The Blackburn Inn
Selected
Hotel Details
Location
The Blackburn Inn · Staunton, United States
Explore More Hotels
Expert Review: The Blackburn Inn
The Blackburn Inn in Staunton, United States, a Michelin Key Selected property, offers a unique blend of historic charm and modern luxury, housed in a beautifully restored 1828 building that once served as the Western State Lunatic Asylum. Guests consistently praise its remarkable architecture, serene grounds, and exceptional hospitality.
Overall Rating & Sentiment
The general consensus for The Blackburn Inn is overwhelmingly positive, reflected in strong ratings across various platforms. On Booking.com, it holds a "Very Good" rating based on over 650 reviews, with high scores for staff (9.2), location (9.2), cleanliness (8.9), and comfort (8.8). The Michelin Guide awards it a guest score of 18.3 out of 20, indicating a highly regarded stay. Guests frequently describe it as a "cool property" with "old architecture and history" that is "gorgeous" and offers "comfortable and clean accommodations."
Key Highlights
Guests particularly love the inn's rich history and the sensitive, well-executed renovation that maintains original features while integrating modern comforts. The property's expansive, rolling 80-acre grounds, featuring gardens and a sun terrace, are a significant draw, offering a tranquil retreat. The unique spiral staircase, referred to by some as "The Ascension to Heaven," is frequently highlighted for its beauty and historical significance. Other key highlights include a small but stunning art gallery showcasing local and regional artists, and charming rooftop views, particularly appealing during sunrise and sunset. Amenities such as a 24-hour fitness center, a library, and free Wi-Fi are also appreciated.
Room Quality
The 49 guestrooms at The Blackburn Inn are described as spacious, comfortable, and clean, often featuring high ceilings and great natural light. The design seamlessly blends farmhouse style with modernist flair, creating an incredibly warm and inviting atmosphere. Rooms are equipped with luxury linens, comfortable beds, air conditioning, flat-screen TVs, refrigerators, coffee/tea makers, and free toiletries. Bathrooms are notably large and luxurious, often boasting rainfall showerheads and glass doors. Some rooms feature original hardwood floors, and modern conveniences like USB outlets are present. While some mention concrete floors covered by thick carpets, guests generally find the rooms quiet and well-appointed.
Dining Experience
The on-site restaurant, Second Draft Bistro, offers a traditional American menu with a focus on locally sourced ingredients from the Shenandoah Valley. It caters to various dietary needs, including vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free options. Breakfast is available daily, featuring dishes like frittatas, ham biscuits, and the "Blackburn Benedict," with some guests noting complimentary breakfast bars that include items from local artisans and bakeries. The bistro also has an on-site bar offering a selection of Virginia's wines, beers, and ciders, along with a coffee shop/cafe. Seasonal outdoor seating on the front porch is also offered.
Service & Staff
The staff at The Blackburn Inn consistently receives high praise for their kindness, friendliness, and professionalism. Guests frequently report feeling welcomed and well-cared for, with staff going "above and beyond" to ensure a pleasant stay. Examples include prompt assistance with issues like temporary A/C outages.
Location & Accessibility
The inn boasts a convenient and picturesque location in Staunton, situated on more than eighty acres of rolling Virginia hills. It's only a seven-minute walk from downtown Staunton, providing easy access to local attractions such as the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library and Museum and the American Shakespeare Center. The property is also easily accessible from Interstate 81. Free private parking is available on-site, and the Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport is approximately 15 miles away. The location is ideal for exploring the Shenandoah Beerwerks Trail and other attractions of Western Virginia and the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Value & Pricing
With an average room price of around $151, The Blackburn Inn provides an "elevated experience" that, while slightly higher than Staunton's average hotel room price of $122, is considered an exceptional value for its luxurious offerings. Kayak also shows rates starting from $90. Many guests feel it offers good value for the quality of accommodation and services provided in a historic setting.
Common Complaints
While generally highly rated, some guests have noted recurring issues. A primary concern for some rooms, particularly on the main floor, is a lack of soundproofing, leading to noise from hallways being disturbing. Some guests have found the breakfast setup to be congested. There have also been mentions of some rooms being relatively small with limited storage space and occasionally uneven service regarding the provision of toiletries or coffee supplies like cream and sugar. Additionally, one guest mentioned difficulty climbing from the parking lot to the building with luggage.
Sources
Google Reviews
531 reviews
Recent Guest Reviews
Matt Dowd
It’s an old historic building with tons of history (some of it spooky, don’t read about it right before you try to sleep), but the staff is great. Particular shoutout to Roger, the maintenance staff employee who got my attention in the parking lot to make sure I didn’t need to borrow a scraper for the rental windshield so I’d be able to safely drive. He was a remarkably kind man in a world that se...
John McGowan
I chose the Blackburn for a romantic getaway based on the many positive reviews, but unfortunately our experience fell well short of expectations. The biggest issue was comfort. Our room was perpetually cold, as were the floors, which made it difficult to relax or feel cozy—something that really matters for a romantic stay. Adding to this, there is no elevator to the upper floors, which made gett...
Christopher Morgan
The building in the location is lovely, but we were kept up all night by construction materials banging into the emptied out building that was under renovation behind us. It kept us up to the point that we had to switch rooms at 3:00 in the morning. The room that we were placed in didn't seem as big or as nice as the first room that we paid for, and it didn't really alleviate the problem. We were ...
Amanda Kijak
We had a wonderful stay! The grounds are so beautiful and the check in was easy and welcoming. The building feels really clean and homey and our room was so spacious. The 360 lookout is such a fun perk and the staff were so sweet - they graciously offered us a free breakfast when we told them the reason for our stay. Unprompted and so kind of them! Highly recommend booking here!
Lisa Lisa
Sage (at the front desk) was very welcoming, kind and helpful. CJ kept me company during breakfast and made a wonderful cup of coffee. We spoke of the theatre, travel and world events. He was kind, attentive and helpful. Alyssa made me a fantastic and delicious veggie breakfast bowl! Didn’t need hot sauce or anything. Perfection! The staff was above average in every aspect. It’s amazing what a dif...
Trish Hanning
They put on an event where you got to see a play, salad, dinner and dessert were included. It was an INCREDIBLE experience. Loved the play, the food was perfect. Everyone serving were amazing. They had extra drinks you could buy. Not only were really reasonably priced, tasted great. If they do this type of event again. I would DEFINITELY recommend going and also would like to thank everyone involv...
Accor
