The Blackburn Inn and Conference Center

Gorgeous boutique hotel with the most interesting history! We got stranded in the snow and decided to stop for the night. We were greeted warmly and accommodated right away. From the time you step in the building the atmosphere is so cool- the hotel has a signature scent (which you can purchase there), jazz was playing, and we got to exploring this awesome hotel with all its staircases and historic details (check out the prison doors!), common areas such as the library with a warm fireplace and comfortable sofas. Make sure to climb to the top of the spiral staircase for a 180° view of the town and surrounding mountains. Our room was beautiful, very comfortable bed and everyone there made sure we had everything we needed. Breakfast in the morning was delicious and freshly made. This is a very unique stay and we will definitely plan to go back and explore the town. Everyone was so friendly and welcoming at the Blackburn Inn.

I really enjoyed the historical and beautiful surroundings this hotel and has to offer. I have been to other hotels in the area and by far this has been the place I have come to like the most. Looking forward to coming back in the summer when the grounds and leaves are in abundance. Was impressed with the website and the pictures it provided very accurately. The Bristol Café was superb because I do a keto diet and had to make up for Sunday feast.

My spouse and I really enjoyed our stay. Amber made sure to make us feel welcome and even remembered we were there for my husbands birthday! She was very attentive and such a friendly face. ||Downsides were the room size and their toilet paper basically being paper shavings.

Nicely redone rooms in a historic building. Great location. Prices were decent. Service personnel were nice and efficient, but the food options on the hotel property are lacking. We had to go out to eat when we just wanted a quiet dinner. Also, they inundated me with messages. We were there for about 12 hours. In and around that time we got six emails and a text from the hotel. Calm down, guys. Let's just be friends.

I was snowed in here with my staff. The front desk attendants are some of the best. They catered to us by providing anything we could need. The night auditor was a gem and loves iced tea. He did an amazing job shoveling snow as well. I’d say the rooms on the first floor absolutely need carpet, they were chilly for my staff. My room on the 3rd floor was beautiful. The tv froze a lot but that may have been the weather. The first room on the right going down the hallway to the bistro needs to be a lounge. The small fireplace lounge was more picturesque for lounging but very small with little seating. The hallways were awkward to sit and hangout in with no tables next to the couches. Some large canvases with bright colors would make the hallways more welcoming. I can’t wait to go back in warmer weather to lounge in the verandas. In cold weather, it is more a coming or going hotel. There’s really no place to congregate.

We’re driving cross country (Massachusetts to California) with our dog and Staunton, VA was our first stop. I love a nice hotel and prefer not going with chains. I imagine once we’re in less populated areas we’ll have to find a roadside chain but not tonight. This is a huge gorgeous old building that’s been nicely restored. ||Amber, at the front desk was so warm and helpful. She even came outside on a freezing cold night and guided us through the maze of buildings to find the hotel. We’d been driving for almost 9 hours so were a bit blurry-eyed, I suppose. She greeted our dog with a homemade organic treat which certainly won points with her! ||This is a lovely spot to rest your head if you’re ever in the area.

Just had a lovely three night stay here. Rooms and grounds have lots of character, the connected spa got rave reviews from my fiancée, and the staff was incredibly helpful. Special shoutout to Amber, who was especially great and even took the time to pet our very excitable doggo. Will definitely be back.

I really can’t say enough good things about our experience at the Blackburn Inn. Amber was AMAZING. She had so much knowledge of the area and went above and beyond to make our stay memorable. What a great weekend! The Inn is absolutely BEAUTIFUL and Amber made us all feel very welcome. Words can’t describe how beautiful and historic this place is. I can tell this is our first of many visits to the Blackburn Inn.

The Blackburn Inn is an elegant estate, a historical hotel, just outside Stanton that has its own gardens! Nicely restored and fully modern, yet retaining the historical architecture. We appreciate the friendly staff as well. We got a room on the fourth floor which meant we had to take the elevator to the third (it only goes to the third) and then take the stairs up. Well worth it, because on the fourth floor you see spiral stairs up to a lighthouse-like structure on the rooftop. Expansive view. The room itself was very quiet, well insulated, modern bath, everything. The only drawback was the very low water pressure (maybe due to being on the top floor? or is it like this throughout the building?). Bed was very comfy though this "queen bed" definitely seemed smaller than usual. At night it got quite cold; we were told the air heating raises 1 degree per hour (several hours passed and, according to the thermostat, nothing changed). Luckily the front desk provided us with a portable heater. While Hotel 24 may be more convenient, situated just next to the Blackfriars Theatre, the Blackburn Inn (just a quick drive under the railway track) is a world onto its own.

