Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, April 7, 1994 TAG: 9404070161
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: S-10 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BETSY BIESENBACH STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
But no matter how luxurious they were, they still had an impersonal atmosphere and could not compare with the comfort of bed and breakfast hotels, Condron said.
So last year, she opened her own business, Walnuthill Bed & Breakfast on Walnut Avenue in South Roanoke, where she offers all the amenities of a private home at a price comparable to that of a regular hotel.
She charges $49 for a single and $59 for a double. Condron said an experienced bed and breakfast operator once told her that her prices would attract a "lower class" of guests, but Condron said she believes how much money someone has does not determine what kind of person he or she is.
Condron said she wants to make the bed and breakfast experience available to "a wide range of people."
There's no pool, no pay-per-view movies, no vending machines at Walnuthill, but when guests arrive, Condron offers them coffee, tea or juice. She provides snacks, use of the comfortable sitting rooms and the wide porch, a gourmet breakfast, and fluffy bathrobes for commuting between the bedrooms and bathrooms upstairs.
"People still haven't gotten used to the bed and breakfast atmosphere," she said, but once they do, "they never stay anywhere else."
The huge yellow brick house is just right for a commercial operation. It was built in 1916 by the contractor who built Victory Stadium. He used steel beams to support the structure, she said.
"An earthquake couldn't shake this house."
Although the surrounding homes are fairly modest, Condron's house is three stories with a full attic. The front door has windows of leaded glass with beveled panes.
Inside, the high ceilings are set off by archways and decorative dentil moldings. There is a foyer with stairs leading up, a formal sitting room with a writing desk, and a family room with a sectional sofa, TV, stereo and a collection of books for guests to enjoy.
In the dining room is a long table that can seat up to 10 people. The china matches a cobalt and gilt chandelier Condron bought at an auction.
Upstairs are four guest bedrooms of varying sizes. One of the bathrooms is a converted sun porch and features a wall of windows and a hot tub.
Condron's apartment, which she sometimes opens to guests when the other rooms are full, is on the third floor.
Opening a bed and breakfast hotel was a major step for Condron. A native of Germany, she came to the United States in 1968 and worked as a decorator and an importer of European goods.
Before coming to Roanoke, she commuted between her homes in Montreal and Florida. During her drives along Interstate 81, she said, "I fell in love with Virginia."
She often stopped in Roanoke. The terrain reminded her of Stuttgart, where she grew up, she said.
By 1992, Condron decided it was time to settle down. She considered opening a bed and breakfast in Williamsburg, but there were too many there already, she said.
During a stay in Roanoke, she saw the house advertised in a real estate magazine. She bought it and spent the next year painting, wallpapering and getting the proper permits.
The atmosphere at Walnuthill is "pretty informal" Condron said. "I go to bed early," and guests can come and go as they please. Check-in and check-out times are fairly flexible, too.
Security is not a problem. The neighborhood is good, she said, "plus, I have a Rottweiler."
Her main referral sources are the Visitor's Center and the Chamber of Commerce. She also has brochures at several welcome centers around the state.
Her guests come from "all over the place," but most are from the Baltimore and Washington areas. Some guests have come from as far away as England and Australia.
Although some come here on business, others come just to enjoy the scenery, she said.
Walnuthill Bed & Breakfast is at 436 Walnut Ave. S.E. The telephon number is 985-6292.
by CNB