Lilly Valley Inn — Hotel in Pearisburg

“Inn”hospitable with a Great View

Where do I begin? Every B&B has a “feel” once you walk through the door. This one wasn’t so good. The innkeeper opened the door for us, but he didn’t really offer a greeting. His wife, the other innkeeper, was seated at a desk to the left of the door and asked us to be seated – at least three times. We had just been seated for five hours in our car driving to the inn. We really wanted to stand up for a bit. Next up, the wife led us on a tour of the house. Why do so many innkeepers think a tour must precede giving you access to your room and a bathroom? The property at this inn is small and an in-depth explanation was completely unnecessary. She could just have said a small communal refrigerator is downstairs if you want to refrigerate labeled items and there’s a separate inn refrigerator stocked with soft drinks for guests, but she took us there to see them both. My husband opened the inn refrigerator to see the drink options and she promptly asked if he didn’t believe her when she said it contained beverages. What? Is that really a question you ask a guest?

Next up was a visit to the deck where she explained the view we were seeing, the very view that had brought us there in the first place and then a trip back up the stairs where we were shown a platter of cookies (that were closely monitored by Mr. Innkeeper – I felt like a thief when I later took a second cookie). We were told that no plates or glasses could be left in rooms and shown where they were to be promptly placed.

Breakfast was served daily at promptly 8:30 and Mrs. Innkeeper said she was the chef. She warned us that she would be very upset if we didn’t show up and she was expecting us. We assured her we would.

After all this, we were finally escorted to our room. The room was lovely and offered a fabulous view of the river. Mrs. Innkeeper reminded us of some of the rules yet again and finally left us to go to the bathroom and settle in.

At breakfast the next morning, Mr. Innkeeper served the meal to us and two other couples at a communal table. The breakfast consisted of a frittata, potatoes, a tiny muffin and fruit. The self-serve coffee pot ran out after our first cup and my husband alerted Mr. Innkeeper. He grunted, never engaging any guest during the meal, and seemed to promptly forget about it. After going without coffee throughout the meal we discovered he had partially refilled the pot and never told any of us at the table. Yikes!

The day was a rain-out so we were left to entertain ourselves at the inn. My husband and I decided to sit on the lower deck since it was covered. We had just started reading when Mrs. Innkeeper appeared and scolded my husband for not having on shoes. He was seated in a rocker, but shoes had to be worn at all times. She said this was due to their insurance policy. However, she later stopped my husband to explain to him the reasons why going barefoot was a bad idea in general. We departed the inn shortly thereafter and don’t plan to ever return.

In truth I got a bad vibe from this place when I requested an extra set of towels be placed in our room prior to our arrival. We never expect housekeeping services when we are staying some place three nights or less, but we do appreciate fresh towels. One of the innkeepers promptly responded to my request and said additional towels would not be provided because they had to do the laundry.

The bottom line is the inn is extremely clean and the view from the rooms and decks is wonderful. Just be prepared to feel like you are intruding on the innkeepers whenever you venture outside your room, limit your cookie intake, keep on your shoes, be prepared to use the same towel each day of your stay even though there isn’t a good place to hang it to dry and don’t be late for breakfast!

Edit: The innkeeper’s response mirrors the attitude you...

We chose the Inn for a mini moon after our wedding. The view is fantastic of course. I wish I could say the same for the rest of the stay.

On every surface of the items in the room, they have placed instructions and prices, as though you are in a museum. Reading through the (incredibly outdated) binder, they'll include more rules. By the way, half the restaurants and shops in there are closed, so beware if you aren't from the area.

Today they contacted us without any other preamble upset because my hair dye left a stain on one of their towels, letting us know they'd add $18 for the towel. That's right, they're more worried about their towels than the quality of your stay. Now, if one of their myriad of instructions had mentioned towels, I would have brought one.

Speaking of, the amenities are quite rustic, and the water reeks of chlorine. I really wouldn't care as someone from the mountains, but for a few hundred a night, I do expect better than the Marriott.

The sheets were some sort of bizarre synthetic fiber that did not hold up well in the high humidity and temperatures of our deciduous rainforest climate.

Major hotels also have thicker walls, which I'll throw in there if you're looking to be 'romantic'. The walls are so thin you can hear people on the other side, which isn't exactly conducive to a wedding night, if you catch my drift.

