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About Us

May all who enter as guests, leave as friends.

Brian and Crysti Everhart chose Mount Airy for it's beautiful change of seasons, small town charm, and memories of the slower pace life where they were born and raised in Indiana.
The innkeepers are excited to share their journey, this exquisite 1901 home, and unique community with you. They enjoy getting to know their guests through their stories and look forward to forming lasting relationships.

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Brian and Crysti, your hosts of Heart & Soul Bed and Breakfast, lived in Southern California before moving to Mount Airy. Owning a bed and breakfast has always been a dream combined with the fact their 3 grandbabies reside in North Carolina. These innkeepers are so grateful to be the 5th owners as of February 2024.

Brian and Crysti's journey together began in Orange County, CA after meeting in college at Ball State University in Muncie, IN. Their employment as two career sales professionals took them down the path of entertainment and hospitality. Crysti also ran an "event planning" business. Both owners grew up in small towns in Indiana and vowed someday to get back to that "way of life"! Forty years of California, two grown children and three grandchildren the search began for this new adventure. Mount Airy checked every box! The Heart and Soul BnB was stunning however it was the people and the town that stole their hearts.

The previous owners gave life to the Heart and Soul and created the period appropriate rooms we enjoy today. Brian and Crysti plan to make only a few changes however have already added many additional amenities plus did a "refresh of each room" with all new linens and towels!

The Everharts are so excited to call Mount Airy their home and hope you'll experience the Charm they've found that a stay at the Heart and Soul brings.

Keeping Our Inn Safe for Everyone to Enjoy

Upholding strict sanitization policies & health screening of staff

Monitoring government, CDC, and Dept. of Health guidelines

Reach out to us with any questions and feedback at:
Heartnsoulbb.com

Wishing you all the absolute best and we hope to see you soon.
The Staff & Owners of Heart & Soul Bed and Breakfast

History of the William E. Merritt Home

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William Edward Merritt moved to Mount Airy in 1888. His interests helped to develop Mount Airy into the town it is today.

Mr. Merritt was an entrepreneur which has been shown in the many business endeavors he helped develop throughout history. When he arrived to Mount Airy, he opened a hardware store known as "Merritt Hardware" and later expanded into the brick yard business.

The hardware store is now incorporated as part of today's Regional Historic Museum. The bricks from his brick yard, was used to construct his home, as well as his parents home, which was next door, and supplied his hardware business. Mr. Merritt also helped develop the Renfro Textile Industry, a major part of Mount Airy's economic history.

His home, at 618 North Main Street, was constructed in 1900 by general contractor J.A. Tesh and took approximately one year to complete. J.A. Tesh also constructed the Trinity Episcopal Church, First Presbyterian Church, and the Mount Airy Depot.

The house was one of the most prestigious houses in Mount Airy for its time, with its two and half story bay, wrap around front porch, and granite accented string courses and window trimmings. Inside, the house reflected the Colonial Revival Era, seen in the houses mantels, staircase, and built-in. The house was then passed down to his daughter, Elizabeth Merritt, who kept the house true to her father's design.

Today, the William E. Merritt House is home to Heart & Soul Bed and Breakfast. The Everharts are the fifth owners of the William E. Merritt house that was fully restored by the previous owners to its original elegance and charm.