Step back in time to the days of steamboats and petticoats, railroads and wagon wheels, Mark Twain and Jesse James.  A visit to the historic Ruebel Hotel stirs up images of a bygone era.

Built in 1884, with thirty-two rooms the Ruebel was the largest commercial hotel in Jersey County.  Serving the passengers and crew from packet boats docked at Grafton's busy river port, as well as stone cutters from the local quarry, the hotel and saloon offered a  comfortable respite for travelers and working men.  In 1912 the building was severely damaged by fire.  It was quickly rebuilt however, and improved with a restaurant and dance hall. 

The Ruebel Hotel was an important part of the thriving Grafton area at the turn of the twentieth century.  Due to a declining economy the business eventually died, and the building succumbed to the ravages of time.  By the late 1980's the vacant structure was a derelict eyesore.

Then in 1996 the property was purchased by the Jeff and Sandy Lorton family.  They proceeded to lovingly restore the Ruebel to its original grandeur.  The Ruebel Hotel reopened in the spring of 1997.  It is now on the National Register of Historic Places.