A restored 1920s roadside lodge in Raleigh’s Mordecai neighborhood is preparing for a new life as The Gables, an 18-room boutique hotel created by Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter and Raleigh native Tift Merritt, developer Daniel Robinson, and Sarah Yarborough of Heyday Studios.
The historic Wake Forest Road property, once part of the Route 1 travel corridor connecting New York and Miami, has launched reservations ahead of its anticipated summer opening, with bookings currently available beginning September 15.
The property dates back to the 1920s, when Route 1 helped carry travelers along the East Coast between New York and Miami. Before it sat vacant for nearly a decade, the site had the distinction of being the last operating motel along that historic Raleigh stretch. Now, it has been reimagined as an intimate retreat rooted in Southern hospitality, creative energy, and the kind of old-road charm that feels harder to find with every passing year.
Merritt, best known for her blend of country-soul, Americana, and literary songwriting, brings a deeply personal creative perspective to the project. The Grammy-nominated artist, whose landmark debut Bramble Rose helped establish her as one of Americana’s most respected voices, has spent decades touring, traveling, and searching for places that feel welcoming after long stretches on the road. Her new album, Sugar, due out June 26 via One Riot Records, marks her first full-length release in nearly a decade.
At The Gables, that same sense of movement, memory, and storytelling runs through the property.
“We wanted to create a place that feels soulful, welcoming, and deeply rooted in Raleigh,” Merritt says. “The Gables is meant to encourage conversation, rest, creativity, and community.”
Merritt is joined in the project by co-owner and developer Daniel Robinson, known for his work on The Durham Hotel, and Sarah Yarborough of Heyday Studios. Together, the team has restored the scale and personality of the original property while introducing thoughtful modern touches designed for today’s travelers.
The Gables will feature layered guest rooms, gardens, sleeping porches, outdoor gathering areas, and Alcove, an intimate indoor-outdoor neighborhood bar. The idea is not to erase the building’s roadside past, but to let it breathe again with a new purpose.
Throughout the property, guests will find collaborations with artists, makers, and independent brands, including East Fork Pottery, Wonder Valley, Garza Marfa, Volupte Studio, Marfa Brand Soaps, and others.
That mix gives The Gables a point of view that feels especially fitting for Mordecai, one of Raleigh’s oldest neighborhoods and a place where history, homes, restaurants, and local character already sit comfortably close together.
The Gables is now accepting reservations online, with bookings currently available beginning September 15. Earlier availability is expected to be announced soon.
Reservations are available at thegablesraleigh.com. The hotel can also be followed on Instagram at @thegablesraleigh.
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