Jack Tar Hotel Building

The Jack Tar Hotel Building, now the Unscripted Hotel, was originally built in 1962 in Durham, North Carolina. A modernist motel designed to meet the needs of the growing automobile industry on the East Coast, it featured a rooftop swimming pool, parking garage, and restaurant, becoming a prime example of mid-century modern design. Over time, the building fell into disrepair, eventually becoming a controversial yet distinctive part of downtown Durham’s identity. Today, it has been repurposed into a boutique hotel, preserving its historic charm while offering 74 hotel rooms, 11,000 square feet of retail space, a 7,000-square-foot rooftop deck with a pool, and a 250-space Class A parking deck. Supported by the North Carolina Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit (HTC), Unscripted Durham continues to contribute to the growth and vitality of the Durham community, ensuring its legacy remains an essential part of the city’s future.