Tucked into the heart of downtown Clayton is a gracious, 130-year old Queen Anne Victorian manor, one of the oldest structures remaining in Clayton, which now serves as an elegant Bed and Breakfast. Built in 1895 and newly opened as The Magnolia Inn, the stately home is more than a charming place to stay — it’s a story of preservation, perseverance, and a deep passion for community roots. Formerly known as the Morning Glory Inn (2000-2020) and then McWade’s Inn (2020-2024), this bed and breakfast has been in operation for more than two decades, quietly watching the town grow and evolve over the years.
As the newly-opened Magnolia Inn approaches its one-year anniversary, I sat down with owner Jordan Robinson to talk about her journey, what’s in store for 2026, and why the Magnolia Inn is quickly becoming one of Clayton’s most beloved destinations.
I first asked Jordan how the Magnolia Inn came into her life and why she wanted to go into innkeeping.
“Admittedly, I’m an event planner and public affairs professional by trade,” she explained. “I’ve been coordinating events for nearly 15 years — dating back to my military days orchestrating large-scale military balls and international diplomatic events.”
Jordan is a U.S. Marine Corps Veteran and South Carolina native; whose entrepreneurial journey began long before settling in Clayton. From childhood, Jordan has always had an entrepreneurial streak. “I grew up in a lower-class family; money was tight. From a young age I learned the value of entrepreneurship. By eight years old, I was buying and reselling school supplies to pay for lunch. I mowed lawns, baby sat, cleaned houses, bussed tables – I learned a lot about people, the meaning of community, and how it takes a village to raise a good person; I learned that the best things in life are hard-earned.”
After a rewarding stint in the military, Jordan spent the last decade in Washington, D.C., moving up the ranks as a federal employee. It was in DC that Jordan met her husband, Tom, on Facebook dating. After planning her own destination wedding in England in the summer of 2024, something clicked — she realized that her life’s purpose was to combine meaningful moments with hospitality and community.
Shortly after her wedding she and her husband decided to move closer to family in the Carolinas. While searching for a home, the Inn kept resurfacing and beckoning. “When we got serious about our vision for the Magnolia Inn, it felt like the stars were aligning. After an incredibly arduous journey, we were (miraculously) able to call the Inn home,” she said.
Jordan felt strongly about not only keeping the house as an inn, but giving it a reputation worthy of recognition. While it’s true there are not many lodging options in Clayton, she felt that the house was not a relic from a bygone era, but rather, realized it had so much more life to give.
The property, originally built in 1895, has served as a bed and breakfast since 2000. After closing on the property on November 15, 2024, she and her husband moved in on December 1 and spent eight weeks completely renovating the space before hosting their grand opening on February 1, 2025. This week marks their one-year anniversary, and their story is nothing short of a storybook tale.
“We’re just getting started,” says Jordan. “Last year, we were treading water. This year, we’re building something sustainable and community-centered.”
A Historic Stay with Modern Comfort
The Magnolia Inn offers seven guest rooms, each with a private ensuite bathroom. The inn boasts five king rooms and two queen rooms, with two of the king suites offering soaking tubs. When asked about the types of customers they see most, not surprisingly, Jordan said they get a large number of wedding-night stays. They stage rose petals, tea lights, swan-shaped folded towels — the works. She explained the added effort doesn’t cost much, but it creates such a lasting impression, a takeaway that is important to her.
The house itself carries fascinating architectural history. “Accessible only from the closet in the Magnolia Suite, there used to be a secret passageway to a men’s cigar lounge,” she relished. “We joke that Oscar Smith, the original owner, still floats around smoking his cigars.”
When asked if she had witnessed any supernatural activity, she said that while she hadn’t seen anything, she believes that “benevolent spirits still dwell within these walls.”
The claim to fame at the Magnolia for guests, however, is the gourmet cooked-to-order breakfast. If you read Magnolia Inn’s reviews, nearly all visiting guests rave about it.
“My husband is the Michelin-star chef — not me!” she says. “Guests can order from a robust menu daily. It’s part of what sets us apart. We’re old school,” she said.
Guest favorites include the Petite English breakfast, the fresh blueberry waffles, and New York-style loaded salmon bagels.
Guests to the Inn come from all over; some visiting family in the area, some traveling on work assignment, and others are just discovering Clayton for the first time, lured to town merely by the Inn’s reputation and beautiful aesthetic found through tourism searches.
“Interestingly, we see a strong number of people surveying the 55+ communities being built here,” she says. “I’d like to think the inn is helping sell them on Clayton by demonstrating that we’re sophisticated, exciting, yet deeply rooted in community and a sense of home.”
