NATCHEZ — A New Orleans hotel management company is purchasing Monmouth, and the company’s president says the historic property will soon be revamped and revived.

New Orleans Hotel Consultants took over operations at Monmouth after United Mississippi Bank initiated foreclosure proceedings on the property Feb. 29. Monmouth was owned by Ron and Lani Riches for approximately 35 years.

Warren Reuther, president of New Orleans Hotel Consultants, said the company started the paperwork for the purchase from UMB two weeks ago. Reuther declined to comment on the purchase price.

New Orleans Hotel Consultants also currently owns the Natchez Grand Hotel and operates the Natchez Convention Center through a contract with the city.

The company, Reuther said, decided to buy Monmouth because of its historic value and with hopes to restore Monmouth to the “grandeur it once had.”

“In my opinion, Monmouth is Natchez,” Reuther said. “We think it is a beautiful place and has a lot of potential.”

Reuther said UMB did a good job promptly hiring the company to oversee Monmouth in an effort to keep the property operating.

“The bank did the right thing, and I think Natchezians should appreciate what they did,” he said. “They were looking for someone in the hospitality industry, and with our presence already in Natchez, I think we’re the right company to do it.”

The company hopes to take Monmouth to new heights and create a destination that will not only appeal to tourists, but locals as well, Reuther said.

But first, Reuther said, Monmouth’s appearance needs some touching up.

“There is some repair work and maintenance work, a lot that needs to be done that has been neglected,” Reuther said. “Our company is willing to put the money into it and bring (Monmouth) back to what it was.”

Monmouth will be extending its restaurant hours and expanding its menu, as well as adding an afternoon tea and early dinner for patrons.

“We want to open it up more to the local people, so people in Natchez can come enjoy it and make Monmouth a local stop,” Reuther said.

The front section of Monmouth’s garden room will be enclosed, Reuther said, to create a dining atmosphere similar to that of the Tavern on the Green restaurant that was in Central Park.

Reuther said Monmouth will also be offering cruise passengers of the American Queen a tour package when the riverboat docks in Natchez next month.

“Those are just some of the things we will be offering at Monmouth,” Reuther said. “The Riches did a great job in the years they owned Monmouth, and we want to keep that up and expand all that Monmouth can offer.”