"Why book? For a charming stay that immerses you in a piece of iconic history—while The Omni Homestead just celebrated a grand-reopening with a dramatic $150 million property-wide renovation, the resort embraces the past. From the dramatic entrance of the Great Hall to the newly renovated guest rooms, spa, and event spaces—you name it. The a sweet magic of the South that pours into the cup of style, grandeur, and grace. It's a true family place, a wholesome hub to start new family traditions.
Set the Scene The Homestead screams quirky, artful, and vintage yet restored—capturing a whimsical, fairytale ambiance embellished with hints of Southern charm. In the Taproom, floral curtains drape over large windows; In the Great Hall a custom-designed carpet boasts in pink with a nod to the flora and fauna of the Allegheny Mountains surrounding; and in the Theater, first completed in 1923, is a prohibition-style cocktail bar and convertible, dinner theater-style seating. There’s heaps of space to run, play, and celebrate at The Homestead—as well as to return time and time again.
The backstory Where do I begin? 1766. Once upon a time, US military officer Captain Thomas Bullitt constructed the property's very first—a quaint 18-room lodge. For 30 shillings, Bullitt and his two partners, Charles and Andrew Lewis, purchased 300 acres just beyond the Shenandoah Valley as a reward for his service during the French and Indian War. At this point, guests journeyed on horseback or in stagecoaches for days to get involved, and “take the waters” of the nearby Warm Springs Pools– an integral part of the state’s Bath County. By the late 1800s, the resort was a favorite destination for US Presidents (23 presidents have visited the property), foreign dignitaries and global business leaders. As golf arrived America, it came to Hot Springs as well, and the first six holes of the Old Course were built in 1892. Next thing you know, The Omni Homestead was a kickstarter of wellness stays– with a number of guests seeking the natural spring waters, the resort constructed a Spa building with European-style spa service. Less than 10 years later, a decadent indoor pool with intricate tile-work was added—one of the first indoor pools in the States. The current iteration of the resort, though, harkens back to 1902, when M.E. Ingalls redeveloped the grounds after a fire destroyed the initial structure. As the West and East wings were developed over the 1910s, the resort grew as a staple for travel traditions—a retreat to look forward to. With the complete 2023 renovations, the resort’s interior design is restored to its sophisticated, colorful glory—more sunlight bounces off the original 1902 stained glass in the lobby, and remarkable detail in Corinthian columns speaks for itself again. According to the staff and recurring guests, this era is cutting edge, and the Omni Homestead is facing a, totally, revitalizing and refreshing energy rebirth.
The rooms With the full restoration, the resort offers 483 guest rooms, including 88 suites—that increase in space ranging from Studio (425 square feet) to President’s suites (at 1500 square feet). Each of these rooms, including the Traditional & Traditional Views (at 170-220 square feet), do not lack space nor style. Decked out in traditional Virginia style furnishing and framed prints, the charm of the resort doesn’t fade where guests rest their heads. I'd highly recommend, especially when traveling in warmer weather, requesting a suite with an included balcony. It’s a truly great space to sip on a coffee in the morning or stargaze in the clear skies at night. In the many rooms with a view, The Homestead rooms offer extensive and charmingly vast views of the colors of trees, courses, and property surrounding.
Food & Beverage In the morning, head to The Dining Room for breakfast. There’s a wide array of options in this oddly-perfect elegant ballroom, along with a specialty chef that whips up a mean omelet before your eyes. The space is also open for afternoon tea and dinner– though a reservation is recommended. At the new, bistro-style Martha’s Market, you can score a cup of coffee along with their treasured and traditional doughnuts. At Jefferson’s Restaurant, guests can enjoy American cuisine with a farm-to-table approach for lunch or dinner. Jefferson’s Taproom is another option if you’d like to complement your meal with a Virginia wine, classic cocktail, or one of their regional and popular craft brews. Woody’s is a guest favorite–and an option for guests craving Italian; and Rubino’s at the Cascades is huge for hungry golfers coming directly from the course. For drinks, The Presidential Lounge is a hip, speakeasy-style lobby bar. While a portrait collection of the resort’s presidential guests caters to quite a fitting name, there’s a new top tier spirit and fine wine collection–along with swanky designs, space for live music, and eventually, a game of pool. Just outside of the Theater is a Prohibition-style cocktail bar, where guests can order a drink to sip on and take to their seats for film screenings or perhaps even a magic show.