The inn also hosts celebratory weekends, and welcomes a range of customers, from wedding parties, to corporate travelers, commuters, influencers, content creators, and even international travelers.
“We even get Raleigh overflow — guests willing to drive 20–30 minutes for a boutique experience,” Jordan said. “If people are willing to go out of their way to stay with us, it tells me we’re doing something meaningful.”
Community-Focused Events for Visitors and Residents
After a first year focused primarily on private bookings, the Magnolia Inn is steadily expanding into ticketed public events. This year they will open their doors for more communal programming, including an anticipated courtyard addition for outdoor garden parties and Bridgerton-inspired events.
The inn will host rotating ticketed public events several times a month, including a monthly Afternoon Tea. “We’re kicking off our tea season with an open house on Valentine’s Day”, said Jordan. “We’re pleased to also open our doors for our one-year celebration and show the public just how far we’ve come.”
The Open House will be held Saturday, February 14, from 3:30–5:00 PM. The event is free and open to the community. It will include an Afternoon Tea preview with tea tastings, finger sandwiches and sweets, and raffles for coveted prizes like Afternoon Tea for Two or a gift certificate toward an overnight stay.
Preceding the open house, the Inn will be hosting their first official Afternoon Tea for Two from 1:00–2:30 PM. It is a private ticketed experience, and as of the time of publishing, limited tickets remain. They plan to continue offering Afternoon Tea on the last Sunday of each month as one of their ongoing inn-hosted experiences.
Future events will include afternoon teas, sommelier-led tastings, etiquette classes, and artisan markets, among a slew of other unique ideas Jordan is considering. Their event calendar will be announced via Facebook, Eventbrite, and the inn’s website.
Giving Back and Entrepreneurial Growth
Jordan is also a big believer in giving back. She has plans to use the Inn and her unique background and talents to provide partnership, education, and opportunities for those in her community.
They are a proud “Porch Partner” with A Mother’s Rest, a nonprofit providing respite retreats for caregivers of children with special needs, hospice workers, and others in intensive caregiving roles.
“We donate four full retreat weekends a year,” she explains. “They receive three nights with breakfast included. It gives them time to rest, connect, and build camaraderie with others of shared experiences. It’s been a really powerful organization to partner with.
In addition, the Magnolia Inn donates stays to local nonprofits and community fundraisers. Jordan is also deeply engaged in business and civic leadership. She is in the current Launch JoCo cohort, a 12-week entrepreneur development program providing business training and assistance to budding business owners in Johnston county. She is also the Chair of the Veterans Outreach Council at the Clayton Chamber of Commerce.
Jordan is proud that the Magnolia Inn is a veteran-owned and female-owned business, but she also admits that she had no formal entrepreneurial training. “Launch JoCo is helping me refine what I’ve been learning on the fly. It has provided priceless knowledge, networks and connections, and I want to make sure I’m giving back to the community that has given so much to me. Clayton is my forever home. It’s important to me to build, grow and uplift the amazing people that make this town so special.
Lessons from Year One
As we wrapped up, I asked Jordan what are the most important lessons she learned in her first year of inn ownership.
“Seasonality hit hard,” she said. “When overnight bookings slowed around Christmas, we had to shift our offerings to meet different client needs and wants. When lodging slowed down, we started offering holiday parties and private events to supplement income. When the sales slowed, I didn’t sit idle,” she said. “I went all out with the holiday decor at the inn. And it paid off. We won Best Decorated Storefront by the townsfolk during the holiday season. Who knows, maybe one day we’ll host a Hallmark movie here,” she mused.
The biggest takeaway, she says, is how much the community has risen to support her, “I can’t think of a better place to start a business than Clayton. From day one, the community welcomed me with a giant Southern hug. In joining the Chamber of Commerce, I instantly had 30 new best friends. The support has been incredible.”
The Magnolia Inn was recently named 2025 New Business of the Year by the Clayton Chamber of Commerce. The award recognizes the inn’s first-year impact on local economic vitality, visitor experience, and community engagement.
“From the beginning, our goal was to create something that felt authentically rooted in Clayton and welcoming to all. The embrace of the local community proves that we’re doing this house--and this town--justice. Clayton is an amazing place to live, work and play. I’m honored to be a part of that narrative.,” Jordan said. “Last year was the year of surviving,” she laughed. “2026 will be the year of thriving.”
Plan Your Stay
Whether you're visiting family, planning a weekend away, or looking for a charming boutique escape just outside Raleigh, the Magnolia Inn offers historic character with modern hospitality. For upcoming events, booking information, and direct reservations, visit the Magnolia Inn’s website and follow them on social media. The Magnolia Inn is also listed on Booking.com, Expedia, AirBnB and Google Hotels, though they, and we, encourage supporting local and booking directly.
