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| History |
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The Buffalo Tavern was built in 1872 by George Washington Ray for use as a residence. He built it on 500 acres of land that he had purchased from the state of North Carolina in 1851 for five cents an acre. The house was built with timber that was cut from the 500 acres. Bricks used in the house were handmade on the site, and the stone used was also found on the property. It was the first house in Ashe County to have glass windows. It is said that people would come to the house just to look at the windows. Many of those same old windows are preserved in a greenhouse-type building sitting at the rear of the property today. |
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The house has seven fireplaces and two staircases, the back one is said to be the staircase used by the servants in days gone by. George Washington Ray, who was a talented craftsman, did most of the woodwork. A striking example of his work is a champagne glass which is carved out of the top of the newel post at the formal staircase upon entrance to the Tavern. In the late 1800's, Buffalo Road was part of a major artery of highways from Tennessee to Jefferson and beyond. At that time, the Ray family began operating their home as a tavern. Bedrooms in the house served as rooms for guests. In later years, cottages and a pond were added behind the house for early tourists in the mountains. It is said that two early governors of North Carolina were guests at the Buffalo Tavern. Their identities are not known, but possibly one of them was Zebulon Vance. In their honor, the room on the first floor is named "The Governor's Room." |
| A large grape vineyard and cornfields provided wine and corn liquor for Tavern customers. The Tavern somehow managed to continue alcohol sales through the prohibition of the 1920's. Could there have been a special agreement between the Rays and local sheriffs? With the depression era came the closing of the tavern. | |
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Buffalo Tavern Bed and Breakfast 958 West Buffalo Road West Jefferson, North Carolina 28694 email: 
Brian (Doc) Adams, Innkeeper |
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