For what we paid I was expecting more. Nothing wrong with the Blackburn Inn but I didn't feel it was a good value. The service the staff provided from the manager on down were second to none. The Second Draft Bistro is only open Friday and Saturday, so we couldn't have a nightcap but did go for a marginal and way overpriced breakfast from a limited menu. My advice is if you do decide to stay at the Blackburn you eat breakfast elsewhere. Our Queen Suite was clean but no closet or coat hangers. The email you receive a few days before your stay thanking you for being a valuable customer is nothing more than a solicitation to purchase early check in and other add-ons. Again, nothing wrong with the Blackburn but I suspect there are better lodging options available in Staunton.

Spent 3 wonderful nights at this wonderful Inn. The staff went over and beyond to make my daughters 40 th birthday the best. It's not your usual Hotel it's a place of history. The bed was super comfortable the shower was hot and plenty of pressure. If you have time book a Spa treatment they are fantastic too.

Conveniently located by historic Staunton, The Blackburn Inn is a perfectly cozy and comfortable escape in the valley. I first stayed at The Inn for one night in October with friends (after we took a VA Scenic Railway trip), and immediately fell in love with the place. My most recent stay was three nights in late December. My partner and I had plenty of space in our room. Staff members were so attentive, kind, and helpful. I also had a magnificent spa experience with a massage by Stephany! My partner and I plan to stay here every time we visit the valley!

March 2023 review, one night stay, 2 people. The hotel is in a historic building ( originally built in 1828 as a hospital. It operated as a hospital till 1976, from 1981-2002 it was used as a medium security prison correction center, stayed abandoned for 4 years, then was bought by Robin Miller in 2006, cosmetically renovated and since 2018 used as a conference and events venue and a hotel). It is a huge property with multiple buildings ( separate weddings banquets building, spa, etc). What we liked (5 stars): friendliness of the personnel, from the moment we gave arrived, to the bistro staff and the cook, reception staff. Cleanness of the room, the bathroom, all interior spaces. Excellent water pressure in the shower. Comfortable mattress. What was ok (3-3.5 stars): food - breakfast was mediocre ( we tried combo breakfast) with lousy house blend coffee. For the price of it ($40, including tax and tip, for 2 people), not sure it was worth it. What we didn't like (1-2 stars): lack of soundproofing - usually I am not very picky on the noise but this set up surprised even me. The building has original ( more than 100 y.o.!!!) pine floors through out. It is adorable but they are unbelievably squeaky ! Every single plank, especially in the long corridors. Paired with lack of any (!!!) soundproofing, tunnel effect ( narrow long corridors with very high plastered ceilings) makes the sound travel freely and loudly. We were fortunate to stay one night only, off season and mid week when the hotel was almost empty, so it was manageable. We did have an occupied room above us and I never experienced such feeling of someone literally walking on your head. Fortunately. Those guests were as tired as we were and went to sleep at a reasonable time. I can't imagine though how it is when the hotel is full. Secondly, there was no soap in the bathroom to wash your hands at the sink. Two out of four pillow cases were badly torn but still used. At least they were clean. Overall, as a one night stop over can be ok , not sure about a longer stay but it is my personal taste and view and we are obviously all different. My lukewarm opinion about this hotel should not be a turn off for the others whose taste and expectations differ from mine

This place was recommended to husband and me for an overnight stay while we were traveling through the area. In fact, I would have loved to have had a few more days to stay in this location. The Blackburn Inn sits on beautiful, well kept grounds and was formerly a mental hospital and established in the 1800s. It has been remodeled, but has kept the integrity of the buildings. I was told by staff that it opened in 2018. Our 3rd floor room was very clean and had all the amenities. A complimentary breakfast is offered on the 2nd floor and a list is provided on the available options. The staff that I came in contact were very friendly and willing to assist. This hotel is dog friendly, also. The reason for 4 stars and not 5: my husband had an issue with the evening check-in person not being very communicative or helpful when he asked about directions, ice, breakfast, points of interest. He was told to look on the OpenKey app. We are not millennials and were unfamiliar about downloading or using the app. We ended up getting 2 regular door cards, one which didn't work. Once we were able to download the app, we could use our phones to open the room door and checkout easily. As for other information, it was lacking on the app. Still, I will say we had a good experience and we realize one staff person shouldn't negate how lovely the other staff people were to us.

In one word...Awesome! This is the only place I stay when I am in Staunton. In fact I decided to come down from NYC just to get away from that crazy city for the 4th of July weekend, and I decided on a 2 day trip south, I headed straight to Staunton and straight to the Blackburn. This hotel is full of history, you can feel it, from the floors, to the walls, to the hallways, and common areas. This hotel is beautiful. The staff from the Managers, to the Desk Staff, to Housekeeping are all so friendly, and accommodating. The price was excellent. If you need a quick weekend getaway, I highly recommend Staunton, and the Blackburn Inn. You won't be disappointed!! ,

The history is so intriguing! Look it up if you haven't already! A nice change from a hotel. Good location, close to a lot!

