Natural Bridge Historic Hotel
A night beside the great arch
★★★★★📍 Natural Bridge, Shenandoah Valley$$
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The history is woven into the stay. Thomas Jefferson bought the bridge in 1774 and built a retreat cabin; in the 1880s and 1890s Colonel Henry Parsons developed the site into a resort with the Appledore at its heart; and the current hotel, despite being a 1960s building, was designed to echo the Southern grand-hotel tradition, with columns, a broad lawn and gracious public rooms. The hotel shares the bridge's story with guests, and the walk from the front door to the arch connects the two.
Stay craft: book a room with mountain views if available, plan to walk the Cedar Creek Trail first thing in the morning for the quietest moments under the bridge, and use the hotel as a base for two or three days of valley exploring rather than a single night. Dining on site is convenient but limited; Lexington has a wider range of restaurants a short drive away.
Practicals and fit: 15 Appledore Lane, Natural Bridge, Virginia, just off I-81 and US 11, about forty minutes from Roanoke. Pair it with Natural Bridge State Park, Lexington, the Blue Ridge Parkway and Luray Caverns. Fit: road-trippers, history-minded couples and families wanting a simple, well-located base.
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Check rates →Frequently Asked Questions
How close is it to the Natural Bridge?
Directly across the road from Natural Bridge State Park — a short walk to the visitor center and the Cedar Creek Trail under the arch.
Is the building historic?
The site is: travelers have lodged here since the 1833 Forest Inn, and the grand Natural Bridge Hotel stood until a 1963 fire. The present Colonial Revival building opened in 1965 in the same tradition.
Is it a good base for Luray Caverns?
It works for a valley road trip — Luray is roughly ninety minutes north on I-81, with Lexington and the Blue Ridge Parkway much closer.
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