The Gunter Hotel has a long and rich history beginning with a gala opening on New Year’s Day 1897. Built by William R. Percy, one of Frostburg’s wealthiest citizens at the time. Unfortunately, Mr. Percy died only five months after the hotel opened and it was taken over by a group headed by his son-in-law, W. E. Gladstone Hitchins and became the Hotel Gladstone.
A landmark on Frostburg’s Main Street, the building is a three-story masonry structure featuring multiple hipped dormers, and second- and third-story balconies. When the hotel first opened in 1897, it had a café, a barbershop and a petting zoo, complete with a tame deer. In its early years, the hotel attracted senators, congressmen and prominent businessmen and their families who wanted to enjoy a vacation in the mountains of Western Maryland. Dignitaries were not the only people that stayed at the hotel. Prisoners being transported down Route 40 would enjoy a night’s stay in the jail built in the basement of the hotel while the accompanying federal marshals enjoyed a good night’s rest upstairs in one of the hotel rooms.
Purchased in 2019 by Donny and Kristan Carter, the magnificent hotel is not only home to twelve hotel rooms, but also includes Toasted Goat Winery Tasting Room and Restaurant, the Gladstone Mercantile, a ballroom for weddings and other large events, as well as, apartments for local residents. It has, once again, become the pride of Frostburg. History, comfort and style are all part of the Hotel Gunter charm.