Helpful, kind staff and beautiful facilities. This land is rich with dark history, and I wanted to see the old asylum buildings, grounds and cemetery. Staying in the former Administration building was an amazing experience. Amanda (desk staff) had assigned us a room on the awesome 4th floor (near historic spiral staircase), but I hurt my knee and was unable to do steps with luggage. There is an elevator that goes to 3rd floor. She was able to reassign several rooms at considerable effort for me, and thank goodness! We were given a room on the ground floor and she was more than kind while doing it. Thanks, Amanda! Our room was modern and understated, had a fridge and sink, a nice shower and a desk with a good number of outlets around room for charging. Blackburn Inn is extremely pet friendly, so if you have issues with occasional dog barks, you may want to request a room away from that. I do wish they embraced the history there more with old photos/museum and/or history tour. We will return!

Beautiful place with very nice woman at the front desk. I guess it just depends on whether or not you want to stay at a place that was an insane asylum and subsequent men's prison. Could be fun I guess...

Dear Blackburn Inn Management, I hope this message finds you well. I wanted to take a moment to share some feedback about our recent stay at the Blackburn Inn. We had a wonderful time, and one of the highlights of our visit was exploring the grounds and the building itself. During our exploration, we were admiring the stairs when Lynn, one of your housekeepers, approached us. She asked if we had noticed the stairs were slanted and went on to share the fascinating history of the hotel in great detail. Lynn explained the architectural allegory of the spiral staircase leading up to the cupola, and how it represented the mental health journey of the patients at the Western State Hospital. Her knowledge and enthusiasm truly enhanced our experience. It is clear to us that the Blackburn Inn has an underutilized resource in Lynn. Her passion and knowledge make her an excellent candidate for a more customer-facing role, such as giving tours or sharing the history of the hotel with guests. We believe she would be a valuable asset in such a capacity, rather than solely focusing on cleaning rooms. Thank you for considering our feedback. We look forward to our next visit to the Blackburn Inn. Thanks, Chad

Scheduled an appointment online for a massage at the Spa. Got a confirmation e-mail with the date and time. Showed up at that date and time, and was told they didn't have it down. The staff was apologetic But, if you are going to have an on-line booking system, know hot to use it. Down an hour of my life I can't get back. And not I'm more stressed, not less. :)

Made a reservation for one night stopover while heading home. I was nervous as I didn't find much info on this hotel, but after a disastrous stay at a highly rated establishment I felt we had nothing to lose. No need to be nervous this is a great place While the history of the building is amazing if not sort of creepy (mental hospital -prison- hotel) our experience was great. Architecturally stunning, renovated with the best of taste, this is a gem. We were in room 304, a deluxe queen. We had 2 rooms a sitting room and an sleeping room, with a foyer between. The door to the sleeping room was original with the viewing window at the top. If That door could tell stories..... the walls are about 12" thick and the hardwood floors original. The bed was very comfortable. The place was spotless. Like brand new clean. Rain shower and lovely bathroom, a small fridge, 2 TVs . This would be 5 stars except for the front desk. The girls was nice, but clueless and gave zero info like where breakfast is served, WiFi info, bar info, etc. it didn't ruin our stay. We were very happy here and even with restrictions due to Covid it was a wonderful stay. Highly recommended!

A handsome site for reasonably priced stay when attending the brilliant nearby Shakespeare theater. Lovely, lovely staff, comfortable, clean & quiet room, but the in-house restaurant was disappointing. A treat to eat on a balcony overlooking the splendid Inn entrance, and the menu, though limited, was good. But the cooking was a bit off and, on a hot evening, would have been nice if the white wine were chilled and the cheese cake not piping hot. Although the bistro seemed slightly understaffed, we know it's hard to hire folks these days & our server Pavlo couldn't have been better. So, points for the Blackburn site & the staff.

I am giving this place five stars for the history alone. How intriguing, and historic to have repurposed such a place. Formerly a Mental Institution, then a prison, you left all the right nods to its history. The metal room doors, and the high ceilings. Yea it is a bit loud, echoing, and creaking but it adds to the fact that it's historic. It's clean, the staff is friendly, and it's pet friendly. The bathrooms are dreamy, especially the soaking tub walking the grounds with my dog was delightful. Stumbling upon a graveyard, a dairy barn, and a guard tower. I was so tempted to peer through the boarded up windows, but resisted. If you are intrigued by dark history, architecture, you will admire what they have done with this place. I would love to come back if we have the chance. Reasonably priced too. Thanks for the stay!

