Reviewed by: Liv George
How you can stay in this restored 75-year-old mansion in Tuscaloosa
Reading time: 3 minutes
One of the most historic buildings around Tuscaloosa may not be seen by many people traveling through town but if you take a quick detour off Hargrove Road, you’ll find Wood Manor. And now, you can book your stay in the home.
The house was built in 1947 and has plenty of noteworthy history, including standing tall in an area significantly damaged by the April 27 tornado in 2011.
From a rich architectural background to modern-day renovations, there is plenty to discover about the Wood Manor Guest House. Keep reading to learn more + find out how you can book a room.
History of 1 Wood Manor
In 1947, architect Don Buel Schuyler built the home in a Colonial Revival style. Schuyler, who was an apprentice to Frank Lloyd Wright, built the home with reinforced concrete and steel which is a large reason it is still standing today.
The architect and his work are known well around Tuscaloosa, moving to the city in 1936 to send his daughters to the University of Alabama.
The home had a variety owners over the last seven decades. In 2011, the building may have survived the tornado without major damage but the property lost all of its trees.
In 2012, the Alabama Historical Commission and Alabama Trust for Historic Preservation placed the home among its Places in Peril. It managed to survive nearly another decade without too much work done—until Al and Brenda Moulton arrived.
Creating Wood Manor Guest House
The Moultons first came to Tuscaloosa when they visited the university and their daughter chose to go to college at Alabama. The couple began looking for residential spots in the area when a realtor showed them 1 Wood Manor.
“Though it needed a huge amount of work, it captured our hearts. Never expecting to live in Tuscaloosa, we found ourselves moving from Houston to take on the project of remodeling this mid-century mansion to restore its former beauty.”
~ The Moultons via the Wood Manor website
Even before completing the purchase, they knew they had big plans for the building. The community did not wait long to respond to the new owners, making sure that the historic building was going to be treated properly.
But the Moultons have certainly held up their end of the bargain, getting plenty of support from the community along the way. Now, the building provides six renovated rooms, each with their own bathrooms.
You can rent by room or bring a group down to rent the whole house. Prices vary depending on timing of the booking, ranging from $125 to $1,800 per night, with the highest price coming the weekend of the Iron Bowl in Tuscaloosa.
Here’s everything you need to know:
Have you stayed a night at the Wood Manor Guest House? Let us know by tagging The Bama Buzz on Instagram, X, Facebook + LinkedIn.
