Walla Walla, Washington, welcomed the luxury Marcus Whitman Hotel in 1928, and it was the pride of the southeastern Washington community for years, hosting dignitaries and celebrities alike. The hotel fell into disrepair in the 1970s, and languished until 1999 when businessman Kyle Mussman purchased it, spending more than $30 million in renovations. It reopened in 2001. “It’s really a project of passion,” Mussman says. “The old girl’s got great bones, and she’s still dancing.” Today, the hotel’s conference center offers more than 13,000 square feet of event space and can host 10–450 people.
