The historic Monte Vista Hotel is a key component to Black Mountain’s storied past. Originally home to the Cherokee people, this valley became an early pathway west for traders, explorers and people seeking a new life beyond the eastern mountains. The town of Black Mountain grew rapidly after the railroad was completed in the late 19th century, and this new “railroad town” needed more lodging. Lucien and Rosalie Phillips opened the Monte Vista in 1919, repurposing a former school building. In 1937, the current brick building was constructed, further cementing the Monte Vista Hotel as a central piece of Black Mountain’s civic and social life. The Annex, a separate structure located behind the original, was added in 1975. Though the hotel has since undergone complete renovations and new ownership, many of the original elements have been preserved, and the new decorative touches complement the look and feel of the original structure.