The historic Litchfield County Courthouse is getting new life as a luxury boutique hotel: The Abner opens in Litchfield this week.
The 18,000-square-foot building will officially be unveiled to the public on Sept. 12 by Salt Hotels co-founders David Bowd and Kevin O’Shea, according to the company.
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The hotel will have 20 rooms, a restaurant, The Courtroom, in the historic main courtroom, a seasonal roof bar, and private meeting and social spaces.
“We are so excited to revitalize this important piece of historic architecture and to create a vibrant gathering place for Litchfield’s local community and our future guests,” Bowd said, in a statement.
“The team we have put together, from our fantastic general manager Theresa Callaghan to chef Michael Alfeld, to the local team members who are new to the Salt family, are creating experiences that we hope will be truly memorable for all of our guests.”
The historic Litchfield County Courthouse is getting new life as luxury boutique hotel: The Abner opens in Litchfield this week.
The owners said they restored and repurposed the courthouse with judges’ benches and jury boxes. The color is inspired by the vintage legal books found in the building, they noted.
Each guest room has new as well as vintage furniture and will have artwork found at the building as well as original artwork, the owners said in an email.
The Courtroom, which is in the main courtroom, offers “modern tavern fare.” It is decorated with restored windows and high ceilings. The owners say it has a “legal office” green ambiance.
There is also a lounge space to stop at during the day or to have an evening drink near the fireplace.
The Abner’s “Verdict” is a seasonal rooftop bar that has views of the surrounding countryside.
Also, there will be event spaces called The Lock Up, located in a room that previously was used as courthouse jail cells and The Clock Tower, an area beneath the Seth Thomas clock that will serve as a place for private dinners and small events, the owners said.
“We are thrilled to introduce The Abner to Litchfield County and beyond,” O’Shea said, in the email. “This project has been a labor of love, preserving the courthouse’s architectural heritage while creating a sophisticated retreat for modern travelers.”
The hotel is located at 15 West St. in Litchfield.
