I love knowing the stories behind the people and the places that I meet and visit. The ARRIVE hotel in Wilmington starts with a story about an elephant named Topsy who escaped from the Hagenbeck-Wallace circus in 1922. Evidently back in the 1920s the main building at ARRIVE was the Eureka Dye Works, a dry-cleaning company. An elephant from the circus escaped and found his way into the building. He thought a vat of dye was water and sucked it up and blew it out on the clothes that lined the wall. Topsy's longest escape adventure was in Florida when he was missing for nine days. There are alot of little details that celebrate Topsy's visit.
The second building was built in the 1950s as a nun convent and the third building was
added in the 1990s for the filmmaking industry visitors such as actors and directors. There is a courtyard in the middle which is lovely along with a bar, yard games, and fireplaces. There is also a restaurant called the Dram Yard. We had breakfast there the first morning.
I will definitely stay there again. Take note: the rooms are small but full of personality. And no coffee maker so visit Hidden Grounds Coffee a few steps away.
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