From Sacred Space to Luxury Inn
Our Story
How a 19th-century Methodist church in St. Louis became one of the most unique boutique inns in America, and why we wouldn't have it any other way.
A History Timeline
This building has survived fire, war, and over 135 years of history. It helped build a neighborhood, outlasted a pandemic, and passed through three sets of hands, each one leaving something behind. What you'll find today still feels sacred, but sleeps like a luxury inn.
The Land Is Purchased
Methodist minister Dr. Benjamin St. James Fry and Samuel H. Pye, manager of the Western Methodist Book Concern, purchased the land that would become the Clifton Heights neighborhood.
The Congregation Forms
Dr. Fry established the first Methodist church in the future Clifton Heights neighborhood. Membership records show that the congregation was instrumental in drawing families to what was then an isolated pocket of the city, with nearly every congregant listed in 1901 having moved to the neighborhood after the church was founded.
Dr. Fry Memorial Methodist Church Is Built
After the original smaller church burns in a fire, the new Dr. Fry Memorial Methodist Church building was erected, quickly becoming the pride of Clifton Heights and considered one of the finest suburban churches in all of St. Louis.
Destroyed by Fire
A neighbor across the street smelled burning wood at 1:15 p.m. By the time Hook and Ladder Company No. 10 arrived, delayed by the steep, icy grade of Clifton Avenue and forced to wait for horses from the World's Fair grounds, the church was fully engulfed. By the following morning, only a smoldering ruin remained.
Rebuilt From the Ashes
Just two months after the fire, the church board voted to rebuild. Architect William Anelette Cann designed the new structure. The cornerstone was laid in September 1905 before a large crowd, and by May 1, 1906, less than 15 months after the fire, the board was already holding its first meeting inside the completed sanctuary. Total cost: $22,190.95, nearly $800,000 in today's dollars.
A Century of Community
The newly rebuilt church served its congregation for nearly a century, through two world wars, the Great Depression, a Silver Jubilee in 1913, and a centennial in 1988. (Lithograph #147 from that centennial edition of 200 still hangs near the fireplace in the sanctuary.) The church was host to many weddings, funerals, baptisms, and celebrations of life through the years. By 2004, the congregation had dwindled to just 19 members. With the roof failing, they made the difficult decision to sell, asking only to take one stained glass window with them. That missing window is directly on your right as you enter through the guest entrance.
The Rehab Years
Purchased by the Machecas, they moved in with their three children to begin what they expected to be a five-year rehab project but it turned into a fourteen year labor of love. Dan, a master woodworker, built a full workshop in the basement and guided by the existing Gothic architecture, gutted the building to the brick and rebuilt it by hand. The original bell was lowered by crane onto the patio, where it still sits. Every 1905 stained glass window, the curved staircase, the four communion rails, and the massive wooden altar were carefully preserved. Gothic details were carried throughout: arched doorways, hand-laid floors and ceilings, and each staircase spindle carved with subtle variations.
Clifton Heights Inn
The Machecas opened Clifton Heights Inn, a bed-and-breakfast where guests enjoyed breakfast bathed in the light of the original stained glass windows. It quickly became known as one of St. Louis's most unique lodging experiences, until COVID-19 forced its closure in 2020. With their children grown, the Machecas chose to close permanently and list the property for sale, entrusting its future to new caretakers.
Gothic Heights Inn
The property sat on the market for years until March 2024, the day before Easter Sunday, when it's soon-to-be owners toured it on a whim with their mom and twin boys. One tour changed everything. Within a week they were under contract, selling their South City home and preparing to move in. On July 1, 2024, they welcomed their first guests as Gothic Heights Inn.
What Is Preserved
The restoration took 14 years. The interior was completely gutted to the brick and rebuilt into a modern luxury inn, but the original structure: the soaring ceilings, the stained glass windows, the wooden communion rails, and the curved staircase all remain intact. Even the former bell tower lives on, now home to our rooftop hot tub with 360° panoramic views of St. Louis. The result is an inn where history lives in every corner.
Stained Glass Windows
Crafted by artists who exhibited at the 1904 World's Fair. In a city full of stained glass, ours are among the finest in St. Louis. Each one is irreplaceable.
Soaring Ceilings, Arches & Curved Staircase
The communion rail, altar, arched doorways, and hand-carved curved staircase all remain intact, creating a sense of scale and beauty you simply cannot replicate.
Original Brick Structure
The building's original brick structure and foundation have been meticulously preserved, maintaining historical integrity while meeting modern safety standards.
The Bell Tower
Now home to our rooftop hot tub with 360° panoramic views of St. Louis, including the Gateway Arch.
Our Name
"Gothic" for the architecture. "Heights" for both the Clifton Heights Neighborhood and that the building is on the third highest hill in St. Louis. Together they capture what makes this place different from anywhere else in St. Louis.
"Gothic" — The Architecture
Pointed arches, stained glass, soaring stonework, the hallmarks of Gothic ecclesiastical design that define every room.
"Heights" — The Verticality
Tall ceilings, arched doorways, and a rooftop hot tub perched above the city. This inn is situated on the third highest hill in St. Louis.
The Vision
Gothic Heights Inn is an intimate retreat set within a restored historic church. Designed as a private escape for those drawn to quiet luxury, timeless architecture, and space to unwind from the world beyond.
A Refined, Peaceful Retreat
A calm, quiet atmosphere designed for couples and adult travelers—ideal for those seeking privacy, connection, and uninterrupted time away.
No Two Rooms Alike
Every suite has its own character: different stained glass, different views, different personality. Each one tells part of the building's story.
The Opposite of a Hotel Chain
No corporate sameness. Every corner has a story, and the people who run it live on-site and care about every guest.
The Neighborhood
Clifton Heights is one of St. Louis's quieter, most welcoming neighborhoods, tucked just minutes from Forest Park, The Hill's legendary restaurants, and the Central West End.
Safe & Walkable
Clifton Heights is a quiet, welcoming neighborhood, the kind of place where you feel at home from the moment you arrive.
Minutes from Everything
Forest Park, The Hill, the Central West End, and two major highways are all within easy reach.
Clifton Park & The Lake
A short walk from the inn, Clifton Park wraps around a small, peaceful lake with resident ducks and shaded walking trails. A perfect morning stroll before coffee.
Come See It for Yourself
No description does it justice. Book a stay and experience the most unique inn in St. Louis.