Higdon Hotel was built in 1878 by Harriet Dodson. By 1883, the place was purchased by the Higdon family. The Higdons expanded it to host the railroad bosses who were overseeing the building of the railroad through Reliance.
Once the railroad was done, it became a resort hotel for people vacationing in the area. When the railroad no longer was the main method of transportation, the hotel went out of business.
In the 1970s, the hotel was purchased by seven friends who worked to stabilize the building with the hopes of reopening it again. Unfortunately, they weren’t able to complete the work.
Reference: WBIR in Knoxville
Thanks for recognizing the Reliance Historic District. It is well worth the visit. However, I am wondering where you got your information as it contains some misinformation. There is no source better than Mr. Harold Webb, the owner and descendant of the original Webb and Vaughn families. I suggest you speak with him to get the authentic story. He is very engaging and loves to share his families story.
Thanks again,
Sherry Sparks
Any information I share is from the National Register of Historic Places information or newspaper articles. If you want to message me directly with Mr. Webb’s contact info, I would love to clarify any details that might be wrong. My direct email is todieforimages@gmail.com.