the homestead

Lovely grand old hotel that had been renovated and offers tons of indoor and outdoor activities for the whole family.

Lovely historic large hotel in the mountains of Virginia. Many amenities and things to do. Best time to visit is not during very busy and crowded holiday weekends.

I was with my husband. If I had known Presidents weekend was a HUGE family weekend, I would not have gone then. Kids running around everywhere! Tea time was just a madhouse. And it was freezing cold outside and many, many windows and doors in the resort do not close completely leaving the entire place very drafty - hard to find a cozy, warm spot to relax. I'll go back but hopefully during a less crowded time.

we stay in the owners club, so I can't comment on the rooms but this resort has so much to do. skiing for beginners to moderates like my husband and myself was fun. they have tubing. hiking, golf and so much more to do. High tea every day from 3-4 should not be missed, small treats with piano music. the ambience is so wonderful. great for families or couples. little shops. good workout room. indoor pool. spa as well. we will come back again...and again...and again!

Nice little ski resort. I expected it to be icy but I was pleasantly surprised at the condition of the man made snow. Smooth and fun. It is super close to the homestead,m and the bus takes you there in just a few minutes. Great Rum apple cider at the bar,but $10.00 :{

We have three children and we stayed under the Learn to Ski Package for 5 days. It was a blast and the folks couldn't be any nicer. We did not dine in the Main Dining room b/c of the children, but enjoyed the food everywhere else in the resort, especially the Jefferson. We did however dine in the main dining room for breakfast every morning, it's wonderful!!!! We did run into a grumpy server every once and a while, but we reflected that in our tip with a note stating what we didn't like about the service. All in all, we really don't have a single complaint and we hope to go back each year. The Jefferson Pools are definitely rustic so don't expect much at all, not even a bathroom, they were both broken down. Yikes! Where was everyone going to the bathroom? At least we can say we did it, but if you don't have children with you, go to The Spa at the Homestead and soak for sure.We have been to the Greenbriar many times, but don't find it as conducive to a family. It's our favorite place. Now that we have three children, The Homestead is our go to place. There is so much to do.

Restaurant The main dining room was a very bad experience and food was far below average. For a Christmas dinner we regret that we have been here.

The Homestead Resort is spectacular in every regard. The hundred year old building has been updated and maintained to exude old south elegance. There is an endless list of resort activities so dig in for some fun and relaxation.

This was a great place for our recent conference. The staff could not have been friendlier. The holiday decorations were very nice!

My wife & I spent 3 nights for our anniversary. I wasn't sure what to expect given other poor reviews but lots to do and great people. Imagine a very large 100 yr building with some wear and tear but great architectural detail. Carpets are a little worn in areas, windows are drafty, lots of layers of paint, etc but if you like imagining what it was like 100 yrs ago when the well off would spend a few weeks at a resort in the middle of nowhere you will enjoy it. My only complaint is if you want reasonably priced pub food you will be disapointed...be prepared to spend $100/night for a somewhat formal dinner. We spent an hour with Jimmy instructing us at skeet shooting...could not have been more fun. He over came my wife's fear and had her hitting 50%+ with a .410 in no time. He has been instructing or shooting competitively for the homestead since the 1950s...I highly recommend the shooting club!

The Homestead had been on my bucket list, and just before we embarked on our trip to the resort, I mentioned to a friend that we were going and he tried to warn me. But I had been so looking forward to staying at this grande dame resort nestled in the Virginia hills and our Marion's history, that I refused to believe that the photos of the resort I had seen weren't accurate. And while true to the photos, the exterior of the property is gorgeous, the inside is a different story, I'm afraid.Let's start with check-in. We drive up to the front portico, a uniformed gentleman greets us, starts unloading the car, and unburdens us of our car keys (I hadn't realized at the time, but the valet fee is maybe the one charge that's quite reasonable). So far so good.Check-in went smoothly - friendly attendant at the front desk, not entirely as versed in Amex's fine hotels program, but ok. We get to our room and someone else's things are in there. We go back downstairs and they give us a different room, farther away from the main building and not as nice. Barely better than a Holiday Inn express in terms of furnishings and decor. We wanted to have dinner at their signature restaurant, The Jefferson, but it was all booked, hours before. Better make reservations days or weeks before your visit. The hotel was very full. Some were older couples, elegantly dressed. Most were families with young kids, and others that didn't quite seem to fit with the elegant main hall, such as those who walked through in their bathrobes. As some of my folks would say, "No home training."Speaking of the elegant main hall, we had pre-dinner drinks in the lobby bar, just off the main hall, enjoying the beauty of it all, when I happened to look at the surface of the table next to us on which rested two beautifully lamps amidst a layer of dust. I ran my finger along part of the surface to confirm. The main hall is also where you line up for tea in the afternoon, from about 3-5pm. I wouldn't recommend it. Not worth the wait. Go to Martha's Market for your afternoon hit beverage and treat.Inspired by the hotel's interesting history briefing/tour, in the somewhat dilapidated auditorium, I opted that afternoon to try the Jefferson Pool, a few miles away (the hotel has a free, scheduled shuttle). "Lord Jesus," as a friend would say, when I saw the pool house, which looked as though it hadn't had any upkeep since Jefferson took the waters here. I could hardly believe how run down it was, and took a photo to share with you.Next time, I might just check out one of the smaller inns nearby, or skip a return trip altogether, unless what I heard about the Omni planning to invest in renovations of the resort is true. It's certainly long overdue!

If it's been a few years since you've been to the Homestead and you've been dreaming about going back... save yourself the trip! It is not what it once was unfortunately. The prices are as high as ever, but what you get for the money is what you might find at your local Hilton. Gone are the exquisite antiques, the "know you by name" service, and the atmosphere of historical elegance. It is best to remember what once was than suffer the disappointment. My advice - skip the Homestead and head straight for the nearby Greenbrier Resort while it lasts!

We were here for a five day meeting. The resort is in the middle of nowhere; but everything you need and more is here. We had a wonderful time with terrific meeting facilities. We had plenty of spare time so lots of activities were tried. There is hiking, fly fishing, horse back riding, falconry, golf, spa and more.

Disliked room, asked for upgraded room at time reservation was made. Asked for upgrade room when checking in..agent did notaccomodate. Room was small, ill equipped, very tired and worn.Room overlooked mirage of equipment area.

Now I went here on a business meeting. But the place is fantastic. It is also a geographic anomaly--roughly 5 hours from everywhere. Flying or driving. Everybody took 5 hours. The charm of the place is worth the visit. You might feel as though it is 1952 or 1942 or maybe 1842, but it is a unique and unusual experience. I did not get much chance to try the activities (which were expensive for me). But I've also never been to a place with a falconry! How anyone established this in time for the first president George Washington to have dropped by is beyond me.