Ben-Wiley Hotel
Why it's listed
Overlooking the Fuquay Mineral Spring from an elevated, tree-shaded lot on Main Street in Fuquay-Varina, this two-story frame building was constructed in 1925 as a hotel by local physician Dr. Wiley Cozart. Its Craftsman character shows in widely overhanging hip roofs, exposed shaped rafter ends, cornerboards, and a metal-roofed front porch. The hotel served spring visitors and year-round residents, and was known for its food, its front porch views of the spring, and its role hosting town social events. It is believed to have been the first area hotel with indoor plumbing. The Cozart family added to the dining room and kitchen in the 1930s, and as the spring's popularity faded, Raleigh architect Owen Smith converted the building into six apartments in 1947. Original oak floors, trim, a staircase and brick fireplaces survive. It is recognized as the best-preserved of two remaining hotels built for the spring's heyday between 1900 and 1930.
Significance in brief: It is described as the best-preserved of two remaining hotels built to serve visitors to the Fuquay Mineral Spring during its heyday from 1900 to 1930. It reflects the town's mineral spring resort era and remained a popular lodging and social venue. It was converted to apartments in 1947 and remains a local landmark.
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 97000195, listed February 27, 1997. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 331 S. Main St., Fuquay-Varina |
|---|---|
| County | Wake County |
| Listed | February 27, 1997 |
| Reference number | 97000195 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1925-1947 |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and Early 20th Century American Movements/Bungalow/Craftsman |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Entertainment/Recreation |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Converted to six apartments in 1947 and still used as multiple dwellings; original oak flooring, trim, stair and some fireplaces remain. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Fuquay Springs Historic District |
| Coordinates | 35.58111, -78.79957 (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 97000195.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q20164628
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.