Bed and breakfast in downtown Columbia reopens with new ownership

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A popular bed and breakfast in downtown Columbia has reopened under new ownership.

The Chesnut Cottage Bed and Breakfast held an official grand opening on Thursday, June 29.

New owner Christal Doyle and her husband moved to South Carolina from California to open the bed and breakfast in the historic Chesnut Cottage at 1718 Hampton Street.

The Doyles originally discovered the cottage a few years ago when they visited Columbia to see historic sites, Christal Doyle told SC Biz News. They were so impressed by the home that when they found out the cottage’s long-time previous owner Mary Sparrow was putting it up for sale, they decided to purchase it and continue with the popular bed and breakfast business Sparrow had built.

Built around 1850, the house was the home of author Mary Boykin Chesnut and her husband General James Chesnut during the Civil War. The site is on the National Historic Registry and many of its original features have been preserved over the years. Rooms are furnished with period-appropriate historic furnishings.  

Chesnut Cottage currently has five rooms open for guests and will eventually expand to seven. Curated breakfasts are offered and Doyle said there are plans to add a teahouse with traditional high tea to the property later in the year.