Introducing Visitation Hotel, a Hidden Gem in Historic Maryland

What does a monastery, the Civil War, and a celebrity chef have in common? All three share a history with Visitation Hotel.

In the heart of Frederick, Maryland, an hour outside of Baltimore and Washington, D.C., the boutique hotel just opened its doors in December 2024 – but the story of Visitation is much older than that. Nearly 200 years of intrigue and antique architecture beg to be discovered here, in the hallowed halls of a pearl white chapel and a striking red-brick building that have since been transformed into a fresh, modern getaway. 

For the curious minds, history buffs, and independent spirits, Visitation Hotel and Frederick are hidden gems for sightseeing, mountain hikes, unique weddings, vintage shops and so much more. Get an inside look at these old-school modern marvels with the Independent Collection.

Things to Do in Frederick, a Big City With Small-Town Charm

Set between Maryland’s countryside and vast urban sprawls, Frederick is the fourth-largest city in the state, but you’d hardly know it from looks alone. This place has small-town charm in spades. 

Pointy church steeples, 18th-century gardens, and relics from the Revolutionary War nod to Frederick’s past as an important trade city while downtown’s boutique shops and gourmet restaurants breathe new life into century-old buildings. We’re talking independent bookstores, a chocolate patisserie, DIY floral shops, and even a modern tea merchant. And if your taste leans vintage, don’t miss Emporium Antiques, a gigantic 25,000-square-foot antique shop curated by over 100 dealers selling everything from Japanese Imari porcelain to cowhide office chairs. 

Catch a stage performance at Weinberg Center for the Arts, a restored “movie palace” from the 1920s, or check out one of Frederick’s whiskey distilleries for a taste of pre-Prohibition spirits. History lovers should plan a trip to the National Museum of Civil War Medicine, or the famous Monocacy National Battlefield. 

Beyond the city center, Frederick has gorgeous scenery and magnificent Blue Ridge Mountain trails great for hiking and biking, horseback riding, and trout fishing, too. Plan for a day at Catoctin Mountain Park and get a glimpse of Camp David, a longtime favorite hideaway for United States presidents.

200 Years of History, Reimagined

With a hometown like Frederick, it’s no surprise that Visitation Hotel has some history of its own. The landmark red-brick building was built in 1824 as a cloistered monastery overseen by Catholic sisters. Later, in 1846, the monastery expanded with Visitation Academy, an all-girls school that evolved into a world-renowned institution. The property has ties to the Civil War, too, when it served as a makeshift hospital for wounded soldiers after the Battle of Antietam in 1862.

Today’s Visitation Hotel winks at its studious past with clever design details like plaid carpeting, working desks, and vintage-style trunks you might’ve seen in a dormitory years ago. 

The 165 rooms and suites lean into the building’s farmhouse bones, too. Think exposed beams, subway tiles, and shiplap walls in soothing earth tones. But it’s not all buttoned up here. Curved furnishings, pops of patterns, and bright airy windows add a dose of playfulness for a new generation. The hotel is stocked with modern amenities, too, like a state-of-the-art fitness center, flat-screen TVs, and high-speed Wi-Fi.

Beyond accommodations, the hotel offers several unique venues for weddings and events, including the brand-new Visitation Ballroom fit to accommodate 200 guests, and a dazzling Bridal Suite.

Frederick’s Celebrity Chefs Come Home

For a centuries-old city, Frederick feels surprisingly fresh thanks to young creatives and ambitious business owners who juxtapose history with big imagination. 

Just look to Wye Oak Tavern, an all-new steakhouse at Visitation Hotel led by two celebrity chefs, Michael Voltaggio and Bryan Voltaggio. After dominating Top Chef season six (Michael was crowned the winner, Bryan won runner-up), the Frederick-born brothers were inspired to open a restaurant together in their hometown, and found their place at Visitation’s chapel, a uniquely historic space with stained-glass windows, Neoclassical columns, and sky-high ceilings that look to the heavens.

Whether you’re an adventurous eater or stick to the ‘tried and trues,’ Wye Oak Tavern has something delicious to offer, like Maryland crab cakes, cedar-planked salmon, juicy burgers, and pastas. Carnivores have their pick of epic steak cuts, too, like the queen cut Black Angus prime rib served with decadent tiger sauce. The tavern also partners with local purveyors to source the freshest quality ingredients, including their Wagyu beef, smoked trout, and homegrown Maryland produce, as well as local distilleries for Wye Oak’s craft cocktails. 

For Frederick locals, one menu item holds a special place in history: the apple dumpling. The cinnamon-citrus treat dates back nearly 180 years ago, when boarding students at Visitation Academy went on hunger strike to protest the nuns’ arrival at school – that is, until the town hosted a welcome dinner in their honor, and the nuns brought apple dumplings made with fruit from the campus tree. 

The sisters’ irresistible recipe was used for almost two centuries at Visitation Academy. Every year, students of all ages joined together to pick apples and bake their own apple dumplings for the community – harnessing that same welcoming spirit from the first town dinner. Wye Oak Tavern’s dumpling is an ode to this Frederick ritual, topped with caramel sauce and a cinnamon toast custard.

Fuel Up for Adventure

For busy mornings and midday snacks, the Voltaggio brothers also have Acorn Provisions, a cozy on-site cafe at Visitation Hotel. 

Open seven days a week, Acorn Provisions offers a full espresso bar stocked with local treats like Continuum Nitro Coffee made with Peruvian-grown, Maryland-roasted beans. There are also flaky croissants, chocolate chip cookies, sandwiches, salads, and lots, lots more. Fuel up with a cappuccino and grab a BLT to-go – adventure awaits in Frederick! 

Discover Visitation Hotel, the newest member of Independent Collection, and find more inspiration across our blog filled with insider guides, travel trends, and can’t-miss events.