Long before it began welcoming travelers, The Laurel stood at the center of one of the South’s most influential industrial stories. Built in 1903, the building that now houses The Laurel Hotel originally served as the Company Office Building for Dan River Mills—a textile manufacturer whose reach shaped Danville, the surrounding region, and the national fabric industry for more than a century.
Today, thoughtfully restored and reimagined, The Laurel carries that legacy forward, preserving the architectural and cultural significance of the past while offering a new chapter rooted in hospitality, design, and community.
The Rise of Dan River Mills
Danville’s textile story began decades before the Company Office Building was constructed. In 1882, six local investors founded Riverside Cotton Mills along the Dan River, harnessing water power to drive production. The company quickly grew, laying the foundation for what would eventually become Dan River Inc., one of the largest textile manufacturers in the southern United States.
In 1895, five of the original founders established the Dan River Power & Manufacturing Company, expanding waterpower capabilities and setting the stage for large-scale growth. These early investments helped transform Danville into a major industrial hub, with textile operations deeply embedded in the city’s economy and identity.
By 1909, Riverside Cotton Mills and Dan River Power & Manufacturing Company merged, forming one of the most significant textile enterprises of the twentieth century. This consolidation strengthened Dan River’s national footprint and solidified Danville’s reputation as a center of manufacturing innovation.
Constructing the Company Office Building (1903)
Amid this period of rapid expansion, Dan River contracted Lockwood, Greene & Company—an influential engineering and architecture firm specializing in industrial design—to construct a series of mill buildings in the Schoolfield area of Danville. Among them was the Company Office Building, completed in 1903.
Unlike the mills themselves, the office building functioned as the administrative and strategic heart of Dan River’s operations. It housed executives and decision-makers overseeing divisions across the nation, making it a nerve center for a company whose textiles reached far beyond Virginia.
Over time, the building became a symbol of stability, prosperity, and innovation—an architectural reflection of Dan River Mills’ prominence in the American textile industry.
Dan River Mills and the Schoolfield Community
The growth of Dan River Mills shaped not only the local economy but also daily life in Schoolfield, the mill village where the company’s operations were concentrated. In 1951, Schoolfield was formally annexed by the City of Danville, integrating the mill community into the broader urban landscape.
In 1946, the company officially adopted the name Dan River Mills, Incorporated, reflecting its expanded reach and national recognition during the post-war era. For decades, Dan River Mills remained a cornerstone employer and cultural presence in the region, influencing generations of families who lived and worked in Danville.
The End of an Era and a Period of Transition
Like much of the American textile industry, Dan River Mills faced mounting global pressures in the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries. In 2006, the company closed its mill operations, bringing an end to textile production at its historic Schoolfield facilities.
The closure marked a significant turning point for Danville. Buildings that once hummed with activity stood quiet, and the future of these historic industrial spaces became an open question.
Revitalization and Adaptive Reuse
In the years that followed, Danville began a broader revitalization effort focused on preserving historic structures while reimagining their purpose. Former Dan River Mills properties became central to this transformation.
The redevelopment of the Schoolfield mill site eventually led to the creation of Caesars Virginia, bringing new energy, investment, and activity to the area. Nearby, the former Company Office Building was preserved and adaptively reused by Ed Walker, owner and developer of the Danville Hotel Collection, ensuring the structure would remain an active part of the community rather than a relic of the past.
Reopening as The Laurel Hotel
In February 2026, the historic building officially reopened as The Laurel Hotel, a 36-room boutique property that honors its textile roots while serving modern travelers. The adaptive reuse preserved key architectural elements of the original structure, allowing the building’s industrial past to remain visible throughout the guest experience.
Interior spaces were designed to balance history and comfort, with guest rooms varying in size and configuration to reflect the original footprint of the building. Unique accommodations include two-story loft-style rooms and spa-inspired spaces with soaking tubs—features that work within, rather than against, the building’s historic character .
The hotel’s expansive lawn overlooks the activity of Caesars Virginia, offering guests a quiet retreat just steps from dining, entertainment, and nightlife. While the surroundings have evolved, the building’s role as a place of gathering and connection remains intact.
A Name Rooted in History
The Laurel takes its name from the laurel emblem historically associated with Dan River Mills, a symbol of craftsmanship, resilience, and achievement. By carrying that name forward, the hotel acknowledges the generations of work, innovation, and community that once defined the building’s purpose.
Part of a Continuing Legacy
Today, The Laurel stands alongside The Bee and The Holbrook as part of the Danville Hotel Collection, a group of boutique hotels committed to historic preservation and thoughtful redevelopment. Each property reflects a different chapter of Danville’s past, collectively contributing to the city’s ongoing renewal.
More than a place to stay, The Laurel is a continuation of a story that began over a century ago, one that mirrors Danville’s own evolution from industrial powerhouse to revitalized destination. The walls that once supported the operations of a national textile leader now welcome travelers, honoring the past while embracing what comes next.
