Phoenix Hotel
Why it's listed
Occupying a 200-by-111-foot block of downtown Waycross, Georgia, the Phoenix Hotel began around 1890 as a two-story brick building with a parapet, corbeled cornice, a two-story veranda and a small round tower. Its first floor held shops such as barbers, banks and clothing stores, while upper rooms served travelers arriving on the daily passenger trains. In 1913-14 the Waycross Savings and Trust Company spent roughly $100,000 to expand it, with local contractor V.C. Parker directing the work. A third floor doubled the room count, and a hip roof, stylized dormers, rusticated window trim and earthtone stucco gave it a Spanish Revival-influenced look. After the La Grande Hotel burned around 1915, the Phoenix became the city's leading hotel and also offered a restaurant and meeting space. Declining rail travel in the 1950s reduced business, and the hotel closed in the late 1960s. Its dormer design was later echoed in buildings such as Wacona Elementary School.
Significance in brief: The hotel is tied to the growth of Waycross and to the railroad industry in Southeast Georgia, since it housed the travelers arriving on daily passenger trains. After the 1913-14 remodeling it was the most prominent hotel in the city. The remodeled building is also presented as an excellent example of a Spanish Revival-influenced style that shaped later local construction.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 86000802, listed April 17, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 201--222 Pendleton St., Waycross |
|---|---|
| County | Ware County |
| Listed | April 17, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86000802 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899, 1900- |
| Architect / builder | Remodeling contractor V.C. Parker (1913-14); original architect/builder unknown |
| Architectural style | Interpretation of Spanish Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Transportation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The form checks both occupied and unoccupied status. The hotel closed in the late 1960s, and the first floor has been modernized. |
| Acreage | 0.6 |
| Within district | Waycross Historic District |
| Coordinates | 31.20906, -82.36029 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 86000802.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16898329
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.