Information
News You Can Use
Events and resources that may be helpful as you plan your trip to Natchez.
Spring Pilgrimage 2025
March 27-30 & April 3-6
Let Us Guide You to the Perfect Natchez Experience! Click Here for Spring Pilgrimage 2025
Then, I wonder if we can just link to the Natchez City site for all of the other events? There are so many!
For other events in Natchez, see https://visitnatchez.org/events/
What to know before you go
Information about the B&B that may be helpful as you consider making your reservation:
Our goal is to ensure our guests can unwind and enjoy the beauty that surrounds you at Ravenna B&B. Just relaxing on one of our 4 magnificent galleries and taking in the sweet, perfumed breezes will start to melt away stress and help you reset your internal clock to Southern Time! To that end, the below rules and restrictions are intended to preserve a calm and relaxing environment for all of our guests.
B&B Rules and Restrictions
• Owing to the sumptuous interiors and period antiques, Ravenna’s reservations are restricted to children 16 and older; minimum primary renter age is 21
Ravenna is a smoke-free, pet-free, and firearm-free establishment.
- Smoking, vaping, and e-cigarettes are strictly prohibited inside Ravenna or on the outside galleries.
- No pets allowed either inside Ravenna or on the grounds.
Minimum 2-night stay for all reservations
- Photo ID and credit card must be provided upon arrival
We can’t wait to welcome you
Once you have booked your reservation, please review the below details for what to expect during your stay.
B&B Check-in/Check-Out
Check-In
Check-In window is between 4:00 PM and 6:00 PM on the day of arrival. Check-in times outside this window may be accommodated by request and based on host availability. Arrangements must be made in advance. Please coordinate your approximate arrival time with our on-site managers by calling or e-mailing:
Phone: (601) 431-6411
Email: ravennabedandbreakfast@gmail.com
Check-Out
Check-Out Time is 11:00 AM CT on the day of departure. Later check-out may be accommodated by request and based on host availability. Arrangements must be made in advance.
- Please coordinate your departure time with our on-site manager.
- Return keys to the on-site manager upon check-out.
B&B Accessibility
First Floor
B&B guests have access to all common areas on the B&B’s first floor when doors are opened, including our luxurious formal parlor, library, formal dining room, and gentlemen’s parlor/bar, all fully appointed in period piece antiques.
Second Floor
B&B guests have access to the coffee/refreshments bar and laundry room on the B&B’s 2nd floor.
Galleries
B&B guests have access to all four stunning galleries (porches/balconies) to enjoy the outdoors in sheltered comfort.
Pool
B&B guests have access to the pool from 10:00 to 4:00 seasonally. The pool house is closed to B&B guests.
B&B Additional Information
Breakfast
Ravenna B&B provides daily breakfast vouchers to one of our local favorites.
Tours
Ravenna is often on tour during Spring and Fall Pilgrimage (internet search Spring or Fall Pilgrimage in Natchez, MS for dates and times). If you are in residence during our tour dates and would like to join a tour, please let us know. Your admission, as our guest, is complimentary. Do be aware that during tour season, the shared spaces on the first floor will be restricted for part of the day.
B&B Health and Safety
Staircase
The stunning elliptical staircase of the B&B is steep and not suitable for young children or those with mobility challenges. Note that all bedrooms are on the second or third floor, requiring guests to navigate the stairs while carrying their luggage.
Pool
There is no life-guard on duty at the pool.
Video surveillance
For safety and security reasons, outdoor and indoor video surveillance cameras are in use in all public spaces. There are no security cameras of any kind in bedrooms, bathrooms, or private spaces.
Kitchen
Our kitchen is restricted to staff only for the health and safety of all guests.
B&B Interactions
On-site managers
Our on-site managers will be in residence through-out your stay to answer questions or assist in any way possible to ensure your stay is as safe, comfortable, and enjoyable as possible.
Please contact us for assistance in person or by phone at (601) 431-6411.
Parking instructions
The historic grounds provide easy, parking and convenient access for guests to come and go at their leisure.
There are two guest parking areas with 5 spaces total located on the property
• 2 guest parking spaces are available behind the back-entrance to the house
• 3 guest parking spaces are in front of the house, and across the gravel drive
All guest parking spots are clearly marked
Parking is also available in front of the Ravenna gate on Ravenna Ln and on N. Union Street
Recommendations During Your Stay
Walking through the soft, perfumed air of Natchez, is like taking a step back in time. Enjoy strolling through downtown for destination shopping at the Nest, Natchez Olive Market, Olivina, Darby’s, and many other quaint local shops within walking distance in downtown Natchez.
