The Space
Preston Woodall, a Benson merchant who ran a department store organized in 1899, owned twenty farms and five sawmills in the area, and served as vice president of Farmers Commercial Bank and president of Citizens Bank and Trust, built this Queen Anne home in downtown Benson in 1910. The house was one of five large Queen Anne homes built by Benson’s prosperous merchants between 1900 and 1920, and it stood as one of the more visible reminders of that era in the town.
In 2000, Joel Hurley converted the 9,500-square-foot residence into a bed and breakfast and event venue, adding a commercial kitchen and a full Alcohol Beverage Control Commission license alongside the historic rooms. The property operated as a wedding venue for two decades before it closed during the COVID pandemic in 2021 and has remained dormant since, with the listing as of 2025 showing it for sale rather than actively booking events.
Capacity & Layout
When it was operating, the venue’s Cora Lily Grand Ballroom measured 2,800 square feet and accommodated up to 300 people, which made it one of the larger reception spaces in the Benson area for a historic property of this size. Guest accommodations included 13 bedrooms total, five in the main house and eight more spread across three cottages named Nana’s, Lucy’s, and Kaitlyn’s.
That much on-site lodging meant a wedding here could function as a genuine weekend gathering, with the wedding party and out-of-town family staying on the property itself rather than driving in for a single evening. The grounds also included an outdoor pavilion with landscaping and a fountain, giving couples an outdoor ceremony option separate from the ballroom.
Amenities
The property ran an on-site commercial kitchen with an executive chef preparing food on site, along with the full ABC license that let the venue serve alcohol directly rather than through an outside permit. Free parking was available on the grounds, and the property sat on just under half an acre in the middle of downtown Benson.
Those amenities, an in-house chef, a full bar license, and ample lodging, made the Preston Woodall House a fairly complete package for a historic-home wedding while it was open. As of this writing the venue is closed and listed for sale, so none of that is currently bookable, and any couple interested in the property should confirm its status before planning around it.
Location & Getting There
The house sits in downtown Benson, roughly 30 to 33 minutes from downtown Raleigh and from Raleigh-Durham International Airport, which made it a workable option for guests flying in from out of state during the years it operated. The 9,500-square-foot home sat on just under half an acre in the middle of town, close enough to walk into downtown Benson but set back on its own grounds enough to feel private during a wedding weekend.
We worked this room in the past, and the Cora Lily Grand Ballroom’s size and open floor plan gave a DJ plenty of space to set up clear of the dinner tables, with the ballroom’s scale doing most of the work to keep sound from feeling cramped, a detail that would matter again if the property is ever renovated and reopened.
Why Couples Book Dow Oak Here
You only get one reception at this venue, so it should be run by a team that already knows how to make a room like it work:
- We have actually performed at this venue, so we plan for its sound, layout, and flow instead of guessing on your night
- One team for your DJ and MC, photo booth, and custom lighting, on a single plan and one contract
- Backup DJs scheduled and on call, with your full plan shared across our team
- An online planning portal plus a planning call before the day
- More than 3,000 five-star reviews on The Knot, WeddingWire, and Google
- Transparent pricing with no hidden fees, and just $400 reserves your date
Wedding DJ FAQ
Have you performed at this venue before?
Yes. Every venue in our directory is one we have actually worked, so we already know how to set up, light, and run the room for a wedding, from ceremony sound to the last dance.
How much is a wedding DJ?
Your price depends on your date, your area, and add-ons like a photo booth, uplighting, or ceremony sound. Pick your date on our pricing page and you will see your exact price, and just $400 reserves your date.
Do you provide lighting and a photo booth too?
Yes. One team handles your DJ and MC, color-matched uplighting, and a modern photo booth on a single plan.
What happens if our DJ has an emergency?
We always have trained backup DJs scheduled and on call, with your full plan shared across our team, so someone can step in seamlessly.
How do we book you?
Check your date using the form on this page. We confirm availability, send your pricing, and a $400 retainer reserves your date.
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