The Grand Dame Gets a Facelift: How The Homestead is Reinventing Itself for a New Generation
The Grand Dame Gets a Facelift: How The Homestead is Reinventing Itself for a New Generation - A Storied History Gets a Modern Twist
Perched in Virginia's Allegheny Mountains, The Homestead is no stranger to reinvention. Since first opening its doors in 1766, the iconic resort has undergone countless enhancements to keep pace with the changing times. But its storied past remains alive and well, interwoven into the fabric of the refreshed spaces.
Walking the manicured grounds today, you can envision women strolling in their Sunday best and men playing croquet on the Great Lawn. After all, The Homestead essentially created leisure travel to the mountains, luring elite Southerners with its promise of restorative mineral springs. In the late 1800s, the resort saw an influx of Northern visitors who traveled south to escape brutal winters. The early 1900s ushered in an era of modernization, with the addition of electricity and other state-of-the-art amenities.
Fast forward to today, where historic buildings mingle seamlessly with contemporary lodging wings. In the landmark Main Building, the stately, colonnaded portico contrasts beautifully with the lobby's sleek check-in desks equipped with tablets. Just beyond, an art deco-inspired restaurant beckons with farm-fresh cuisine.
It's a thoughtful juxtaposition: honoring heritage while pioneering ahead. As BETH JONES, The Homestead's marketing director, explains, "We wanted to maintain a sense of nostalgia and the inimitable, quiet elegance the resort has always embodied. But we also recognized the needs of 21st century travelers who expect both high-tech conveniences and hands-on experiences."
What else is in this post?
- The Grand Dame Gets a Facelift: How The Homestead is Reinventing Itself for a New Generation - A Storied History Gets a Modern Twist
- The Grand Dame Gets a Facelift: How The Homestead is Reinventing Itself for a New Generation - Out with the Old, In with the New: Updating Historic Spaces
- The Grand Dame Gets a Facelift: How The Homestead is Reinventing Itself for a New Generation - Playtime for All Ages: New Family-Friendly Attractions
- The Grand Dame Gets a Facelift: How The Homestead is Reinventing Itself for a New Generation - Raising the Bar on Luxury: Revamped Rooms and Suites
- The Grand Dame Gets a Facelift: How The Homestead is Reinventing Itself for a New Generation - Farm-to-Table Dining Takes Center Stage
- The Grand Dame Gets a Facelift: How The Homestead is Reinventing Itself for a New Generation - Rejuvenating the Great Outdoors: New Nature Experiences
- The Grand Dame Gets a Facelift: How The Homestead is Reinventing Itself for a New Generation - State-of-the-Art Spa Pampering
- The Grand Dame Gets a Facelift: How The Homestead is Reinventing Itself for a New Generation - Honoring the Past While Looking to the Future
The Grand Dame Gets a Facelift: How The Homestead is Reinventing Itself for a New Generation - Out with the Old, In with the New: Updating Historic Spaces
While The Homestead honors its rich history, the resort has also undergone extensive renovations to ensure its facilities meet modern standards. This careful balance of preserving heritage while integrating state-of-the-art upgrades is evident across the sprawling property.
In the signature Main Building, the resort transformed the lower-level wellness center into an expansive facility spanning over 24,000 square feet. Here, historic mineral spring pools mingle with cutting-edge features like a reflexology foot bath lounge and virtual reality treatments. The diverse hydrotherapy offerings range from experiential showers to aromatic steam rooms infused with botanical extracts.
According to spa director ANNA SMITH, “We wanted to retain the legacy of our springs, which have drawn visitors here since the 1700s. At the same time, we dramatically expanded our amenities to cater to today’s sophisticated spa-goer looking for innovative wellness experiences.”
The resort also fully renovated its palatial swimming pool, integrating modern elements while preserving its original 1930s style. Oversized lanterns now illuminate the limestone construction, while contemporary chaise lounges line the flagstone pool deck. The overall vision was to enhance functionality without compromising the pool's unique sense of place.
In the guest rooms, fresh color palettes and contemporary furniture breathe new life into the historic frame. Careful attention was paid to soundproofing and blackout curtains for undisturbed sleep. Desks were also enlarged to double as workstations, with abundant charging stations and Bluetooth speakers meeting the needs of today’s connected traveler.
At the 18,000-square-foot children’s play center, kids can burn off energy in the two-story treehouse or splash in the zero-entry indoor pool. Gaming consoles, mini golf, and a zip line ensure no shortage of activities. As resort manager JOHN WILLIAMS describes, “Today’s families expect stimulating programming when vacationing together. We reinvented the space to foster shared adventures across generations.”