The Blackburn Inn is a fully remodeled historic property in Staunton VA that previously was a mental hospital and prison. Originally designed by a protege of Thomas Jefferson, the buildings are beautiful with the vast campus being converted into various mixed use spaces including a hotel a spa/conference center, and apartments. Overall, our stay was very positive and we were happy with the size of the room and the general feel of the entire hotel. There are a couple of small areas where improvements could be made which would make this a really great stay. The lobby is very much lacking. A lobby water source would be a great addition either a large water bottle with lemon water or cucumber water that guests could fill personal bottles or a bottle filler in general. It's hot in Virginia and there wasn't even an option to purchase water in the gift shop. The staff was also very nice but lacked some of the general feel or professional minded nature that you would expect from a boutique hotel experience. Lastly, the bathroom was very visually appealing but the rain fall shower head completely lacked any pressure making it hard to complete all the necessities of a shower. Overall, it was a solid stay and we would return.

We stopped here overnight from driving up from Alabama so we only stayed 1 night but it was fun and worth the stay! According to online articles and hotel staff -this hotel sits on about 80 acres and was originally a popular mental hospital in the late 1800's. After it's time as a mental hospital it was turned into a medium security prison and eventually in 2018 a hotel. There are still multiple buildings on site that are abandoned and make for a really beautiful walk in the morning/ afternoon or a fun *spoopy* walk at night! There's also beautiful architecture throughout the hotel to look at as well as a small art museum upstairs. The hotel rooms themselves are comfortable and new! Personally our air conditioner was a little weak for our comfort even though we had it on the lowest setting but other than that the room was clean and comfortable. I am very much a clean freak and gross hotels can make me real uncomfy but this place was great! The staff was always kind and helpful! For breakfast I do recommend getting up towards the beginning (it's from 7am-10am) of it so you have a selection of all the food you want. The pastries are really good, but they do go quick! Overall It's a fun, neat place to stop if you're traveling through like us and if you have a camera or just like taking pictures take a walk through the hotel and grounds to get some beautiful shots! *based off of reading previous reviews I do think that they have worked past a lot of those new, opening kinks are are on a roll for being a consistently good hotel. And if you do run into any issues the staff is very helpful*

What a treat! My husband and I checked in on a Thursday and were treated to a glass of Prosecco after check in. Staff were quite pleasant and responsive. We explored the beautifully renovated inn. Our queen deluxe room was on the 4th floor. The room was spacious and comfortable. A European style breakfast was delicious in the morning. The historic Blackburn Inn was the headquarters building of Western State Hospital - originally known as Western Lunatic Asylum - for almost 150 years (from 1828-1976). After the hospital relocated, the facility served as a medium-security prison from 1981-2002, after which it was abandoned until 2016.

Always the most beautiful energy when we arrive. I cannot say it enough I love this hotel, the history and the architecture are major reasons I enjoy staying here. Oh and there's the giant tubs in the Queen rooms that are to die for. We love coming here and the staff has become family. We love to walk around the property because the views are to die for! I always hate leaving here, cause I'm always treated like queen.

We stayed here with a promotion from Travelzoo and were really impressed. The grounds are amazing, the staff is helpful and the rooms are very luxurious! At the check in desk, there was complimentary Prosecco. A gift shop area in the lobby features bottles of wine, snacks and cold beer and other beverages. Though a bit small, the room was well appointed. A very comfortable bed, fluffy linens and a walk in shower along with Keurig coffee maker, mini frig and safe. I love this place!

Wow. Great little hotel and the absolute best customer service! Rooms are spacious and clean. Modern design inside a classic building. We had the queen suite with soaker tub. Bed was comfortable. Curtains actually blocked nearly all outside light to allow for sleeping in. Spacious rainfall shower. My wife loved the soaker tub! And the towels! The absolute best. Soft, fluffy, and absorbent! Robes were nice too! Very cool architecture. Small art gallery on 3rd floor. Very nice restaurant. Free wifi and free breakfast and free parking! We stayed 2 nights in July 2018 to celebrate our birthdays. We were greeted with a "welcome and happy birthday" by the front desk. We found cupcakes and two handwritten welcome notes in our room wishing us happy birthdays and a wonderful stay. Cupcakes were great! Our only gripe was that when we went for breakfast around 9am they were almost out of everything. The hotel quickly made it up to us with a whole box of fresh pastries from a local bakery called Reunion. Wow! I've stayed at literally hundreds of hotels across the country and abroad. This place has the absolute best service I have ever experienced - including small bed & breakfasts to fancy hotels that cost many multiples. I would not hesitate for a second to recommend this hotel. We live just 2 hours away and this hotel is #1 on our "staycation" lis

