Located in downtown Auburn, Alabama, The Collegiate Hotel, more affectionately known as The CoHo, blends boutique accommodations, historic charm and welcoming spaces for drinks, events and gatherings. Driven by their shared love for Auburn and people, Brian and Kim Wirth have created a place where guests can reconnect with their college memories while experiencing the city in a new way.
Opened in 2018, The CoHo occupies historic Wittel Hall, built by the Wittel family in the early 1940s as Auburn’s first private dormitory for women. For generations, the building served as a home for Auburn women, holding memories of friendships, milestones and college life. When Kim discovered the property for sale while visiting Auburn for work, she saw an opportunity to preserve a meaningful piece of the university’s history while giving the building a new purpose.
“It was very serendipitous,” Kim said. Having renovated about a dozen historic buildings and homes with her husband, Brian, Kim immediately recognized the property's potential.
“We thought it might be a neat idea to take that leap of faith and start our own small business and move back to Auburn where we both met and graduated from,” said Brian.
For Kim, the move felt like a natural return to a place that had always meant something to them.
“A lot of times people try to spend four years getting out and the next 40 trying to figure out how to get back,” Kim said. “It was meant to be.”
Preserving the past was central to their vision. The Wirths incorporated original artwork, antiques and architectural details into the renovation, including furnishings from the Wittel family’s own collection. Reclaimed wood from the original dorm’s attic has been thoughtfully integrated into select guest rooms, allowing pieces of the building’s history to live on. Throughout the hotel, intentional details celebrate Auburn traditions and the experiences that unite generations of alumni.
“We really wanted it to be about a holistic experience at Auburn,” Kim said. “So no matter what year you came or what you were interested in, you can feel a connection in the hotel and it brings back those memories of when you were at Auburn.”
One of Brian and Kim’s favorite features is the 25,000-sequin mural depicting Auburn’s iconic eagle flight, which greets guests as they enter. At the front desk, the hotel’s collection of Glomerata yearbooks invites visitors to find editions from their college years, revisit memories and even sign their names inside.
Whether guests are returning alumni or visiting for the first time, the Wirths hope their stay leaves them feeling connected to the spirit of Auburn. Every detail at The CoHo is meant to capture what makes the city special, creating an experience that feels both familiar and entirely new.
“We want to be an extension of all the things people love about Auburn in hotel form,” Kim said.
By blending historic character with thoughtful hospitality, The Collegiate Hotel offers more than a place to spend the night. It brings together Auburn’s past and present, preserving meaningful pieces of the university’s history while creating a welcoming gathering place for visitors and locals to make new memories.
