About | Southern Hotel

A couple people check in at the front desk for a weekend at the Southern Hotel

The Southern Hotel is located in the center of charming Covington, Louisiana.

In the quaint town of Covington, Louisiana, located just across Lake Pontchartrain from New Orleans, the Southern Hotel’s vaunted history of hospitality began in 1907. Established as a physical and spiritual retreat where visitors would re-energize amidst the area’s cool breezes, piney woods and mineral springs, the hotel hosted guests for more than 50 years.

From its original opening on June 1, 1907 until the 1960s when it ceased operation as a hotel, the Southern Hotel was an integral part of the Covington community. It hosted Sweet Sixteen parties, wedding receptions, anniversary dinners, and was a favorite for honeymooners. During the fifty years in which the building housed other businesses and then stood vacant for a time, it was still, in the collective memory of the town of Covington, the old hotel.

When the hotel’s new owners purchased the property in 2011, they were motivated by a desire to return the building to a modern interpretation of what it once was. After a two-year meticulous renovation and restoration, the hotel reopened on June 1, 2014, 107 years to the date from its original opening. The lobby of the hotel is now affectionately described as “Covington’s living room,” and is once again a beloved gathering place. From the furniture in the guest rooms to the artwork in the common areas, the hotel honors Covington’s legacy as an artists’ community by showcasing the work of many local artists; its two suites are named after Walker Percy, who was from Covington, and Thomas Sully, a Louisiana architect; and its meeting room is the Olympia Room, named after the local fifty-year-old Mardi Gras Krewe, and it displays the Krewe’s artifacts and memorabilia for the public to see.

The hotel's restaurant, The Gloriette, is led by Chef Steven Marsella and features local and French-inspired cuisine, all in the warm and vibrant environment of the newly designed space.

A family-owned business, the hotel is committed to elevating the art of hospitality and providing guests with an experience that is rooted in the past, connected to the community around it, and celebrating all of the elements of a good life—good food and drink, comfort and communion, creativity and culture.

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1905

Plans for the 43-room, Mission-style hotel are completed and construction begins.

1907

Luxurious Southern Hotel opens on the Northshore of Louisiana boasting hot water, electric lights and carpeting.

1912

Local physician purchases the Southern Hotel and reopens it as a sanitarium and resort for people with respiratory illnesses.

1960

After 50-years, the Southern Hotel closes its doors to overnight guests. Its facade is altered from two towers to one in order to make room for a drug store.

1983

St. Tammany Parish purchases the building and converts it into government offices. The building becomes home to the parish courthouse for more than 20 years.

2005

Hurricane Katrina hits Southern Louisiana. Plans for the hotel’s renovation are put on hold.

2011

After years of disuse and extensive damages from Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the Southern Hotel property was sold to local preservationist Lisa Condrey Ward and her husband Joseph Ward, and Ricky and Gayle Condrey.

2014

107 years to the date after its original opening, the Southern Hotel reopens to much excitement in the Covington community and beyond.

2018

The Garden House opened in the summer of 2018. Built in 1937, the town's former post office features an original New Deal-era mural by artist Xavier Gonzalez.

2022

The Gloriette opens its doors at the hotel. The restaurant features local and French-inspired cuisine, all in the warm and vibrant environment of the newly designed space.

What are some things to do in Covington and the Northshore area?

You'll love the City of Covington and the rest of our Northshore community. We celebrate history through music, food and the arts. During your visit, you can experience gourmet dining, festivals, shopping, concerts, brewery tours, tubing, fishing, biking, or enjoy a walk through the downtown historic district of Covington. If you're curious about more attractions and events in our area, you can also check out Louisiana's Northshore website.

Do you have a concierge service?

Staying at the hotel is an experience and that means experiencing Covington and the rest of the Northshore of Lake Pontchartrain as well as having access to New Orleans and beyond. If you wish, our concierge desk can work with you to create an itinerary that satisfies all of your wishes for your stay with us. If you're curious about attractions and events in our area, you can also check out Louisiana's Northshore website.

Can you arrange transportation to/from New Orleans or Baton Rouge?

Absolutely. Our concierge desk would be happy to assist with any special transportation needs. Please send us an email to guestservices@southernhotel.com with the dates of your stay and transportation needs.

Is there parking available?

We offer complimentary parking to all of our registered hotel guests. There is overflow parking in an Oxlot on the corner of Vermont Street and East Gibson Street.

Who do I need to contact about booking The Southern for my wedding venue?

Let us first congratulate you on your engagement! We would love to host your family and friends during such a memorable time in your lives! Please call our sales office at 844.866.1907 or email danielle@southernhotel.com, and we will get back to you with more information or to schedule a tour. View our Wedding page.

Can I host a corporate meeting or event at the Southern Hotel?

We are pleased to offer a variety of meeting spaces of various sizes from an intimate room for four guests up to a conference room with classroom seating for eighty. For more information, please reach out to danielle@southernhotel.com.

What are check-in and check-out times?

Check-in is 4pm. Check-out is 11am. Please let us know if you plan to arrive early or need a later check out. We will do our best to accommodate your request! Contact us at guestservices@southernhotel.com.

Saladino Gallery

Art gallery

The Southern Hotel is located in the center of charming Covington, Louisiana.

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