It was a pleasant stay in Blackburn Inn for Christmas week. This is a fairly new refurbishment of a very historic building. We arrived with the sun nearly set -- on entering the long driveway/entrance it was spectacular. Christmas trees were visible from out the window. It was magical. The check-in service was exceptional. Justin was welcoming and gave us a bit of history of the building. There were complimentary hot beverages in the foyer - nice touch to warm you up when it is cold outside. Our initial room felt too cramped and claustrophobic and we were moved to a similar room with more space and natural light. The bed linen were soft, clean and inviting. En-suite toilet and bathroom was spotless and roomy. Thermostat control access is restricted and changing the temperature of the room will require a quick call to the front desk. Windows are sealed shut. Some guest doors are still the same old doors which does maintain a bit of character to the interior of the building but perhaps may be a tad disturbing to some guests. Hallways may still need a little decorating to give it a more warmth as opposed to an almost clinical feel. Daily self-service continental breakfast was available - fresh fruit, croissants, sliced bread, yogurt, cereal, cheese selection, hard-boiled eggs, selection of hot and cold beverages, etc. We also enjoyed the delicious sandwiches and desserts prepared by Chef Rissa. The Staunton high street or downtown area is near and an easy walk from the hotel. This place is pet-friendly. With a $50 fee per stay. We will definitely return and stay in this venue if we do decide to visit Staunton again. We do hope to see more amenities in the future - fitness room, a proper restaurant, indoor pool? Whilst that may be asking for much, we did enjoy a great view from the cupola.

We stayed there for a couple of nights. We were told they had a restraurant on Friday and Saturday for dinner. This was only a couple of days before we arrived. On Friday the restraurant had a special event and was closed. And on Saturday it was closed. The "restraurant" is so small I question if they even cook there. I don't appreciate being lied to. Finally the old flooring in the hotel is terrible. I appreciate that they tried to retain the old charm. But the craftsmanship was very poor. There are much better hotels in the area.

Within an hour of staying at the Blackburn Inn, I wished we were staying two nights instead of just one! I live across the country and am dreaming of my stay in Staunton and the Blackburn Inn. Learning the history of the building was incredible, the inside of the building is just as stunning as the exterior. Our room was on the third floor with a view of the front lawn. The bath tub and rain shower were lovely and came with a view through another large window. All windows had shades, including a blackout shade. The only thing the bathroom was missing were a couple robes. This is now my new favorite hotel room I've stayed in! We had a pastry (and coffee) at check in and check out. Both were locally made, soft, delicious! We had a small dinner at their restaurant. We ate outside on the patio and enjoyed the view and overcast weather. Arrive early to breakfast if you want pastries! Still, the best continental breakfast I've had at a hotel. Service at both check in and at dinner was great.

Rooms are nice and modern in this boutique hotel. Small dining area but they extend breakfast for a long period. Beds are comfortable and bathroom modern. Try the spa if you are there. Really knowledgeable and friendly people.

Absolutely lovely hotel with a history. The architecture is stunning. From the moment you pull in and look up at the building to the crazy spiral staircase leading to the cupola roof patio....it's just gorgeous!! The room we booked was the queen room with soaking tub and frankly, the tub is the entire reason I chose this room and it was worth it! It's amazing!! The room was quite spacious and comfortable. The floors creak but that is something I'm used to since my own house was built in the 1800's as well. Loved our experience!

Rating The Blackburn Inn was a challenge due to some elements being up and down. My wife's assessment is probably three stars to my four. Front office staff is definitely attentive. We were down for my wife's birthday and staff upgraded our room which was lovely. Everyone was truly kind and helpful when asked. WiFi was good, which is impressive in an old building with thick masonry walls. There was the obligatory "green" placard that talked about trash and recycling, but the noted recycling bins were nowhere to be found. Facial tissue ('Kleenex') in one room and trash bins in another. Light switches for the bathroom blocked by the door to the bathroom. Worse was the 'light breakfast' (7a - 10a) that was picked over by 8a and not replenished. The young lady in charge had no sense of urgency at all. Really the fourth star is entirely because of the upgrade - a real desk to work from, real armchairs. We saw a number of other lodgings that we might try should we return to Staunton, and that is based on the breakfast experience.

Smaller rooms but excellent customer service and close to more amenities than any other hotel. Totally worth it and I work for a nonprofit and they've always been good to us with out of town guest.