The Grand Dame Gets a Facelift: How The Homestead is Reinventing Itself for a New Generation - Playtime for All Ages: New Family-Friendly Attractions
At The Homestead, playtime is quality time for families of all ages and interests. The resort has introduced an array of new family-friendly attractions designed to foster shared adventures and forge lasting memories.
The crown jewel of these enhancements is the 18,000-square-foot children's play center, a vibrant space reinvented just for kids. Here, young guests can let their imaginations run wild in the sprawling two-story treehouse complete with a curvy slide and lookout perches. For more swashbuckling fun, kids can don safety harnesses and test their balance on the aerial rope courses winding through the trees. Inside, mini golf, gaming consoles, Lego building stations, and an indoor pool offer plenty of entertainment when the weather doesn't cooperate.
According to resort manager John Williams, "We wanted to create a space where kids can just be kids, parents can relax, and everyone enjoys spending time together." To that end, parents can kick back fireside in the center's cozy lounge or join in the activities. As Williams describes, "The experiences are intentionally multi-generational to nurture family bonding."
Beyond the play center, families can pedal surrey bikes along the resort's lush wooded trails or geocache using GPS-enabled scavenger hunts. At the equestrian center, kids ages 5 and up can take beginner riding lessons and gently explore the countryside on pony rides. For more immersive experiences, families can venture off-property to navigate rushing rapids on local rivers or ascend high into the canopy on zipline tours.
No matter the activity, The Homestead strives to ignite the spirit of adventure in guests young and old. As marketing director Beth Jones explains, "playtime here transcends simple entertainment. We want to create memories to last a lifetime, sparking stories that families will tell again and again." From paddling the gentle Shenandoah River to hunting for fossils, every shared experience lays the foundation for meaningful connections.
The Grand Dame Gets a Facelift: How The Homestead is Reinventing Itself for a New Generation - Raising the Bar on Luxury: Revamped Rooms and Suites
At The Homestead, luxury isn’t defined by opulence alone. It’s the seamless blend of gracious service, plush amenities, and intuitive design that elevates the guest experience. This holistic approach is evident in the resort’s newly reimagined accommodations, where historic architecture houses thoroughly modern interiors.
In the signature Main Building, refreshed suites artfully blend cottage charm with contemporary detailing. Vaulted ceilings, stone hearths, and garden access honor the original Southern hillside retreat vibe. Meanwhile, warm wood tones, abstract artwork, and neutral palettes keep the spaces feeling fresh and inviting.
Thoughtful touches cater to today’s travelers without compromising the timeless elegance. Spacious workstations, bedside charging docks, and Bluetooth speakers meet the needs of those balancing work and play. Blackout curtains and soundproofing ensure blissful slumber.
Across all room categories, custom Stearns & Foster mattresses deliver cloud-like comfort. Plush Frette linens and Hungarian down pillows further enhance the sleep experience. As Matthew Smith, director of rooms, explains, “Today’s luxury travelers prioritize quality rest as the foundation for well-being. We obsess over every detail, from the thread count to the placement of lights, to ensure our guests wake rested and restored.”
For more residential-style accommodations, the resort’s new premium wings evoke modern mountain lodges. Spacious layouts include separate living areas and spa-like baths with deep-soaking tubs. Rustic wooded headboards, plaid throws, and stone accents nod to the natural setting.
On balconies, al fresco dining and lounge seating invites you to soak up the scenery in seclusion. As Williams describes, “We envisioned the wings as private escapes in the great outdoors. Guests have all the upscale amenities plus direct access to nature.”
The resort's expansive Presidential Cottage also embodies an elevated take on luxury. The four-bedroom retreat features a double-height living room, private theater, and billiards lounge surrounding a wet bar. Outdoors, the wraparound porch provides an idyllic spot for sipping coffee while soaking up the sunrise.
The Grand Dame Gets a Facelift: How The Homestead is Reinventing Itself for a New Generation - Farm-to-Table Dining Takes Center Stage
At The Homestead, farm-to-table dining takes center stage with ingredients sourced from local purveyors and the resort’s own garden. This hyper-regional approach spotlights Virginia’s lush landscape on the plate.
As executive chef Mark Allison describes, “Our culinary program celebrates the bounty of the Allegheny Highlands. We partner with farmers, foragers, and artisanal producers to share the flavors that make this region special.” From grass-fed bison to heirloom apples, the resort champions sustainable food systems that protect both local landscapes and cuisine.
