By Roger Cox, Editor
Beautifully situated on 3,000 acres in the Allegheny Mountains of Virginia, the Homestead was founded in 1766 when a rustic lodge was built around its hot springs pools. More than a century later, renowned financier J. Pierpont Morgan bought it and built the red-brick-and-white-steepled Federalist style hotel that remains the resort's centerpiece and has been declared a National Historic Landmark. Today the resort's attractions go well beyond the hot springs—two of them—to include two 18-hole golf courses, four clay tennis courts, a spa and fitness center, a water park with a lazy river and a beach, a kids' club, horseback riding, a gun club, Orvis-trained fishing guides, and more. Sadly, after decades of having a full-time summer tennis teaching pro, the resort has been doing without one, relying instead on contracting a local pro to conduct limited adult and junior programs and give private lessons. The courts are available for guest use.
Pro Shop: 540-839-1766
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Visit the website for current rates
Season. Year-round, though tennis season typically extends from March to November.
Travel Instructions. The nearest airport is Virginia's Roanoke Regional Airport (CHO), which is 75 miles from the resort, about an hour and a half's drive.
General Tourist Information. For information about the surrounding area and Shenandoah Valley, visit the County of Bath Office of Tourism website or contact them by phone at 540-839-7202.