The amenities are very nice indeed, and for the most part I agree with my Yelp reviewers; however, the blackburn isn't a five star stay. I am giving three stars based on the " Second Draft." How one calls them self a chef passing out chicken salad and fried BS PLT is some hyped up pretend I am a chef in NYC horse-crap. The included breakfast was a joke. The coffee was scarce, NO EGG DISHES AVAILABLE, and the assorted fruit--bananas, halos, grapes, and three day old melons. Forget about a mixed drink. Apparently, the Second is canned Sangria and beer blah blah blah over hyped beer bar. Seriously, I just paid $539 for a two night stay, and I CAN'T ORDER A WHISKEY SOUR, WTF!!!!!!!! How in the hell does an 11 million rehab construction project not come with a VA LIQUOR LICENSE??????? And of course the wait staff are a bunch of nouveau steam-punk hippie chicks. I guess Mary Baldwin is where all the pretty dumb chics go to school. Anyway come to the Baclkburn Inn for the surrounding views and well appointed rooms, just bring your own wine, bourbon--basically bring your own bar and save your money.

Beautiful hotel in a very quaint little town! The front desk staff was friendly and attentive, and our room was very clean. My husband and I stayed here for a few days as a little vacation to relax and unwind after the holidays. We booked through our bank using our travel rewards, and i believe this was our first mistake. We were given a phone call the day prior that the room we had booked (queen delux with soaking tub) had been double-booked, and we were "upgraded" to a different room, although I do not believe "upgraded" is the proper term. We were placed in a queen suite (there were two of us; we were not in need of a pull-out couch) 2 doors down from the check-in lobby. Our room faced the front of the building, and our windows looked onto the front patio where there was a sitting area for other guests. Needless to say, the curtains remained drawn throughout our entire stay. Nonetheless, we know through experience that guests who book through the hotel website receive preferred treatment, so we are partially responsible for this incident and do not blame the hotel. The beds are very comfortable, and the rooms are beautifully updated with modern features. Our bathroom was spotless, and our shower was equipped with a rain shower head - a very nice touch. The only reason I gave the hotel 4/5 stars was purely the creep factor. The hotel is a refurbished mental asylum. A quick google search informed me that it was the location of such evil practices as forced sterilization, lobotomies, and other such practices of the eugenics era. I am not one to believe in ghosts, but the building itself gave off a bad vibe. But if you can handle the creep factor, the hotel is absolutely beautiful and a very central place to stay.

A lovely and refined boutique hotel. Originally built in 1828, the architecture is stunning and the history is fascinating. The staff is warm and welcoming. Upon our arrival, there was warm, delicious apple cider simmering in the lobby. We enjoyed live music and a beverage on the outdoor patio. Excellent choice for a weekend getaway.

My wife and I happened on the Blackburn Inn and it turns out we are trend-setters because the official opening was just a few days earlier. The Inn is a grand colonial-era building dating to 1825, with large grounds, that has been fully renovated. It was designed by a cohort of Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Blackburn, who worked as an apprentice as Jefferson built the University of Virginia. The interior still has many of the historic details preserved, but this is no creaky bed-and-breakfast--everything has been outfitted in a thoroughly modern fashion. Our room had a soaking tub next to the glass shower, for instance, but also an old (but non-functioning) fireplace and mantle. Yes, there is a brand-new elevator and the keys are electronic like any modern hotel. But architectural flourishes remain throughout the place, large and small, such as the amazing curving staircases. They even left some of the old paint that had partly chipped off and painted over it for an "alligator" effect. It's a nice combination of old and new. The essentials, like heat and air conditioning, are also brand new. The only chills you may experience might come when you learn the building was once literally a "Lunatic Asylum" (later Western State Hospital). If you like that sort of thing, and want to spend the night in a creepy old building and imagine you hear ghosts, you will be disappointed by the modern upgrade and restoration. This place is still getting off the ground - there were no cups in the room for coffee and the restaurant (with an outdoor terrace out front) had to close early due to lack of staffing - but those things should iron out and it will be ready for five stars. I'm also glad they plan to use the expansive grounds for events like barbecues, and to restore and use adjacent buildings too. The Inn is very close to charming downtown Staunton and one could walk from there.

Horrible customer service by front desk team while checking in, and again later when they were.confused about my reservation. Lights in main room and bathroom flicker, walls are super thin so you can hear people walking around above you. Cute building though.

What an amazing, historical hotel! The staff was amazing and the architecture alone is worth the stay. I can't wait to see what the rest of the grounds will look like once they're restored. Well done Blackburn Inn!

This place stole my heart as soon as I drove up to it. What a historical and modern treat. Our room was perfect for the two of us. This town is so perfectly quaint and restuarnt galore. Small rooms and they are perfect!

