The Gibson Inn
Mixing Old Florida Spirit with
Modern Southern Style
Enjoy a piece of classic Old Florida at the Gibson Inn, Apalachicola’s crown jewel. Constructed in 1907 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, our hotel is steeped in Southern hospitality, history, and charm. Our iconic Parlor Bar remains the definitive local watering hole, serving craft cocktails, local beers, and a mouthwatering menu from our in-house restaurant, the Franklin Café.
Services & Amenities
- Franklin Café
- Parlor Bar
- Billiards Room
- 24-hour reception
- Meeting spaces
- Gibson golf carts rentals
- Complimentary bicycles
- Bentley house car
- Complimentary parking
- Complimentary WiFi
- Dog-friendly (select rooms, fees apply)
The Excitement Is Building
This is big! Plans are underway for a brand-new, three-story building right next door. Designed in the same architectural style and sporting the same signature shade of Gibson blue as our landmark building, this exciting addition will seamlessly complement the original 1907 Inn while adding a few modern must-haves. (Think outdoor swimming pool and jacuzzi, an indoor fitness center, spa and sauna, and additional guest rooms and suites, additional parking, even a state-of-the-art elevator!) Stay tuned for more exciting announcements and updates. The best has yet to come!
The Gibson Inn was built in 1907 by James Fulton Buck at the peak of Apalachicola’s reign as a center for lumber and shipping. Originally named The Franklin, the hotel was constructed using native heart pine and black cypress. It soon became one of the most luxurious hotels on the Panhandle, and the only one between Jacksonville and Pensacola heated entirely by steam.
In 1923, siblings Annie Gibson Hayes and Mary Ellen “Sunshine” Gibson bought the hotel and renamed it the Gibson Inn. Folks remember the sisters as true trailblazers.
Nineteen years later during the height of World War II, the Gibson was taken over by the U.S. Army and used as housing for officers serving at Camp Gordon Johnston. Shortly after the war ended, the hotel fell into disrepair and changed hands many times.
In 1983, brothers Michael and Neil Koun purchased and renovated the property, restoring its original 1907 façade. After two years of renovation, the Gibson Inn reopened as a hotel and was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
Thirty-five years later, siblings once again became an integral part in the hotel’s rich history. In 2018, the Gibson was purchased by Steven Etchen, an avid historic preservationist and art collector, along with his business partner and sister, Katharine Etchen Couillard.
They are undertaking an impressive renovation and expansion that incorporates the former mansion of original hotel owner James Fulton Buck, as well as the addition of numerous amenities. Holding court in the very heart of downtown Apalachicola, the Gibson Inn retains its iconic status as the premier luxury boutique hotel in the region.
Recently dubbed “the coolest spot to stay on the Panhandle” by Southern Living magazine, here’s what travel writer Tracey Minkin has to say:
“Evenings downstairs at The Gibson Inn are themselves a marvelous blend of everything that is Apalachicola—old-timers parked at the bar and longtime visitors and families settling in for dinner at the Franklin Café, all mixing with happy travelers who know they’re onto something really special.”
- Coastal Living editor