Stylish and elegant, Gratz Park has been synonymous with gracious living for generations.
Located in downtown Lexington, the Gratz Park Historic District was named after early Lexingtonian Benjamin Gratz. One of the city's most beautiful areas, the Gratz Park Historic District is bounded by West Third and West Second streets on the north and south, and by the buildings that line Mill and Market streets on the west and east. The park is open to the public. For those who enjoy history, several historical houses within the district are also open to the public.
Comprised of a lovely city park and many impressive buildings and large residences, Kentucky architectural historian Clay Lancaster wrote of the area: "The Park has charm, atmosphere, a sense of tranquility and of history, and it provides an oasis of planting tucked into the cityscape." Gratz Park occupies a tract of land that was established in 1781 outside of the original boundaries of Lexington when the town plat was prepared that year by order of the Virginia Assembly.
The Transylvania Seminary purchased the park in 1793 as the site for its Lexington campus. Following a fire, which destroyed the main building, the Transylvania campus was moved across Third Street to its present location. The park was deeded to the city in the mid-20th century.
Throughout the 19th-century, Gratz Park became the home to the cites most prominent and wealthy citizens. Characterized by the grand townhouses, the district soon was surrounded by numerous professional offices and buildings’, including what is now the Gratz Park Inn.
The heritage of the Gratz Park Inn, like its surrounding area, is rich in Southern charm and elegance. With its sumptuous suites and guestrooms, a cozy library and Lexington’s favorite 5 Star restaurant, Jonathan at Gratz Park Inn. Gratz Park Inn has earned its reputation as a timeless, classic, and luxury boutique inn.