Enjoy dining at Frankies on Main or Pearl Street Pasta, also within walking distance of downtown. A short 5 minute or less drive will take you to upscale dining within the Castle at Dunleith or Restaurant 1818 at Monmouth, both beautiful historic locales.
If it is breakfast you are searching for, look no further than Natchez Coffee where you can lounge with the locals for coffee and pastries, get a quick bite and cup of Joe to go, or set in the adjoining restaurant which features a full breakfast menu.
For casual lunch or dinner fare, “Under the Hill” has fun and rustic restaurants and bars which give a nod to Natchez’ colorful riverport history. We recommend Magnolia Grill with great river and bridge views! Back up on the Bluff, Natchez Brewery is a craft beer pub with some of the best woodfired pizzas around. They feature indoor and outdoor seating with picnic benches, games, and often live music!
Finish your day with a walk along the bluff overlooking the Mississippi River and some of the most stunning sunsets you’ll ever see. There are also several places to sit for a glass of wine in the evening or enjoy live music. Natchez is a vibrant and active community where there is always something fun to see and enjoy!
We want to hear from you!
During your stay, if there is anything we can do better or differently to enhance your experience and make your stay even more enjoyable, please notify us right away!
After your stay, please don’t forget to leave a review of Ravenna Bed and Breakfast on Google and/or Trip Advisor! 😊
Our history is our heritage: As a great southern writer once so eloquently wrote . . . “The past is never dead. It’s not even past.”
― William Faulkner, Requiem for a Nun
Faulkner’s words are so very true of the South and of Natchez and Ravenna in particular.
We’ve included a summary below to provide historical context for your visit.
About Ravenna
Ravenna is an early 19th century Greek Revival mansion nestled among three acres of lush gardens and woods in the historic district of downtown Natchez. Constructed in 1835-36 by the renowned Neibert & Gemmell contracting firm as the residence of prominent entrepreneur, William Harris, Ravenna boasts a unique structural form, making it one of the most architecturally significant early Greek Revival mansions in Natchez.
Ravenna’s outstanding architectural features include a stunning elliptical stairway and a central hallway arch supported by paired Doric columns. The use of superimposed orders, the first-story Doric and the Second-story Ionic, on the matching front and rear galleries is unique for Natchez architecture. The house’s three-story form with undercut double-tiered galleries is known to exist on only one other Natchez residence.
Ravenna’s historical significance extends beyond its architecture. It was the home of Zuleika Metcalfe, who played a significant role during the Civil War by smuggling supplies to the Confederates. The house was acquired by the Metcalfe’s in the 1850s and remained in the family until the 1980s, witnessing generations of family stories and historical events.
One of the home’s most notable residents was Roane Fleming Byrnes, who grew up at Ravenna, built her adult home on the family estate, and later became known as the “Queen of the Natchez Trace Parkway” for her instrumental role in spearheading the efforts to build the scenic parkway from Nashville, Tennessee, to Natchez. Roane’s upbringing at Ravenna and her later accomplishments as an author, social leader, and community developer reflect the house’s rich history and its connection to the broader historical narrative of Natchez and the South.
Today, Ravenna stands as a testament to Natchez’s architectural and historical heritage, offering visitors a glimpse into the past and a deeper understanding of the people and events that shaped this historic home and the surrounding community.
About Natchez
Natchez is the oldest settlement on the Mississippi River, established as a French fort site on August 3, 1716. It became part of the United States with the establishment of the Mississippi Territory in 1798 and served as the first capital for the new State of Mississippi in 1817.
A place resplendent with natural beauty, Natchez is perched over 200 feet above the Mississippi River, with 30-mile views along the river both north and south. Today, it’s a thriving location for Mississippi tourism.
Natchez was spared much of the damage other cities suffered during the Civil War and remains home to more than 600 examples of historical architecture—more than any other city in the South. These historic homes and buildings, along with churches and other heritage sites, make Natchez a treasure trove for history buffs.
Of course, it is also the namesake for the Natchez Trace, the centuries-old, 444-mile path from Natchez to Nashville, long used by American Indians before becoming a U.S. thoroughfare. Today the Natchez Trace Parkway provides beautiful picnic areas, the rare Emerald Mound ceremonial mound, and the historic Mount Locust Inn, all just a few minutes’ drive from downtown Natchez. But Natchez is more than history. Today it is known for it’s easy elegance and casual charm, true hospitality, historic homes, lush gardens, moss-covered oaks and delicious down-home fare—with the attractions of a great small city: historic sites and museums, shopping, nightlife and gaming, a safe, walkable downtown, and a rich cultural scene.
Please contact us with any questions during your stay or to help plan your next getaway to beautiful, historic Natchez!