Based on prior reviews we must have been there on Opposites Day. My girlfriend and I decided to go to Staunton for the weekend. In the past when we've gone we've stayed at B&Bs downtown. Based on the reviews and promised service and luxury, we decided to go to the Blackburn Inn. And so our story begins. That Friday at 11 or so I called to find out how close the hotel was to town and to make a reservation for Saturday. No answer and the phone went to voicemail. I left a message. A few hours after that I tried again. No answer, so I left another message. On the third try someone answered. I mentioned that I had called twice and left messages. This was met with silence. The person answering the phone quoted me a price for the room that was 15 percent higher than their own website (which had a weekend sale on all of their rooms). I made our reservation on the website. We arrived before check-in, they took our bags and offered to call us when our room was ready. We said that would be great. No one ever called us. We tootled around Staunton, went to Red Beard brewing (highly recommended), had dinner at The Depot Grille (eh), and got dip-top soft serve cones at the Dairy Rite (excellent), which is across the road from the Inn. Earlier in the day, the hotel had been setting up for a wedding, which at 9:00 PM had now clearly moved into the loud DJ/flashing lights/woo woo portion of the celebration. You could hear the music blasting across the road. We returned to the hotel where we asked if we'd hear the noise from our room (were told we wouldn't, we did, down to the vibrating windows) and what time the party would end (10:00 with fireworks). Tired, not wanting to put up with the noise, and having no faith in their timetable based on our prior interactions, we decided to go to another hotel. We returned to the front desk, where the woman behind the counter told us that since we'd paid in advance for the lower rate she'd have to get an OK from the manager for us to leave without being charged. This was delivered in a pretty affected, snooty tone (uh, you're in Staunton, not Tribeca) in between her flipping her hair at us. The manager eventually arrived and explained that they had contacted all of the other guests who had made reservations to warn them about the wedding, but that since we'd made our reservation the day before we'd been overlooked. I mentioned that perhaps when I had talked to their front desk the day before the wedding about making a reservation, that might have been a good time to mention it. We left, weren't charged, and stayed at the Fairfield Inn & Suites, which was very pleasant, quiet, and lacked attitude. Next time, back to the B&Bs.

Wow, I had a completely different experience at this hotel. I wanted it to be great, and it can be, but they need time to work out the kinks. When I checked in the gentleman told me nothing about breakfast etc until I asked. We were on the 2nd floor and had upgraded to a suite which was as pictured. I immediately noticed an odd smell in the hotel lobby and hallways but the room was fine. When I went to the bathroom I found an extremely dirty toilet seat...gross. Obviously the room hadn't been properly cleaned. My husband went to the front desk and to their credit they came right away to clean it. We also noticed the area rug hadn't been vacuumed and there were dust bunnies. Maybe it was a one off but you need to keep rooms clean. When I informed the front desk at checkout, the response was 'wow I've not heard of that before. I'll let housekeeping know'. An I'm sorry that happened would have been nice...not a word. I was also supposed to get a food/beverage credit which I would not have received had I not asked. Also, they tack on a $10 hotel fee to cover breakfast I was told. Overall a very mediocre experience. Maybe I'll give them another try once they get past opening issues.

The history of this building is worth learning about prior to staying. The renovations really tried to preserve as much of the older building as possible. Rooms are small, but, are comfortable and the views are beautiful as well. Stayed over for a formal party, and took formal photos in the building and on the grounds which turned out amazing. Price for the stay was great.

It's a beautiful building and all the staff were lovely, however there were hidden fees above the stated fees and taxes and I paid more than I was quoted as the total price for the room. They also clearly want you to do everything on your phone and not really bother them. The elevator was out of order for some of our stay and my 79 year old mom had to climb many stairs to get to our room, which had no closet, no iron and one robe. Housekeeping didn't touch our room during our stay, not to take out the trash, nothing. Continental breakfast was mediocre and under stocked a full hour before it was supposed to be over. They're new and I'm sure they're trying, but they aren't there yet. Great location

Went to the grand opening at Blackburn Inn and have been back multiple times to offer my business by eating at their restaurant on site. I am a local and have brought my pups with no problems. Today, I went to take some fun photos of my best friend for her birthday with our pups. I was told about 5 minutes later to exit the premises or pay $150. I immediately left, but was extremely disappointed by how rude the employee (female w/ darker hair) was in announcing her presence and telling us to leave immediately or pay. I will never be back to the Blackburn Inn or recommend them to any of my family or friends who come visit me from out of state. To think I had recommended such a business to my friend who is getting married in November and still on the hunt for a wedding venue. They are looking for every way possible to rip people off. I honestly haven't seen much business there since they opened and since they are local I have tried supporting them as often as I can. Even Disney World, Biltmore Estate, and other well known properties don't make people pay to snap a few pics with our own camera in front of their properties. I can assure you that this business has lost all of mine and my friends support just because of one terribly humiliating experience. I will gladly take my business elsewhere and you should do the same.