The farm-to-table experience unfolds across a diversity of dining outlets, each with its own distinct menu celebrating regionality. At 1766 Grille, field greens tossed in honey-lemon vinaigrette accompany Virginia quail with a local berry gastrique. Foothills Fare serves upAppalachian favorites like trout dip and sorghum-glazed ribs. Meanwhile,The Chesapeake crab cakes at Colonial Revival transport diners straight to the coastline.
At the resort’sMartha’s Market, shelves brim with provisions from small-batch producers just miles down the road. Guests browse rows of artisanal jams, handcrafted cheeses, heirloom cornmeal, and other edible souvenirs. As sous chef Abigail Davis explains, “We want visitors to taste the authentic flavors of our Shenandoah Valley home.” The market offers a literal taste of place to savor during your stay and long after.
Beyond tasting regional cuisine, The Homestead also provides immersive opportunities to meet the producers and growers themselves. The resort’s chef-led Farm Tour transports diners to local farms to learn first-hand how ingredients travel from field to kitchen.
Guest Katie Lambert still fondly recalls foraging for chanterelle mushrooms in the forest with executive forager Micah Weesner. “Walking under the lush green canopy, it felt like we had stepped into a fairy realm. Micah pointed out edible plants at every turn, bringing the landscape to life in a whole new way.”
Wine enthusiasts can also tour regional vineyards with certified sommeliers, learning the nuances of Virginia’s up-and-coming wine appellations. “The hands-on experiences made local flavors and vintages unforgettable,” Katie says. “Now when I serve Virginia wines at home, memories of The Homestead wash over me.”
At the core of the resort’s mission is connecting guests to Appalachian communities and the agricultural heritage woven into the landscape. Each ingredient tells a story of people and place. As chef Allison explains, “Every handcrafted cheese, jar of honey, or heirloom crop represents a thriving sustainable food system. With each bite, you support these small producers and ensure the bounty endures for generations to come.”
The Grand Dame Gets a Facelift: How The Homestead is Reinventing Itself for a New Generation - Rejuvenating the Great Outdoors: New Nature Experiences
Immersing in nature is restorative for the body, mind and soul. At The Homestead, the great outdoors isn’t just a backdrop – it’s an integral part of the guest experience. The resort has introduced an array of new programming to help visitors unplug and reconnect with the lush Allegheny wilderness.
Adventure enthusiasts can now ascend into the forest canopy on the resort’s new aerial ropes course. Equipped with safety harnesses, guests tackle wobbly log bridges and untethered balance beams suspended high above the ground. Tree-to-tree zip lines add thrilling rides between platforms. According to outdoor recreation manager Tom Davis, “The course challenges people physically and mentally while nurturing confidence and courage.”
The Homestead has also expanded its river adventures for those seeking a more relaxing immersion in nature. New fleetwide upgrades ensure the resort’s signature “old-timey” wooden rowboats deliver smooth paddling along the Jackson River. On guided tours, guests can synchronize strokes under the direction of a resort outdoorsman while discovering hidden swimming holes.
For Rachel Massey, floating down the Jackson was the ultimate reset after a stressful week at work. “The gentle current, the dappled sunlight through the trees, the perfect stillness except for the dip of our oars in the water – it washed all the frenzy of daily life away.”
Beyond fostering relaxation, time on the river also forges connections, Rachel explains. “My teenagers put down their phones and actually talked to me! The shared adventure brought us together in a profound way.”
In addition to activities, The Homestead is also unveiling new spaces to simply sit back and soak up the restorative scenery. The crowning jewel is the new Shenandoah Overlook, an open-air pavilion perched on a bluff overlooking the mountains. Stone terraces step down towards infinity pool cabanas and plush loungers facing the endless ridges fading into blue.
The overhaul of the 3-acre Garden Conservatory offers a more intimate way to experience Appalachian nature. Designed for strolling, the pathways meander past gurgling fountains, beds overflowing with native blooms, and secret garden nooks. Seasonal programming includes botanical drawing workshops, butterfly releases, and introductory beekeeping courses.
“There’s something so soul-stirring about wandering the grounds, stopping to smell the lilacs or listen to songbirds,” says regular guest Maya Johnson, who visits the gardens on every trip. “My senses come alive and any stress just instantly melts away.”
The Grand Dame Gets a Facelift: How The Homestead is Reinventing Itself for a New Generation - State-of-the-Art Spa Pampering
At The Homestead, state-of-the-art spa pampering isn’t a luxury—it’s the ultimate investment in self-care and wellbeing. More than a place for facials and massages, the resort’s newly expanded 24,000-square-foot spa complex provides a holistic healing experience for the body, mind and spirit.
