Wicklow Hall near Georgetown offers luxe lodging that honors the past
On the hunt for a new hospitality project, Judith and David Rinella of Johns Island, South Carolina, discovered an 11-acre property nestled in 60,000 protected acres in the Santee River Delta just outside historic Georgetown. The early-1800s former private duck-hunting lodge, surrounded by the Hammock Coast’s signature moss-draped oaks and formal gardens, was exactly what they’d been seeking.
The renovations, in keeping with the building’s status on the National Register of Historic Places, pay homage to the architecture of the house, says innkeeper and visionary Judith Rinella. The Rinellas maintained as much of the original structure as possible, including Egyptian Revival doorframes and the grand staircase railing. Beyond the physical, honoring and reviving the spirit of what they have named Wicklow Hall is the couple’s true passion.
Over 12 months, they restored each of the 10 original fireplaces and pink heart pine floors, constructed eight new bathrooms fitted with Italian marble, converted the former stable and kitchen house into cottages, built custom furniture, and transformed the property into an eight-room luxury bed and breakfast that opened in spring of 2025.
“I don’t do anything 100 percent,” says Judith. “It’s always 150.”
Former Music Room at Wicklow Hall
The former music room at the rear of the original home now houses a custom-built walnut bar and multiple soft-seating vignettes where guests ensconce themselves by candlelight each evening.
“It’s playing out in the exact way I wanted it to,” Judith observes. “When I’m visiting in the evening, there’s always a couple at the bar. There will always be another couple tucked in, and a lot of them do musical chairs. My favorite thing is when they cozy up together.”
The largest gathering space, this room is also the site for special dinners and events showcasing the talents of local and regional chefs during dedicated culinary weekends hosted by Wicklow Hall. Through the renovation and opening process, they learned from the granddaughter of the former owner that their use of the new bar area is in keeping with its previous purpose. She recounted tales of her grandfather’s parties that involved a raucous crew gathered around the grand piano, which, incidentally, still happens at Wicklow Hall gatherings.
“If the walls could talk, I could imagine these parties were just extraordinary,” muses Judith.
That former owner was also nicknamed Father Christmas and known to decorate a Christmas tree in every room of the home during the holiday season. Judith has revived that tradition, among others, to provide a true escape for guests.
“I like to get swept away,” she says. “We want to do that on any given day. We want guests to feel like they’ve been swept away on a regular basis.”
Wicklow Negroni
When determining a signature cocktail to share with guests, the couple didn’t have to look much further than David’s Italian heritage and Judith’s love of good gin to come up with The Wicklow Negroni.
Stir together with ice equal parts of:
- Antica Formula Vermouth
- Cathead Distillery Bristow Gin
- Campari
Strain into an ice-filled rocks glass. Judith likes to garnish the drink with a chunky lemon rind in the warmer months and a blood orange slice in the cooler months.
Don’t Miss
Breakfast baskets made by Judith each morning with ingredients sourced from Chucktown Acres and What the Cluck Farm.91 Wicklow Hall Dr., Georgetown, South Carolina, wicklowhall.com
