Added: 02/22/2006 |
The Hightland Inn is one of the few lodging places of its size to continue operatingThe Hightland Inn is a historic hotel located in Virginia's Western Highlands. The hotel is the premier architectural landmark in the historic town of Monterey, the county seat of Highland County, which is fondly referred to as "Virginia's Switzerland." Built in 1904 to serve the lodging needs of tourists escaping from the summer heat of nearby cities, the hotel was known for it's first 75 years as The Hotel Monterey. The Hightland Inn is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a Virginia Historic Landmark.
In 1903, a modest boom time for Highland County, a local businessman saw the need for a first-class hotel in Highland County. Tourists seeking a salubrious and healthful climate had long been coming to spend the summer season at Virginia?s mineral springs and cool mountain resorts. He saw a need for a hotel that could serve the area as a social center and a refreshing resting place for travelers making the arduous trip from the Shenandoah Valley, to what is still one of the most secluded locales in Virginia. In more recent years with a few notable exceptions, changes in transportation and lifestyles have seen the demise of nearly all of Virginia's mountain resorts and spas. The Hightland Inn is one of the few lodging places of its size to continue operating.
The hotel's builder and original owner was Silas W. Crummett, a local businessman. The contractors were the well-known Eutsler Brothers of Grottoes, Virginia who built the Hotel Monterey for $6,000. It was built at the end of the Victorian Age in a commercial Queen Anne style. The hotel?s outstanding architectural feature is an elaborate Eastlake style two level porch with a profusion of both turned and sawn ornamentation.
In the early days of the hotel's operation, prominent guests included the great Band Leader John Philip Sousa. The famous director Henry King and silent film star Richard Barthelmess stayed for two weeks at the hotel, along with other cast and crew during the filming of the silent film classic "Tol'able David".Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, Harvey Firestone and John Burroughs traveling from Cheat Moutain Lodge to Bolar Springs spent the evening visting Monterey and reportedly enjoyed dinner at the hotel on one of their famous summer camping trips.
While fresh mountain air and relaxation on rocking chair-lined porches are a main attraction of The Hightlands Inn, a variety of activities are also available nearby: Hiking, fishing and hunting are all here in the more than one million acres of National Forest which surrounds the county. Scenic drives attract motorists and cyclists. Civil War sites, Antiquing, shopping, swimming and bird watching are nearby, as are spectacular caverns and scenic train rides.
The Highland County Chamber of Commerce Visitor's Center is located at the Inn with brochures and information on Highland County as well as information on Virginia?s Western Highland counties of Bath and Allegheny and neighboring West Virginia Counties of Pendleton and Pocahontas.
Highland County hosts festivals, fairs, parades, street dances and other events throughout the year, made all the more interesting by our sparse population. For any special occasion, from a Thanksgiving feast to a Mothers Day Buffet, the traditional place to get a memorable meal is the Hightland Inn.
So, enjoy your vacation in this remarkable place and the Hightland Inn will help you!
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