Colonial Revival Elegance in the Heart of Downtown Fayetteville

Opened in 1925, the Prince Charles Hotel has long stood as a symbol of Fayetteville’s early 20th-century civic ambition and architectural refinement. Designed in the Colonial Revival style, the seven-story brick structure originally featured 125 rooms and a rooftop ballroom. Its central location—directly across from the historic train station—made it a hub for travelers and a frequent gathering place for dignitaries, socialites, and entertainers passing through North Carolina.

In 1942, the hotel underwent a major expansion with the addition of 60 more guest rooms, reinforcing its role as a regional hospitality landmark. Despite various ownership transitions and periods of dormancy, the Prince Charles remains an iconic structure within Fayetteville’s historic district and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.

As part of ongoing preservation and adaptive reuse efforts, Austin Historical was selected to restore the hotel’s original wood windows and entry doors—revitalizing its façade while preserving the architectural integrity that earned it national recognition.

Austin Historical’s Restoration Scope

Heritage Window Restoration

Our team restored numerous original wood windows throughout the building, focusing on both sashes and jambs to bring the hotel’s character-defining fenestration back to life.

Sash Restoration
Each sash underwent full restoration, including:

• Removal of all glass, failing glazing putty, and flaking paint

• Sanding to a smooth finish

• Repair of all damage using epoxy or in-kind wood

• Priming with high-performance oil-based primer

• Reinstallation of salvaged original glass when possible; broken panes were replaced with 1/8" annealed glass

• Reglazing using linseed oil putty for long-term durability and historical accuracy

• Finishing with two coats of premium water-based acrylic paint inside and out

• Cleaning and lacquering of original hardware (replacement of missing or broken pieces available at additional cost)

Jamb Restoration
Jambs were fully prepped and refinished as follows:

• Removal of sashes and securement of openings with ½" plywood

• Scraping of jambs and brickmold to remove loose and excess paint

• Repair of any rot or deterioration using wood epoxy or in-kind material

• Cleaning, tuning, and functional restoration of original pulley systems

• Priming with oil-based primer and application of two coats of premium acrylic paint

• Replacement of ropes with #8 Samson Spot Cord

• Reinstallation of fully restored sashes and verification of smooth operation

Heritage Door Restoration

Austin Historical restored several key entry and lobby doors, maintaining their historic character while improving performance.

• Removed deteriorated finish and paint

• Repaired wood damage using epoxy or dutchman joinery techniques

• Installed tempered glass in select door panels for safety

• Doors were then re-primed and painted or finished as appropriate (final sanding and finish work were addressed in a previously approved value engineering change order)

• Original hardware was retained, cleaned, and reinstalled when possible; replacement hardware available if needed

Additional Lobby Window & Transom Work

Austin Historical also completed targeted wood repair to first-floor lobby windows, transoms, and doors where rot or performance issues were identified. This scope included:

• Structural wood repair as needed for functionality and appearance

• Scraping, priming, and painting in accordance with change order guidelines

Preservation Standards & Project Oversight

All work was completed in accordance with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties, with strict adherence to best practices for historic wood window restoration. Austin Historical managed full mobilization, demobilization, lead-safe containment protocols, and waste removal for this project.

The Prince Charles Hotel continues its journey toward renewed life as a boutique hospitality destination and residential hub—and our restoration efforts will help ensure its windows and doors reflect the elegance of its original 1920s craftsmanship for generations to come.