The Esquire Hotel, Ascend Hotel Collection

Built in 1918, the boutique Esquire Hotel is an adaptive reuse of a national landmark building that originally opened as the First National Bank of Gastonia and was later used as the town's famed Lawyer's Building. Following a multi-year transformation, the property, which still retains its stunning original classical-revival style exterior finishes, now features lavish guest rooms, distinctive design and several on-site amenities — including an exclusive restaurant offering southern, farm-to-table cuisine and a rooftop bar with stunning views of the Kings Pinnacle mountain peak.

The Esquire Hotel is across the street from the Gastonia Conference Center and a downtown park, and guests are within walking distance from several local restaurants and shops. Visitors to Gastonia can stop by the Schiele Museum of Natural History, drive a few miles southeast to see the beautiful Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens, or enjoy some outdoor activities in Crowders Mountain State Park. The hotel features 35 guestrooms decorated with glamorous Hollywood-inspired furniture and is conveniently located less than a mile from an Amtrak stop on the Crescent line, which runs daily between New York and New Orleans.