Just here for one night for work on the recommendation of a colleague, and so glad we stayed here versus the boring chain hotel the conference was being held at. I loved this place! The building is beautiful, with all sorts of interesting architectural touches, a small art gallery on the second floor. Lucky to have reserved a room with a deluxe soaking tub (for not too much more $$ and well worth the extra) - the bedroom was spacious and gorgeously designed, with a (non working but beautiful) fireplace. Bathroom lived up to its billing and the tub was a completely luxurious treat (with a spacious shower as well). Breakfast was continental in the small library, which was fine and all that was really needed. I would definitely stay here again in a heartbeat!

This is an amazing historic destination accommodation. It was a mental institution built in the 1820's and served for a recent short time as a prison, but it was built and re-built with the residents' best mental health mind. We experienced little if any bad vibes here. You can walk the entire grounds, most of which contain not-yet-renovated old buildings that were part of the institution. Across the road way behind the property (it's well worth walking across the property to get there) is the cemetery where residents were buried. Most graves are blank, but more recent ones have numbers on them and a few most recent have names, a clear sign that the human race is improving. We were lucky that the developer and his wife happened to be at the Inn while we were there. They gave us the 'family tour', and I encouraged them to make it into a book to sell in the gift shop. The history and beauty that remains in everything they have saved and incorporated into the design and decor of the place is palpable. The spiral staircase to what could be a terraced lighthouse overlooking Staunton is pure and timeless magic. "I wonder why they built it?" I asked. "Because they could," my husband responded. The architecture from every corner was almost overwhelming- I couldn't stop snapping photos and plan to write about the place. We stayed for $156/night, which is very affordable, particularly considering it included a deep bathtub and a picturesque European breakfast (served until 10) that happily satisfied us each morning (the pastries are locally made and delicious).

It is a great hotel with wonderful service. The renovation was well done and it maintained the historic feel. I would stay again.

I've not stayed here, but I booked a room as a surprise for my mother's birthday and she had nothing but good things to say regarding the property, the staff, and experience as a whole. I called twice to make the booking and then to finalize payment info, both times the person who answered the phone was extremely helpful and pleasant.

We enjoyed our stay on 11/24. The Hotel is such a unique place! The staff was great. We felt like we were the only guest they had. We had dinner and breakfast the next morning at the Second Draft. The creamy vegetable soup and sandwiches were just what we needed after travelling all day. The Breakfast.. Wonderful. As you walk the halls you can feel the history. The renovation beautiful. A few suggestions.. Some design on the bottom glass doors .. Our poor dog kept walking into them. (thank you for being pet friendly) It would have been nice to have a few throw rugs beside the bed.. The floors were a bit cold. Over all I would recommend this wonderful Hotel to anyone traveling in the area.

One of the finest hotels I've ever stayed at. Not only was the decor of the rooms amazing but the building itself is aesthetically designed in a way that makes it an immediate 'modern classic'. They provide the rooms just about anything you might've left at home including a new toothbrush, etc. The shower was so spacious & the bed was beyond comfortable. Don't even question staying at The Blackburn Inn. You won't regret it! I forgot to mention you have a perfect overlook of downtown Staunton Virginia which is in walking distance from the hotel :) Extremely diligent customer service & check in was a breeze.

Had an excellent stay at this boutique hotel in a historic building with fresh decor. Friendly and helpful staff, nicely appointed room. Beautiful interior design and finishes. Lovely grounds. Walking distance to shopping and restaurants.

3 1/2 stars!! My husband and I needed a weekend away from our normal life. I found the Blackburn Inn online and booked two nights for the long weekend. What a beautiful building! The staff very accommodating. Our room was a little small, claustrophobic even. When renovating, they had taken two of the "cells or rooms" and knocked out a small doorway between the two to make one room...the original, individual cells were approximately 10 x 10 or 10 x 12 and the walls are at least 18" think, so I understand the reason the space was as small as it was. With a queen sized bed it allowed us about 42"-48" on each side of the bed to get around...so a little tight. I was a little surprised because all the photos I had seen online showed the larger rooms, so be aware. Also the bathroom was not in anyway, private. There was an opening above the door -a 5'W x 18"H opening where, if nothing else, a sheet of glass should have been Instead it was totally open. Also, a barn/sliding type door is used as the bathroom door; why such a door would be used as a bathroom door I will never understand. So no privacy in the bathroom at all. Both of those things should be corrected, IMHO. But the bed was comfortable, the bathroom very large and all the necessary room amenities available. The included breakfast was nothing fancy, but ok. We did go the the little cafe they have in the hotel for a light dinner our first night, but honestly, that was probably our worst experience the entire weekend. Although the staff were very accommodating the menu leaves a lot to be desired. We ordered the pizza, which was really good, and the homemade chips and spinach dip..were not. Most of the chips were burnt and the spinach dip was runny. We probably should have sent it back, but didn't want to bother. Also the cafe is in what used to be a side porch, so it's a little chilly; if you go, bring a sweater.