If you're looking to feel anxious and get nickel and dimed, then go right ahead and stay at the Inn. If it's the view you're seeking, plenty of other places can deliver. I was going to buy a gift certificate for my brother's wedding, but I would never want him to feel the way I did after leaving this place!

Edit since the owners responded a year later: We told the owners to charge us for the towels if the stains didn't come out after washing. I specifically mentioned using Mrs . Meyer's laundry soap and hot water. I've never had an issue with my towels despite having dyed my hair for seven years now. I find it difficult to believe that no guest in the history of the inn has worn makeup or dyed their hair. Considering the fact that they emailed us half an hour after asking about the towels, I doubt they washed them.

Additionally, we did meet John and spoke with him. He seemed pleasant enough. I'm not certain why you maintain that particular lie.

Since I must be blunt about this: we weren't interested in breakfast. We were interested in our wedding night. You know, having marital relations? The ones the neighbors could clearly hear in through the paper thin walls? And to address you directly: you still haven't apologized for RUINING OUR WEDDING NIGHT nor do you seem the least bit remorseful. I'm not sure why anyone would want to stay in your dreadful establishment unless their marriage was dying. I'm also quite confounded as to why an entire year later, you are still tormenting us with memories of our most unfortunate decision to stay at your B&B. It brings me to wonder as to whether or not you are cut out for the hospitality business.

I have warned many other locals about the perils of your Inn, as well as our wedding vendors. Some of them even apologized for not warning us - they had already heard about the 'quality' of your service. Your reputation proceeds you.

My husband and I are going on our real honeymoon soon, thanks for the reminder to carefully research the hotels/B&Bs...

Have you ever imagined living high above the rest of the world….on a quiet knoll overlooking the gorgeous countryside in a beautifully warm and inviting home? How about enjoying the good life for a few days and letting someone else pay the mortgage?

Enter the Inn at Riverbend. From the moment you approach, you’ll know you have found something special.

Walking in, you are greeted with warmth and sincerity by Jeanne…who will immediately put a smile on your face. She’ll make sure all of your questions are answered before giving you a tour of your new home away from home.

And, my, what a home it is! Perched high above the river, the view is spectacular! While we arrived in the rain, it certainly didn’t dampen our spirits or stop us from running outside to see everything we could. From the field to the water, the scene is postcard-worthy. The decorations around Christmas were just awe-inspiring and Jeanne and John will give you the story behind each one of the cherished items surrounding you. There are books galore, games, puzzles…and the most comfortable furnishings to sink into. It feels like home…and that certainly is not something that is easy to achieve.

Next stop, dinner. We asked Jeanne for a recommendation and were shortly on our way to a beautifully hidden surprise. We had a fabulous meal and meandered through town before arriving back at our temporary palace. After sneaking a few of Jeanne’s AHH-MAZING chocolate chip cookies and a cup of tea, we softly padded back to our “haven on the hill” to recharge and reconnect. The room was beautiful and very well-appointed. Everything you could want is already there for you-even a corkscrew. The bed was very comfortable and the linens were soft and warm. The perfect end to a very perfect day.

Waking in paradise with the sun just glancing off the water was definitely a highlight of the trip. Although, breakfast may have been the best part of our days! WOW!! Jeanne is quite a chef and her pairings are absolutely delicious! Each morning, we couldn’t wait to see what would be served by John while we enjoyed that amazing view…and we were never disappointed! More than enough food to fuel our adventure-filled days and always better than we could have imagined. Make sure to take some coffee home with you-locally roasted and full-flavored, it’s quite a treat.

While exploring in town, we hiked the Cascades and Angel’s Rest and couldn’t wait to get back to the luxurious whirlpool tub to soak our soreness away. After a quick stop for a bite and some of the best guacamole I’ve ever had (this side of the border), we were off to indulge. A few more cookies and cups of tea later, we had poured through two books about history in the area and landmarks that we never knew about. After our newfound knowledge, sleep blissfully greeted us and we were able to do it all again the next day.

Most people want to go away and enjoy their time alone or with their loved ones. At the Inn at Riverbend, not only will you get all of the peace and quiet you desire, you will leave with a renewed sense of hospitality and, hopefully, two new friends that you can’t wait to go back and see.

Thank you so very much, Jeanne and John! We promise that we will be back...