In 1880, Bon Air Hotel was built in the resort village of the Victorian suburb of Bon Air, Virginia. People from the city of Richmond vacationed to Bon Air on the weekends and in the summers to get away from city life. The area was named Bon Air, which means "good air" in french. It was thought that the air in Bon Air was good for people as opposed to the smoggy city air in Richmond. In 1881, the
Annex to the Bon Air Hotel was built, which is the building still standing named "Old Bon Air Hotel". The original Bon Air Hotel burned to the grown in 1889. The hotel was not rebuilt due to poor insurance coverage. The nature of Bon Air's resort life changed after the fire of the Bon Air Hotel. People began to settle into Bon Air and the Victorian aura of the area was retained. Bon Air Historical Society was formed in 1978 to help preserve and promote the Victorian architecture of the area. Today, Old Bon Air Hotel is now divided into 6 apartments rented out to private residents.
