Homestead Resort, Hot Springs
Bath County Travel Guide: Bath County Overview | Garth Newel | Lake Moomaw & George Washington National Forest | Hidden Valley | The Homestead | Jefferson Pools | Warm Springs Gallery | Warm Springs Mountain Preserve | Bath County History | Douthat State Park
Five miles from The Inn at Gristmill Square bed and breakfast is the famous Homestead Resort. A cherished destination for generations of travelers, this Virginia luxury resort invites visitors to rediscover life's many grand and timeless pleasures in a setting steeped in history and Southern hospitality. Surrounded by the Allegheny Mountains, this National Historic Landmark welcomed its first guests a decade before the American Revolution. Presidents and princes are among the distinguished guests who have "taken the waters" in their legendary healing springs. You don't have to be an overnight guest at the Homestead to enjoy many of their amenities. You can walk the grounds, relax in the grand lobby, shop in the many shops, try out a restaurant, and snow ski in the winter months. Shops Brighton - An expanded Brighton jewelry, handbag and gift selection. Weekends - Women's clothing and accessories that are casual yet stylish. Featuring lines such as Vineyard Vines and Fresh Produce, this venue is sure to complete your Homestead shopping experience Paisley & Plaid - A collection of Vera Bradley patterns including luggage, handbags, stationary and more! Lower Cascades Golf Club Shop - golf apparel and gift items Cascades Golf Club Shop - golf apparel, golf bags, leather goods and gift items Casino Sports Shop - apparel and equipment for golf and tennis Sweet Dreams- Homestead line of bath gels, lotions, lounge wear, pj's and hoodies. Spa Shop - Exercise wear, bath and spa products made exclusively for The Homestead Ski Shop - Ski apparel and other accessories 1766 Shop - Custom apparel and gift items for ladies, gentlemen and children, featuring the renowned Homestead hallmark. Here you will find a wide selection of newspapers, magazines, toiletries, tobacco and sundry items. Hobby Horse - children's clothing, furniture and gifts The Homestead Collection - classic home decor items Classic Bath - unique bath and spa products William S. Flynn - men's apparel, furnishings and gifts First Lady - ladies' designer sportswear, accessories and saffron jewelry Coffee Nook - Specialty coffees and pastries from Homestead's Bakery plus a full compliment of retail items Allegheny Outfitters - Outdoor clothing, gifts and accessories. Also fishing permits, equipment rental and guide services F-Stop - Personal, family and commercial photography, portraits, one-hour photo finishing, cameras, film, frames and accessories Lunch While you are there, have lunch at Casino Club Restaurant's, featuring seasonal favorites, homemade soups, specialty drinks, salads, sandwiches and of course desserts from the Pastry Shop. Adjacent to the first tee of the Old Course, the relaxed setting and view of the practice green, the Outdoor Pool, tennis courts and lawn game area makes a memorable outing. Ski The Homestead ski area offers over 45 acres for skiing and snowboarding enjoyment, complete snowmaking capabilities, Olympic-size skating rink, full rental and equipment sales, a fireside lodge as well as a deck with a stone fireplace and a staff of professional European ski and skate instructors for individual and group clinics. Go cross-country skiing or take a guided snowmobile tour. After exploring the bustling Homestead Resort, return to your quiet room at The Inn at Gristmill Square bed and breakfast. History George Washington himself sought respite in the land’s healing springs as a 23-year-old militia commander, as did centuries of visitors before him. Since then, the resort has welcomed a total of 23 future, sitting and past American presidents, from Thomas Jefferson to Bill Clinton, as well as captains of industry, royals, and members of high society – the Windsors, Astors, Morgans, Rockefellers, Firestones, Fords and Duponts among them.
7000 B.C. According to archaeologists, the legendary natural springs that continue to draw visitors to The Homestead today were already in use by the region’s prehistoric inhabitants. 1750 Homesteaders in the Virginia countryside constructed wooden guest cabins near the springs, and travelers began to arrive from throughout the Eastern Seaboard. 1755 George Washington, who at 23 years old was commanding the Virginia Militia, visited the springs and befriended militia officer Thomas Bullett. 1760 The first pool house was built at the Jefferson Pools, and still exists today as the Gentlemen’s Pool. 1764 Bullett and several partners received a grant of 300 acres of land including seven of the mineral springs that are still in use today. These acres form the heart of The Homestead. 1766 Bullett convinced several militia members and their families to homestead on the land. He improved the spring pools and completed a rustic wooden lodge, opening The Homestead resort a decade before the American Revolution. 1818 Thomas Jefferson, who suffered from recurrent rheumatism, stopped for a rejuvenative visit to the springs on his way from Monticello to Rockfish Gap, Virginia, where a Commission was gathering to discuss the founding of the University of Virginia. He stayed for three weeks, "taking the waters" three times a day. His traveling companion was James Madison. 1832-54 Virginia physician Dr. Thomas Goode acquired The Homestead, and brought back from his European travels a revolutionary hydrotherapy treatment, the Spout Bath, designed to relieve tension and promote tranquility. Over the years, he added spacious dining rooms, new kitchens and a new ballroom. 1858 With the death of Dr. Goode, The Homestead began a period of decline that continued throughout a succession of owners. 1888 Prominent banker J. Pierpont Morgan, along with a group of other wealthy investors, purchased The Homestead. A frequent guest himself, he would arrive at the resort in a private railroad car. 1892 The Homestead finds new luster through a massive building campaign. Old buildings were razed and to make way for a new main hotel and wing. Thomas Edison, a regular guest, supplied the resort’s first electric power plant. A wide array of recreational amenities were added, including a new stable, the resort’s first golf course (the Old Course), and the new Homestead Spa. Considered the most luxurious of its time, the spa catered to the Victorian preference for modesty, with private treatment rooms that remain the standard today. 1893-95 The Virginia Building, still in use today, was completed, along with the Casino Building, which housed ladies’ indoor badminton and a golf locker room. The Homestead secured its reputation as the first southern resort to offer the "modern" sports of golf, badminton, tennis and ten-pin bowling. 1899 The resort’s equestrian stables underwent a major expansion. 1901 A fire razed the main hotel building, leaving the spa, Casino Building and Virginia Building intact. A new, red brick hotel building and ballroom were erected to replace those that were destroyed. 1904 The West Wing opened, and immediately became the favorite of the Vanderbilt clan, who reserved many adjoining suites for frequent visits. 1911 The Inglls family acquired the resort. 1913 Legendary golf course designer Donald Ross completed his work on The Old Course, expanding the six-hole course to 18 holes. 1914-22 This period saw completion of the East Wing, the Theatre, Crystal Room, Empire Room and Garden Room. 1923 The Cascades Course was designed by the renowned William S. Flynn and soon earned a reputation as America’s premier mountain golf course. 1929 The Homestead’s hallmark Tower made its debut. 1933 Shooting sports came to The Homestead with the opening of trap and skeet facilities. 1959 The Homestead was the first southern resort to introduce downhill skiing, catering to returning American GIs who had become fans of the sport in Europe.