Thomas Jefferson purchased 157 acres of land including the NaturalBridge from King George III of England for 20 shillings in 1774. He called it “the most Sublime of nature’s works”. Jefferson built a two room log cabin, with one room reserved for guests, beginning its use as a retreat. While President, in 1802, he personally surveyed the area. Many famous guests stayed here, including John Marshall, James Monroe, Henry Clay, Sam Houston, and Martin Van Buren.
Natural Bridge was one of the tourist attractions of the New World that Europeans visited during the 18th and 19th centuries. Vacationing guests from all over the world took day trips from Natural Bridge on horseback or horse-drawn carriages to explore the countryside.
In 1833, a new owner erected the Forest Inn to accommodate the increasing number of people. The bridge had considerable notoriety during the 19th century. Herman Melville alluded to the bridge in describing Moby-Dick: “But soon the fore part of him slowly rose from the water; for an instant his whole marbleized body formed a high arch, like Virginia’s NaturalBridge…”
During the 1880s Natural Bridge was a resort owned by Colonel Henry Parsons, who also owned the nearby Rockbridge Inn. Around 1890 Parsons went up the hill to the present day location of the historic hotel and built the first main hotel associated with NaturalBridge; it was called the Appledore. In the early 1900s the Appledore was expanded to accommodate more guests and the name evolved to the Natural Bridge Hotel. It was said that if one visited Natural Bridge and Niagara Falls, you were a very well-traveled person.
The hotel thrived up until it caught fire on April 24, 1963. The origin of the fire is still unknown today. It is rumored to have started in the kitchen. In 1964 reconstruction began on the present day hotel, which opened its doors to the world with great pomp and circumstance in 1965.
The Natural Bridge Historic Hotel and Conference Center is affiliated with the Trademark Collection by Wyndham. The 118-room hotel was renovated in 2021, with several notable upgrades, including a complete guest room renovation in the main hotel along with some redesigned public spaces. Additional improvements include exterior upgrades, the addition of a fitness center, and a fully equipped five-bedroom house.
Scenically embraced by the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Natural Bridge Historic Hotel is the perfect getaway with guest rooms, indoor and outdoor meeting rooms and event spaces. Sixteen rooms have a large balcony with seating that has a view of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Choose from several dining options. The Colonial Dining Room is open daily for breakfast and dinner, and Sunday’s for brunch.The Red Fox Tavern is open for dinner daily and has seating indoors, and outdoors on the veranda. See the Memorabilia Room located in the small lobby displaying historical items and photos on the hotel, and the Monacan Village.
For more information about the hotel for your next visit or meeting go to www.naturalbridgeva.com or find the Natural Bridge Historic Hotel and Conference Center on Facebook.
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