1890s Property Line Dispute Delays Historic Holly Hotel Reopening

It looks like we could be facing another year without one of the most magical places for making holiday memories. Although we had hopes that the Holly Hotel would be welcoming guests for another Christmas season, it looks like the Grinch may have other plans.

It was two years ago this summer that we watched in horror as a fire broke out in Downtown Holly engulfing local businesses and the beloved Historic Holly Hotel, a cherished landmark. Since then, the road to recovery has been anything but smooth, with the hotel still under construction and a court battle now threatening to keep its doors closed for yet another Christmas.

In August 2023, owners, George and Chrissy Kutlenios, announced they had hit a roadblock over a property line with the new owner of an adjacent property. As a result, restoration had to be halted while legal issues were tended to.

The dispute centers around mere inches—yes, inches—from an 1891 property line that separates the Holly Hotel from its neighbor, the Arcade building. The new owner of the Arcade is at odds with the Holly Hotel’s rebuild, stalling progress and leaving the community in limbo.

"The new owner claimed we protruded by inches onto his newly acquired property and wanted the entire west wall removed and the west side eaves cut off. Until we did so, he would not allow our crews on his newly purchased lot", Krissy Kutlenios told us. "You cannot imagine how we both feel seeing our building sit, ignored and lifeless, and know the absolute frustration of waiting a year for the courts to sort out this travesty over mere inches".

Their hope then was to resolve the issue and open the doors for Christmas 2023. Sadly, that time came and went, and their new sights were set on Christmas 2024, but it looks like the magic of the hotel will stay dormant once more.

"We have a court date on September 26, 2024. It never should have been this way—not for us, Holly, or the stately and resilient Historic Holly Hotel", she said.

For now, all we can do is sit and wait and send George and Krissy good vibes for a positive and quick outcome.

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As the legal battle drags on, we’re left to wonder if this iconic family favorite will be ready in time to host another holiday season or if we’ll be left reminiscing about Christmases past while hoping for a resolution that brings the Holly Hotel back to life. The stakes may seem small, but for Holly, they couldn’t be bigger.