Historic Red Wing hotel celebrating 150 years in business

RED WING, Minn. — Over the years, presidents and famous musicians have stayed at the St. James Hotel in Red Wing. Now, the historic hotel is getting ready to celebrate 150 years in business.

“It’s beautiful. The people are great. There is actually a lot to do being right on the river,” Jen Olson, general manager, said.

Smack dab in the middle of downtown Red Wing you’ll find a hotel that looks like it belongs in 1875, which just happens to be the year it was built.

“That was the original check-in desk and actually the 11 photos going up the stairs behind my shoulder are the 11 founding members,” Olson said.

The story behind the St. James Hotel is simple: 11 business owners needed a place for people to stay when they came to town. Likely none of them envisioned their establishment would one day end up on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Red Wing Shoe Company and owner W.D. Sweasy took over the St. James decades ago. President Rutherford B. Hayes and music legend Bob Dylan are just some of their famous guests.

“We have the original leather panels in the room, original fireplace,” Olson said. The ceilings, the walls and much of the furniture is also original.

Olson said a lot of work has gone into the hotel’s preservation. Each of the 68 rooms gets constant care.

“The electrical, the plumbing, all of the things that had to be brought up and added throughout the years,” Olson said.

There are newer comforts while keeping a nostalgic vibe.

There are many historical side stories within the St. James Hotel, including a bar that was originally owned by mob boss Al Capone.

“W.D. Sweasy was passionate about organs so he would go around town and buy up different organs. He had this one fully restored and put it here in the lobby,” Olson said.

Even The Port bar downstairs still maintains a Prohibition feel. But this time of year, the St. James really becomes a Christmas destination.

“Building the structure itself takes about a week because in here there are a bunch of different supports,” Amy Zerwas, pastry chef, said.

Each December, Zerwas builds a gingerbread house for the hotel, which is based on a historic building in town. This year it’s the Red Wing train depot.

“I used a lot of Royal icing. I think I made around 55 pounds of Royal icing, and I think I put two pounds of cinnamon in there,” Zerwas said.

It’s all part of a recipe that keeps visitors coming back.

“Yes, we are historic, but we still have all the modern-day amenities. So, you kind of have the best of both worlds. So, I hope people can see that we do have both. We are not just your grandma’s hotel,” Olson said.

Most of the hotel’s rooms are named after a riverboat and while they host a lot of weddings and events, anyone is welcome to stay. 

The St. James Hotel will celebrate 150 years in 2025, during which they’ll have a number of events planned throughout the year. For more information, click here.

John Lauritsen

John Lauritsen is an Emmy award-winning reporter from Montevideo, Minn. He joined WCCO-TV in late-July of 2007. Two days after he started, the Interstate 35W bridge collapsed.