Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, April 25, 1990 TAG: 9004250076
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: ROBERTA GREEN SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Last century it was the Jennings family cabin.
Now it's the Claytor Lake Homestead Inn, the only lakeside bed and breakfast inn, and its grand opening is April 26.
"The rooms are homey, like you'd find at grandma's house," explained Bob Thomas, who, with his wife Betsey, is managing the inn for owners Larry and Cathy Nipper.
"And four of them have lake views. The whole house is warm, homey, antique-filled.
"Guests pretty much have the use of the house. The living room is a good place for playing cards or talking to each other.
It's almost like being a family. There's a porch over the lake, and while the grounds themselves are still under renovation, the view of the lake is wonderful."
Looking at the inn today, it is hard to realize that as much as 100 years ago, this was the site of a two-story log cabin.
"Over the years," continues Thomas, "the house has been renovated and enlarged, and while we knew there was a log cabin under the brick and wood exterior, we ran into the old logs when we were cutting a door through one wall."
"The logs were more than a foot across and had become hard as rock," Larry Nipper said. "When they come to the inn, guests and visitors can see some of the log sections we cut out."
Also on the property is the Jennings family graveyard, although only the headstone for Mrs. Jennings, who died in 1904, remains.
The inn is furnished with what Thomas terms "an eclectic mix of early American and country antiques and reproductions."
"I collect radios, so there are several around the house. For instance, there's a 1931 Westinghouse wood radio," he said.
"Inside the front door is a Victorian love seat that's been in my wife's family for generations. It's carved wood, covered with rose velvet."
Much of the other furniture was originally in the Hotel Roanoke.
"The Nippers went to the sale when the hotel was closed. It's very nice furniture, and we like the idea of continuing the history of one inn in another."
The Claytor Lake Homestead Inn will be open year-round for guests and corporate visitors.
Included in the building is a meeting room to allow them to handle gatherings for local organizations or businesses and parties.
The grand opening is sponsored by the Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce and will be held from 4-7 p.m. Tours of the house and refreshments will be provided.
Memo: correction