The Spa You might get lost here. The Homestead’s Spa is 60,000 square feet, including 28 treatment rooms, a fitness area with updated technology, and an adults-only Serenity Garden, home to the historic natural hot springs. Here, guests can also enjoy a river reflexology walk, poolside cabanas, and an outdoor Finnish-style sauna. Before or after, say— a Swedish and deep tissue massage or a classic European facial, chill-out to the max in the Herbal Cocoon, a Himalayan salt sauna, with chill ambient changing colors, subdued hues. Experience an ‘Arctic Mist,’ ‘Atlantic,’ or ‘Caribbean Storm’, in their eccentric Experiential Showers. There’s also a unisex relaxation room and lounge, as well as salon services for body treatments, manicures, and pedicures.
The neighborhood/area The Omni Homestead Resort is nestled in the heart of the Allegheny Mountains in Hot Springs, Virginia off of U.S. 220. The neighborhood that surrounds The Homestead is charmingly quiet, to the point where there’s not one traffic light, only stop signs. While there is the Rock Roadhouse Winery, an Ashwood Station Antiques and small galleries nearby, The Omni is at the center of activity— and brings a lot of travelers from all over the world to Bath County. For flight options, common routes are to and from the Greenbrier Valley Airport (50 miles away), or Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport (73 miles away). A bit farther is Richmond International Airport or Dulles International Airport. For those who are into this sort of thing, private airport Ingalls Field is located only 5.5 miles from the resort itself. The property’s location is quintessential to the outdoor activities that the Omni offers. The resort has onsite stables for guest horseback riding through trails in the wooded forests. Only around 15 minutes away is a trail along Cascades Creek, and Omni shuttle buses are available for guests to endure a guided, light hike, or fly-fishing experience. Along the way are 12 dreamy, cascading waterfalls. With changing seasons, Autumn's foliage is an enchanting match for the resort’s large windows and suite patios– where all guests are completely surrounded by the changing colors of the season. When fall draws to a close, Cascade Mountain is known to be a great ski mountain for families and beginners alike.
The service Each of The Homestead staff is friendlier than the next. Despite the vastness of the property, the staff know one another—and it feels like a sort of mini-community to which the long-time employees work around the clock to ever-evolve a home(y), safe, multifarious and clean resort. From the front desk to the gift shops and the chefs and the tour guides– the service is genuine and prime.
Eco Effort The Omni Homestead’s recent $150 million renovation included numerous enhancements for optimized energy management and a reduced carbon footprint. Some of those improvements included the installation of Lutron LED lights throughout the resort, the addition of storm windows on all guest room windows and low flow toilets. With the installation of new, high efficiency HVAC units and an upgrade to the building automation system, there are significant projections of an increase in efficiency and control. Additionally, an upgrade to the main water system, there has been a 40% decrease in daily water usage for the resort and local community— total savings of more than 500,000 gallons of water per day.
Accessibility Accessible rooms are provided for those guests who require ADA features. Rooms are approximately 250-280 square feet and include a roll-in shower. Registered resort pet guests are also welcome at The Omni Homestead Resort. Though pet rooms are limited and are based on availability, two dogs up to 60 lbs. are allowed at a time and each may be registered to a room. Each room with a dog(s) will be charged a one- time non-refundable fee of $200– including a per night fee of $50 per dog.
Anything left to mention? A personal favorite tales of the Homestead came from Anthony Pusey, an employee of the resort for 27 years. Starting in the Kid’s Club, Pusey has now worked everywhere from food & beverage to the Bell Stand. He described his experience at the resort with a special-sort-of-nostalgia, reminiscing on his times playing hide and seek in the Theater and how the space brought a dash of Hollywood glitz and glam to Hot Springs. He would get lost (as did I) on journeys from the Crystal Room to the Grand Ballroom— all iconic sparkling spaces that stand in elegance to this day. A testament to how special the tight net community is here: Pusey's elementary school teacher, who goes by Cooper, is the resort's tour guide and informative eco-educator for the offered Cascades Hike. There's a real community at The Homestead, curated by the staff who have worked together for years-on-end and through the renovation. Their equilibrium and commitment to The Omni Homestead is a fundamental allure to the resort— leaving solo travelers and families coming back as a marked tradition." - Jessica Chapel
