New River Retreat opened and is operating The Inn at Foster Falls on April 7.
The inn is a project that was decades in the making, returning the former Children’s Home of Abingdon Presbytery to its original use as a hotel. Reservations may be made online at www.stayinnfosteralls.com or by calling 276-595-5905.
Built in 1887, the building was a hotel, commissary and post office until the Foster Falls smelting furnace was closed in 1914. The building was purchased by the Presbytery to house an industrial school for girls, which became an orphanage in 1938. The property was abandoned in 1962.
The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation bought the inn in 1995 with a plan to undertake a historically accurate restoration. Now that the project is complete, DCR has engaged New River Retreat, a vacation-home management company that was already an integral part of the New River Valley community, to operate the facility.
“With a heart for hospitality, New River Retreat has welcomed travelers to the New River Valley for over 20 years,” said company owner Debbie Gardner. “We are eager to embrace the Inn and entertain its guests.”
New River Retreat is a sister company to the Draper Mercantile, which was also built in 1887. The building was purchased by Bill and Debbie Gardner in 2008 and lovingly restored and reopened in 2011. The “Merc,” as it’s called today, has become the epicenter of Thee Draper Village, a popular destination for its distinctive American cuisine, tea house, shoppes, weddings and cultural events.
The Inn at Foster Falls features 10 guest rooms equipped with high-speed internet and DirecTV. Bookings include the inn’s Southern take on a continental breakfast which includes signature locally roasted 1887 coffee. A gourmet pantry offers a selection of freshly made fare for purchase and a daily afternoon dessert social features a homemade dessert and refreshing beverages. Guests may also enjoy nightly fireside relaxation under the stars, wraparound porches with rocking chairs and direct access to New River Trail State Park at milepost 24.
New River Trail is a 57-mile linear park that follows an abandoned railroad right-of-way. The park parallels the scenic and historic New River for 39 miles and passes through four counties and the city of Galax. The park’s Foster Falls area offers canoe and bike rentals, boat launches, gift shops and a horse arena
