful oriental decor of this room celebrates a Ford connection to Japan and the Orient that is an often overlooked piece of historical trivia. Amenities include a highly comfortable, French antique queen-sized bed, 800-thread-count bedding, corner fireplace, Direct TV, free Internet as well as access to a small refrigerator and a well-stocked library. Unique to this room is a 1900’s style bath complete with black and white ceramic tile, double chrome mounted sinks with black lacquer framed mirrors and a towel warmer. A modern sleek black steam/shower for two with overhead and hand-held shower heads and 12 jets, complete with two teak finish benches, Chroma therapy, aromatherapy and music provide a total bathing experience for our guests. Other amenities include luxurious robes and slippers, hair dryer, AM/FM clock radio with iPhone, mp3 or iPod station, Wi-Fi connection.

The Thomas Edison Guestroom is named in honor of the 1921 visit to the Florence area that Thomas Edison made with Henry Ford. This well-appointed two-room suite features a sitting room with a thick wool art-deco rug, an inviting loveseat and an elegant teal wingback reading chair that sits next to a large electric fireplace along with a great media center and antique secretary. The adjoining bedroom/bath features an armoire, a full-length mirror, a luxurious, queen-sized Comfortaire bed topped with lavish 800-thread-count sheets and designer comforter and is surrounded by Battenberg lace curtain covered windows. Amenities for the bath include a towel warmer, period black & white tile flooring and a fantastic column power shower, which transforms a cozy shower for two into a steam shower for two to enjoy. Other amenities include luscious terry robes, hair dryer, AM/FM clock radio with iPhone, mp3 or iPod station, Wi-Fi connection, zone temperature control.

Our goal here at Limestone House Bed & Breakfast – Your Shoals home away from home, is to roll out the red carpet for each of our guests particularly when it comes to food. First, we make sure a gourmet snack is awaiting your arrival. Second, throughout your stay, there are water, sodas, coffee and snacks out for your enjoyment. Third, is our famous three-course breakfast. You will not leave hungry and may not need lunch!