Gorgeous views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, a chance to unplug and unwind, and nearby access to the great outdoors makes the Guesthouse Lost River the perfect weekend getaway...
The Guesthouse Lost River graciously hosted my husband & I for a weekend getaway. All opinions & thoughts expressed below are 100% my own.
Nestled in the mountains of West Virginia just south of the eastern panhandle lies a tranquil & picturesque getaway from everyday life. Though the Guesthouse Lost River has been welcoming guests since 1982, innkeepers Gary Robinson & Jesse Halpern have been taking this bed & breakfast to a whole other level of relaxation & sophistication since 2012. They have expanded the original 6 room inn into a 16 room lodge with 3 separate cottages, as well as opened Lost River Valley's first fine dining restaurant within the main building.
When my husband and I were offered a chance to stay at the Guesthouse for a weekend getaway, we jumped at the chance. We had not visited the quaint mountain town of Lost River before, but found ourselves intrigued as we were browsing the Guesthouse's website. Gorgeous views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, a chance to unplug and unwind, and nearby access to the great outdoors were more than enough to convince us to make the 2 1/2 hour drive.
The Grounds.
The Guesthouse Lost River welcomes you with its rustic charm while still providing its guests with sophisticated amenities. The spacious common areas at the Guesthouse not only provide cozy little spots to hide away to enjoy a good book, but they also serve to bring together lodge guests for a friendly game of pool, a cocktail or two poolside, or a rocking chair chat out on the outdoor decks.
Once you have checked into your room, head down to enjoy a poolside lunch (served Saturdays from 11:30am to 3:00pm) or to sip on a signature Guesthouse cocktail (the poolside bar is open until 5:00pm). Then take a dip in the heated pool or relax in the bubbling outdoor hot tub. No need to pack a towel. The inn provides all of its guests with complimentary pool towels in their rooms.
Each room is appointed with two wooden rocking chairs on the lodge deck perfect for marveling at the mountain sunsets, enjoying a book before the morning breakfast bell rings, or to take in the afternoon escapades at the pool below.
The Food & Drink.
The Guesthouse Kitchen & Bar is a must-do when staying at the inn on a Friday or Saturday. It was recently featured as a Farm to Fork innovative business in Bon Appetit Appalachia, and it was easy to see just why as owner, Gary Robinson took my husband & I through their mostly locally sourced menu.
We started our meal with their House Dill Pickle Chips (pictured above) because I can never say no to a good deep fried pickle. ;) The pickles are made in-house, battered tempura style, and then deep fried until golden brown and pillowy.
Since I have been on a gin kick this summer, I decided to give the Mountain Mist from the bar's hand crafted cocktails menu a try. It is a refreshing mix of Hendricks Gin, fresh lime, & ginger ale with a generous splash of Chambord for a touch of sweetness.
For our dinner selections, I opted for the Chicken di Parma while my husband went for the juicy & flavorful 12 ounce USDA Prime Ribeye. The Chicken di Parma starts with a locally raised chicken breast that is pounded thin, lightly panko crusted, and then covered with crispy prosciutto di Parma and a creamy mushroom-sage sauce. Absolute perfection, folks!
And what is a romantic dinner for two without a decadent dessert to share? ;) The Kitchen & Bar at the Guesthouse offers a small house made dessert menu that rotates seasonally. After a very brief deliberation, we ordered the S'mores Tart. A homemade graham cracker crust is filled with a rich chocolate ganache, and then topped with their homemade marshmallow cream- pure dessert decadence!
The Guesthouse Kitchen & Bar is only open on Friday & Saturday evenings, with dinner being served from 5:30 to 9:00pm. The bar stays open later each evening. The restaurant & bar at the inn serves inn guests as well as locals in the area.
Breakfast is served in the main house of the inn each morning around 9:00am. When the breakfast bell has rang, overnight guests can head down to enjoy a family style country breakfast of scrambled eggs, cinnamon buttermilk pancakes, fruit salad, freshly baked biscuits, fresh brewed coffee, and more (breakfast offerings may vary each morning of your stay). I love that all the Guesthouse patrons can chat over breakfast and share tips on where to hike or which shops to visit in the area before starting off your day in Lost River.
If you are lucky enough to be staying at the Guesthouse during one of their Lost River Donuts pop-up shop weekends, be sure to take advantage! The donuts & fritters are freshly made that Sunday morning by the Guesthouse Kitchen & Bar's chef (who used to be a pastry chef for Disney, by the way). Donuts can be ordered ahead of time or bought the morning of the pop-up shop & are available to inn guests as well as locals in the area. Be sure to Like the Lost River Donuts Facebook page to stay up to date on when the next pop-up donut shop will be!
Photo courtesy of Guesthouse Lost River
The rooms in the lodge house are rustic and cozy, encouraging rest & relaxation. Our room had a small seating area and a chest of drawers, but no desk which I actually ended up loving. Had there been one, I might have been tempted to break out my laptop and do a little work since the Guesthouse provides free WiFi for all guests. Trust me- your time at the Guesthouse is much better spent watching the sunset from a rocking chair on the deck in front of your room or sipping on a local craft beer down by the pool. ;)
The Guesthouse Lost River exclusively features William Roam amenities in their guest rooms. Roam amenities are American made & American inspired, capturing the very essence of modern travel in the United States.
Every room at Guesthouse Lost River comes standard with gorgeous views of the surrounding mountains. You can kick back in a rocking chair on the deck in front of your room or head over to the large wooden deck off of the main house to enjoy the beauty that surrounds the inn.
I can only imagine how absolutely breathtaking the mountain views from the Guesthouse will be when the brilliant colors of fall have arrived. I have a feeling that my husband & I will have to plan to book another stay here in just a couple of months. ;) And don't get me started on those mountain sunsets, folks. There is just something about them...
What You Need to Know Before You Go.
- The Guesthouse welcomes guests 18 years and older making this the perfect kid-free weekend retreat for couples or for a girls'/guys' weekend away. The inn does host one family weekend each year when children are welcome at the lodge, so please contact them to check for those dates.
- While the inn does provide free WiFi for its guests, cell phone coverage is pretty much nonexistent. The Guesthouse does provide a landline phone in the main house for guests' convenience.
- If you plan to have dinner at the Guesthouse Kitchen & Bar (Friday & Saturday evenings only), it is a good idea to make a reservation in advance of your stay. CLICK HERE to make a dinner reservation online.
- The inn is conveniently located just a short drive from Washington, D.C., North Central West Virginia, Baltimore, MD, Pittsburgh, PA, as well as Richmond & Harrisonburg, VA.
- The Guesthouse Lost River welcomes all couples and families. (LBGT friendly)
- The Guesthouse is the perfect setting for a small wedding or corporate retreat with the capacity to accommodate up to 100 guests for your event. Please CLICK HERE for more details.
Click here to book your stay at Guesthouse Lost River today! :)
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