Anyone who drives by is intrigued.
It’s of a Spanish style in the middle of Americana in a Rust Belt region of the country that has been shrinking since an industrial decline drove thousands of residents away.
The Mount Carmel Monastery, though, has a defined history, but yet the structure is surrounded by mysterious myths, too, and that is one of many reasons why Jeffrey Morris has purchased it, moved in, and commenced a challenging renovation project that he envisions will transform the former Catholic facility into a boutique hotel.
Morris has traveled the world, has extensive experience in the construction industry, and he has mapped out a course he believes will give the city of Wheeling something it has never possessed as both an attraction and an amenity.
Why Wheeling, and why the Mt. Carmel Monastery?
I grew up here, my family is here, I have lots of friends here, and it’s a really pleasant area that is conveniently located to a few cities and an international airport when you want to get out. The cost of living is relatively low and companies are becoming more and more accepting of remote working, ever more so now in the COVID-era. When people ask me this question, and I get it a lot, I’m tempted not to just say, “Why not Wheeling?”.
As to the Monastery, it’s always been a dream to buy it and bring her back to life. I’ve loved this building since I was 12 years old and it’s been a goal of mine since then. I finally got there and am so honored that I’ll be able to have a part in the positive history of the building. For over 60 years, the building was beloved by the community, the Diocese, and the incredibly devoted and loving women that lived inside of these walls. That positive energy was stored in the walls like a battery, you can absolutely feel it when you step inside.
Why will people come to Wheeling and stay at your new hotel? What will the attraction be?
They’ll come because of events held at the hotel. The 50-150 person “regional-destination” wedding and events market is strong for properties like these. The building is the attraction itself. The courtyard and grounds are magical and the interiors will be stunningly designed for a truly dramatic experience. We have engaged consultants from around the country and world to look at this project and advise in their fields of expertise and the common response is overwhelmingly positive.
We have the proximity to population, we have a truly special building in a truly special place. Well executed, this building has the potential of being one of the best boutique hotels in the country. That’s the goal and we are confident we will accomplish it.
How do you plan to engage local residents so they, too, can watch this transformation to a very historic building?
We have been designing several Limited Series Experiences for people to come here and eat, drink, and be merry with their friends and family throughout the renovation. They will be temporary experiences that may be available for anywhere from a weekend, a holiday, or a season. They’ll be located in different parts of the building depending on the renovation schedule to make use of the building pre-renovation or when work is not effecting those individual areas.
My good friend Timothy O’Malley is here documenting every aspect of this process and we will soon begin sharing that with the public online and at these events with his incredible photography. We’ve known each other since high school and lived in New York City together for a few years. He is an incredibly accomplished professional photographer and simply one of the most talented creative minds I’ve ever met. We’re so lucky to have him here as an integral hands-on partner in everything we’re doing at The Monastery and Wheeling in general.
How often will those kinds of events take place, and how do you plan to keep everyone safe during them?
There will likely be 4-6 of these experiences per year until the building is completely finished and fully operational in the next 3-5 years. They will be themed, seasonal, temporary, and pretty small. We want to offer perhaps more sessions of smaller groups, not only to keep them intimate, but also in these times to keep them safe. As long as there is any risk of COVID exposure in the country, all events are being stringently designed to be socially distanced, non-contact, and primarily outdoor.
We are ensuring that we go well beyond the current state and local regulations that are in place. The regulations change frequently and are perhaps more vague than effective. We want to not just follow to the letter of the law, we want to surpass it by using professional consultants in the medical and scientific fields to allow people to enjoy their lives, while themselves and our staff all safe.
What have you found to be most amazing about the monastery that you had not realized yet at the time you purchased the property?
The Courtyard is one aspect that I loved before, but now that I have spent so much time there, I am IN love with it. I became cloistered in this building in March and have spent the majority of my time in the courtyard and it’s a truly magical place. The first Limited Series Experience will be located in the Courtyard this fall and will employ some pretty interesting and creative additions for the socially distant, non-contact COVID-era.
We’ll announce that sometime in September so keep a look out for that. The other thing that I mentioned earlier is the overall energy of the building. It really does radiate positive vibes when you walk in. Even more so now that the building has gotten to know us and our intentions. People may think that sounds crazy, but it’s true. A lot of people ask if I think the building is haunted. My response is always, “It’s blessed with benevolent spirits”, and I truly believe that.
