ince 1984 the McKay House B & B Inn of Jefferson has been widely acclaimed for high standards, personal service and satisfied guests. At the McKay house, you can see, feel and taste the difference. Would you like to see classic details and furnishings, to feel welcome and at home, to taste a homemade gentleman's breakfast without having to worry about dishes? Owner/Innkeepers Becky and Hugh Lewis will help you enjoy your visit to the fullest.

Built in 1851, one of the oldest inns in the South, the McKay House was recently restored and expanded. Through it all, the antebellum charm and genteel values are preserved. Becky and Hugh Lewis are eager to please and make your stay a lasting memory.

Becky and Hugh stay up to date on Jefferson and area events
so your stay can be as active or relaxed as you desire. Check out the Cottage Garden. We have restored the original charm and romance to each of the bedchambers. Fireplaces are all aglow and offer an inviting touch to most of the rooms. You should see The McKay House. You will understand why we are "One of the Ten Most Romantic Inns in America."

Enjoy the same hospitality experienced by thousands of guests, including Lady Bird Johnson, Alex Haley, Martin Jurow, George Bush's staff, Fabio, members of Congress and our most important guest, you.

Each of the 7 guest chambers has a private bath. Choices include the Sunday House Garden Cottage, the luxurious Gable Suites, or Lady Bird's favorite room with a fireplace. In each bedchamber, you will find a Victorian nightgown and old fashioned sleep shirt laid out. Authentic amenities from the period adorn the house.

After a peaceful night's rest, enjoy a full
"gentleman's breakfast" in the garden conservatory. Typical breakfast fare includes Orange French Toast and bacon with pure maple syrup, Shirred Eggs with Ham, fresh breads or muffins and seasonally fresh fruit. On cool mornings, the conservatory fireplace warms the body and cheers the spirit.

Before or after breakfast, we suggest a cup of coffee on the balcony or in the garden, and a stroll "to let your soul catch up" with you.

Inspected and Approved. Inspections and approval by Mobil Travel Guide and Classic B&B Inns provide assurance of quality. The McKay house proudly displays a Texas Historic Medallion and a National Historic Marker and is a "certified historic structure" by US Department of Interior.

Jefferson is considered to be the "Williamsburg of the Southwest" and the Fredericksburg of East Texas. Regular steamboat passage to New Orleans made Jefferson the Queen City of the Republic of Texas.

Jefferson is on the Cypress Bayou, the source of ancient Caddo Lake, the only natural lake in Texas. And a special lake it is: Walt Disney made several movies here. Boat rides are available on the bayou and at the lake. Abundant resources and a verdant environment beckon.

Jefferson was a major supply depot for the Confederate States. With abundant local iron ore, foundries helped equip the Confederacy during the Civil War. Afterwards, Yankee Soldiers occupied the town for 10 years, and exacted a price -- but the town survived and prospered throughout the steamboat era.

The McKay House was featured in Vacation Magazine as "One of the Ten Most Romantic Inns in American." Every day, we try to live up to that reputation. Most guests return again and again for their "favorite room" or until they have stayed in all the guest chambers.

Located in the residential area of "Quality Hill," within a short walk of the historic river front downtown area. See scores of restored homes and churches on a short walk. The McKay House was built by Daniel Nelson Alley, founder of Jefferson. In the McKay House and throughout town, history still functions in ways to give you a lasting pleasant memory.

We are a non-smoking inn with a pillared front porch in the Greek Revival style. Five guest chambers are in the main house and two in a garden cottage, the Sunday House.

Crossing the threshold begins a special treat for you at the McKay House -- an experience that helps restore one's faith in enduring values. Pump a few chords on the antique Packard Organ or enjoy a fireside chat by one of the inn's seven fireplaces.

Convenient, but discreetly out of sight among the period furnishings are the necessary modern conveniences: cable TV, telephone system, fax machine, internet access in every room, central air and heat, and shower or tub.

McKay House B&B Inn has been honored with national recognition and excellent reviews by independent evaluators, including Mobil Travel Guide and numerous travel writers. Yet, the evaluations Becky and Hugh treasures the most are the "oohs" and "aahs" they hear when you first see your room or sample the breakfast fare. We look forward to meeting you at McKay House.

DISTINCTIVE FEATURES

• "One of the 10 most romantic Inns in America"...Vacation Magazine
• Victorian nightgowns and sleepshirts...period hats, too
• Gentleman's Breakfast...a McKay classic. Complimentary
• A fireside cup of coffee or a cool lemonade on the porch
• A garden stroll to refresh the soul