This 133-Year-Old North Carolina Inn Was Just Named The Best B&B In America
Most people would never guess what is hiding behind this old Wilmington front door.
From the street, it looks like the kind of historic home you might admire for a few seconds and keep walking.
That would be a mistake.
Guests have been checking in here for years, and now readers from around the country have pushed this North Carolina stay all the way to the top of USA Today’s 10Best rankings.
Suddenly, that quiet porch comes with serious bragging rights.
The appeal is not built around flashy resort tricks, either. Mornings start slowly, downtown sits close enough to explore on foot, and staying an extra night begins sounding dangerously reasonable.
At 133 years old, the house has somehow become more tempting rather than less.
So what convinced travelers to vote this place the Best B&B in America? The answer is hiding inside.
Stay Inside A Queen Anne Home That Has Been Standing Since 1893
Twin turrets rise above the rooflines on South Third Street, and they belong to a house that Charles W. Worth had built for his family in 1893.
The address, 412 S 3rd Street, sits in the heart of the historic district, where sidewalks buckle gently around old roots.
Inside, 5,800 square feet unfold across three floors, with seven guest bedrooms and a private bath for each one. Original woodwork, tall windows, and detailed millwork carry the story of the 1890s through every hallway.
The building has worn several hats over the decades. It began as a private residence, later served as a boarding house, and opened as a bed and breakfast in 1985, making it the longest-operating B&B in historic Wilmington.
Owners Jeff and Jennifer Mason completed a full remodel in 2022, refreshing surfaces and systems while protecting the intricate details guests come to see. Rates begin around $210 a night, and free off-street parking means you can leave the car behind.
You Can Wake Up To A Full Gourmet Breakfast Without Leaving The Inn
Coffee smells reach the staircase before you do. Jennifer cooks breakfast fresh each morning, and the menu is posted the afternoon before so guests know exactly what is coming.
Meals arrive as a full, multi-course sit-down affair rather than a buffet line. A bright fruit cocktail might open the meal, followed by a berry parfait, then a savory quiche with crispy bacon or thick French toast and sausage.
Muffins and cakes come out of the oven the same morning.
Orange juice, coffee, and hot tea circle the table while conversation moves from restaurant tips to walking routes.
Guests with food allergies or special dietary needs can share details in advance, and the kitchen adjusts without fuss.
Coffee, tea, iced water, and other beverages stay available through the day, which makes it easy to refill a cup before heading out. Travelers with early drives can ask about a earlier breakfast time, and the innkeepers usually make it work.
See Why Readers Put This Historic Stay At Number One Again
C.W. Worth House has now appeared on the USA TODAY 10Best list four years running, ranking No. 1 in 2023, 2025, and 2026 after placing No. 4 in 2024.”
Those wins sit alongside multiple Trip Advisor Travelers’ Choice Awards, a pattern that suggests something steadier than luck.
The recognition tends to circle back to the same handful of strengths: attentive service, thoughtful decor, a walkable spot in the historic district, and breakfasts that people remember months later.
Jeff and Jennifer describe their goal simply, which is for guests to feel at home and relaxed. Small gestures support that, from flexible early check-in when a room is ready to restaurant suggestions matched to your tastes.
The inn holds a five-star rating across hundreds of stays, and it is smoke-free, and air-conditioned.
For many visitors to this corner of North Carolina, the house becomes the destination rather than the place they happened to sleep.
Relax In The Backyard Beside The Fire Pit And Water Garden
Water moves first, then everything else slows down. A gentle waterfall spills into two ponds behind the inn, and goldfish drift beneath the surface while ferns lean over the stone edges.
The garden is groomed but not stiff, with seating arranged in small clusters so guests can read, chat, or simply listen.
Shade covers much of the space during summer afternoons, a welcome thing along the humid southeastern coast.
As dusk settles, the fire pit becomes the natural gathering point. Chairs pull closer, the sky over the historic district turns amber, and the day’s walking finally catches up with you.
Porches offer another option. Rocking chairs and covered seating on the front and side of the house give you a spot to watch the neighborhood, where 100-year-old and 200-year-old homes line the block.
Pack a light layer for spring and fall evenings, since coastal air cools quickly once the sun drops behind the rooflines.
Walk Just A Few Blocks To Wilmington’s Riverfront
Three blocks. That is roughly the distance between the inn’s front steps and the Cape Fear Riverfront, which explains why so many guests never move their car.
The walk itself is part of the pleasure, passing wrought-iron fences, deep porches, and homes that have stood for a century or two.
Along the Riverwalk boardwalk you will find independent shops, seafood spots, ice cream counters, and benches facing the wide brown river.
Horse-drawn carriage tours clip through the historic streets and give a quick lesson in local history without much effort on your part.
Families often head to the Children’s Museum of Wilmington, while history fans tour the Latimer House Museum and curious visitors stop at the Cape Fear Serpentarium.
Restaurants sit close enough that dinner reservations rarely require a drive, and the innkeepers keep a running list of favorites. Wear comfortable shoes, since the older sidewalks in this pocket of coastal North Carolina rise and dip around tree roots.
Spend Time In The Third-Floor Game Space Between Outings
Rainy afternoons need a plan, and the third floor has one. A dedicated game space up there holds a pool table, a stack of board games, and a television, all under the sloped ceilings that come with a Victorian rooftop.
Guests wander up after long walks downtown, sometimes to play, sometimes just to sink into a chair with a cup of tea.
Conversations start easily in a room like this, and travelers often trade tips about where to eat or what to see next.
Downstairs, the parlor offers a quieter mood, with comfortable seating, soft music, and space to plan the next day. Jay’s Pub adds another gathering spot with a relaxed, clubby feel and plenty of places to sit.
Because the house spreads across three stories, you can almost always find a corner to yourself. Free Wi-Fi reaches every level, so remote workers can answer a few emails and then wander back into vacation mode.
Notice How Modern Comfort Was Added Without Losing The Historic Character
Old houses can feel like museums. This one does not, and that balance took real planning during the 2022 remodel by Jeff Mason and Jennifer Blomberg.
Their approach mixed modern furnishings with touches of traditional decor, so a smart television sits comfortably near antique woodwork.
Each of the seven guestrooms includes luxury bedding, a mini fridge, and a memory foam mattress that guests credit for unusually good sleep.
Private bathrooms come with contemporary fixtures plus warm bathrobes waiting on the hook. A few rooms add soaking tubs, and one suite features a whirlpool tub for travelers who want a long, unhurried evening.
Rooms differ in personality. The Garden Room feels like a cozy bedroom rather than a hotel space, while others offer sitting areas, desks, or dressing rooms off the bath.
Air conditioning keeps things cool even in August, and Wi-Fi reaches throughout the property.
Ceilings slope in some upper bathrooms, a charming quirk of 1893 construction worth asking about when booking.
Leave Understanding Why This B&B Keeps Winning National Praise
Awards explain part of the story. The rest shows up in the small moments, like a host texting to say your room is ready early or remembering that you cannot eat nuts.
Arrival sets the tone at 412 S 3rd Street, where the porch steps, hanging ferns, and open front door make the house feel lived in rather than staged.
Jeff and Jennifer aim for guests to feel at home and relaxed, and that goal shapes everything from the breakfast menu to the seating in the parlor.
Longevity matters too. Operating since 1985, the inn is the longest-running bed and breakfast in historic Wilmington, and its top rankings in the USA Today 10Best awards reflect years of steady care rather than a single good season.
Guests leave with photographs of turrets, the taste of fresh quiche, and a plan to return. For anyone mapping a coastal trip through North Carolina, this house earns a spot on the itinerary.
