The Garden Path Inn, an Alabama bed and breakfast, is located in the historic Purcell-Killingsworth Home in Columbia, AL.   The Inn provides luxurious lodging accommodations in a relaxed setting for those seeking a step back in time while experiencing a slower pace of life. The Queen Anne Victorian, built by William Purcell in 1890, was listed on the National Registry of Historic Places in 1982 and is also listed with the Historic Chattahoochee Commission. In 2005, the house underwent a complete renovation and restoration.

Our Columbia, Alabama bed and breakfast provides lodging just 18 miles from Dothan, Alabama, home of the National Peanut Festival.  Situated on the Chattahoochee River between Lake Eufaula and Lake Seminole, Columbia is centrally located within the Chattahoochee Trace of Alabama and Georgia. Trips to Mexico Beach, Apalachicola Bay, St. George Island, Panama City Beach, FL, and Tallahassee, FL are a convenient day-trip excursion from Columbia. There are numerous small towns within a short drive that offer historic sightseeing, antique shopping, and quaint shops usually located around the county courthouses, which is characteristic of the small towns in the Columbia area.

The Garden Path Inn offers three upstairs bedrooms with luxurious king-sized beds in two of the rooms and a queen-sized bed in the third room, and all of the guest rooms have private baths.  The Inn has been lovingly decorated with Victorian charm, yet the atmosphere is informal, inviting, and comfortable.   An upstairs common area, one of two available to guests, offers a comfortable area for guests to relax and enjoy a cup of coffee while reading the paper or watching the television equipped with DIRECTV. A mini fridge is stocked with soft drinks, water, and snacks that are available for the Inn's guests. Fresh-baked goodies are provided daily for guests’ enjoyment.

Commons Rooms in the Garden Path Inn

Elizabeth’s Room:
Elizabeth’s Room, a second parlor located upstairs, is the perfect quiet place to sit, unwind, read a good book, or reflect on life’s possibilities. The soft couch and ottoman invite you to stay awhile in this peaceful room. A table is provided, just in case you need to do a little work, as well as a small refrigerator containing bottled water and soft drinks. A snack basket is also provided containing crackers, cookies, or peanuts.

Upstairs TV Common Area:
An upstairs common area with overstuffed seating offers a comfortable area for guests to relax and enjoy watching a favorite program or movie.  DIRECTV, a DVD player, and a selection of DVDs are provided for our guests’ entertainment.

Harrison Room:
Are you ready for breakfast?  Come hungry, stay long, and linger over conversation at the breakfast table in the Harrison Room, located on the main floor of the Garden Path Inn.  A full, cook’s choice, southern-style breakfast is served, offering possibilities such as fresh fruit, fresh-baked muffins or tea biscuits, juice, coffee, or hot tea as the starter.  Then feast on the main course, which varies and includes entrees such as Farmer’s Casserole, Praline French Toast, crisp bacon, sausage links, or smoked pork chops, eggs, and grits.  If you have special dietary needs, with advance notice, we can accommodate you.

The Harrison Room was lovingly painted as a gift by Ray and Juanice Harrison, great friends of Gary and Diane, who spent countless hours helping to get the Garden Path Inn ready for guests.

Foyer and Main Floor Parlor:
Upon entering the home, you are greeted in a Grand Foyer with original heart-pine floors, deep red Victorian wallpaper, and dark wood wainscoting.  The Family Parlor, in the shape of an octagon, is to the left of the Grand Foyer and is filled with comfortable seating for guests to relax and to enjoy reading or visiting with each other in a bygone environment.  This room also features a large-screen TV with DIRECTV, a DVD player, a selection of DVDs, and a sound system.

Front Porch:
Do you remember the allure of an old southern front porch from bygone days?  With sweet iced tea or frost-cold lemonade on hot summer days?  Do you remember lightning bugs and the sweet heady smell of jasmine and honeysuckle?  Do you remember long conversations with your parents and grandparents that you wouldn’t trade for anything?  Those memories are captured moments in time that can be remembered on the front porch of the Garden Path Inn while sipping a glass of sweet tea or lemonade.  Come enjoy the wicker chairs, Adirondack benches, hanging ferns, and rocking chairs.  You may not be able to solve all the world’s problems, but you sure can escape them for a while.

We are conveniently located to the Georgia-Pacific Cedar Springs Paper Mill, Southern Company, Farley Nuclear Plant, and the future site of the LS Power Generation Station.