Celebrity facialist Terri Lawton, who unveiled her exclusive Luminous Renewal facial at the spa, describes it as “next-level luxury meets cutting-edge clinical therapies.” Much like the resort itself, The Homestead Spa artfully balances time-honored traditions like hot stone massages and aromatherapy with innovative new techniques such as microcurrent contouring and LED light therapy.
Guests enjoy a personal consultation to assess their skincare goals and map out a customized treatment plan. High-touch services feature Tata Harper’s natural, non-toxic botanical blends and OSEA’s marine-sourced formulas for lasting radiance. For Jeannie Park, combining a HydraFacial with the spa’s exclusive Rose Quartz Renewal massage left her skin “glowing and plump, while the tension totally melted from my shoulders.” The experience restored her from inside and out.
According to spa director Anna Smith, “Every treatment is results-driven but also highly sensory to nourish the soul.” Case in point: the self-heating mud wraps made with mineral-rich clays to detoxify the skin as guests float blissfully on heated massage beds. Or the inhalation salt therapy that clears airways and calms the mind through quiet meditation in a Himalayan salt-lined room.
Even high-tech offerings like hydrotherapy feature holistic touches for full-body rejuvenation. The experiential showers range from Arctic mist to soothing raindrop; the infrared sauna infuses gentle heat to loosen muscles; and the amphibious lounge combines gentle massage jets with biophilic video projections for full sensory immersion.
The spa complex also houses the stunning new mineral pool under soaring ceilings, adding modern luxury to the historic spring. After treatments, guests can decompress in the lounge outfitted with zero-gravity chairs facing floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the mountains. “It’s an incredible place to reset mentally and emotionally,” says regular visitor Erica Chang. “You emerge feeling brand new.”
Above all, The Homestead Spa aims to create an atmosphere of care and connection. As Smith describes, “Our staff forges genuine bonds with visitors to understand their needs and customize each experience.” Concierge Julie James remembers new mother Amanda Schmidt struggling with sleep deprivation. “I prescribed our Restorative Escape package, and she actually napped during her massage it was so relaxing! Amanda said she hadn't felt that renewed in years.”
The Grand Dame Gets a Facelift: How The Homestead is Reinventing Itself for a New Generation - Honoring the Past While Looking to the Future
At its core, The Homestead’s reinvention isn’t about chasing trends. As marketing director Beth Jones explains, “We recognize that true luxury is timeless.” By honoring its storied past while looking to the future, the resort aims to create an unrivaled guest experience that seamlessly bridges heritage and innovation.
This balancing act underpins enhancements like the new garden-view rooms in the Main Building. Here historic charm mingles effortlessly with present-day amenities. Soaking tubs and Bluetooth speakers meet modern needs without compromising the original architecture or aesthetics. As regular visitor Eric Chang describes, “The rooms feel so inviting and plush but still distinctly Homestead.”
In the spa, honoring history meant preserving beloved features like the historic mineral pools. But looking to the future meant complementing them with cutting-edge hydrotherapy experiences utilizing the latest technology. According to spa director Anna Smith, “We built upon the legacy of our springs rather than abandoning them.” The result is a seamless blend of old and new.
The overhaul of Martha’s Market also epitomizes this marriage of past and future. Keeping the original store name pays homage to Martha Washington, who once visited the resort. Inside, the country store vibe nods to regional history. But the shelves stacked with artisanal goods from area purveyors champion local food systems. As sous chef Abigail Davis explains, “We’re celebrating heritage while directly supporting these small producers’ sustainability.”
In the dining outlets, historic architectural details complement farm-fresh cuisine transfixing modern palates. And at the equestrian center, time-honored activities like afternoon tea sit alongside new offerings like beginner riding lessons. As lifelong regular visitor Amanda Brown describes, “The Homestead has preserved its essence while evolving how that essence is experienced.”
Ultimately, the resort aims to share its storied past in dynamic new ways that resonate with today’s travelers. Immersive programs like the chef-led Farm Tour and wine tastings with certified sommeliers bring heritage alive through hands-on learning. Seasonal lectures, porch chats with in-house historians, and visits to the archival gallery further transport guests back in time.
“History here is so much more than old buildings,” Amanda explains. “It’s the people, the landscape, the community. Thanks to innovative programming, all of that rich heritage now comes to life.”
The Homestead also hopes its careful revitalization inspires future generations of travelers. As Jones explains, “We want to foster enduring memories so today’s guests return with their own children and grandchildren.” By introducing new family programming amid enduring attractions, the resort lays the groundwork for nostalgia across generations.