Photo courtesy of The Homestead
The Homestead in Hot Springs, Va.
Nestled deep in the Allegheny Mountains, the Omni Homestead Resort in Hot Springs, Virginia, has been providing warm beds and hot meals for travelers since 1766, opening its doors a decade before America declared its independence and making it the oldest resort in the United States.
Much has changed in the 258 years since then, including a recently completed $150 million renovation, and the resort offers deluxe amenities and myriad activities that go well beyond that initial room and board.
But what first drew people to the area has remained the same – the natural mineral springs that have enticed travelers for centuries. Those therapeutic waters have attracted visitors from around the world to the 2,300-acre Homestead property, including 23 U.S. presidents from Thomas Jefferson to George W. Bush.
That historic pedigree has earned The Homestead spots alongside other sites that represent American history and culture, a noteworthy feat in the Commonwealth, which prides itself on its history.
The Homestead ranks among Virginia’s 123 National Historic Landmarks, right there with Monticello and Mount Vernon, Gunston Hall in Fairfax County, and Gadsby’s Tavern in Alexandria. And it’s a member of Historic Hotels of America, which is part of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, alongside venerable venues such as Washington’s Willard Intercontinental and Richmond’s Jefferson Hotel.
The iconic hotel has changed hands several times since Captain Thomas Bullitt — Revolutionary War compatriot of George Washington — built the original 18-room structure of America’s first resort. Most recently, the hotel became part of Omni Hotels & Resorts, in 2013.
That led to a massive renovation project, completed in October 2023, that encompassed everything from the historic Warm Spring Pools to the expansive Great Hall as well as upgrades to the 483 guest rooms, 28 meeting rooms and multiple restaurants.
As Mark Spadoni, the resort’s Managing Director, explained it: “The Omni Homestead Resort prides itself on being more than just an elegant escape; it serves as a living piece of American history.”
Getting there: Journey through Virginia history
The Homestead is about a 3.5-hour trip from Alexandria. The drive west along Interstate 66 and then south on I-81 is a familiar route for many Northern Virginians heading out of town as Washington’s city lights fade. (You can also take a more scenic route heading down 29 South to Charlottesville and then heading west from there.)
History defines the journey south through the Shenandoah Valley. The turn off Interstate 81 leads to the Woodrow Wilson Parkway, which curves around Staunton, the birthplace of the 28th president. The rolling hills quickly give way to the Western Highlands, as the drive continues upward into the rugged western-central portion of the Appalachian Mountains known as the Allegheny Mountains.
Heading into Bath County, you’ll find yourself on a scenic section of U.S. Route 220 known as Sam Snead Highway, named for the famed golfer widely considered one of the game’s all-time greats. Before going on to win 82 PGA Tour events – which ties him for the most wins with Tiger Woods -- he began his golf career at age 7 as a caddy on the Homestead’s Old Course.
What to Do: Embrace the spectacular setting
Photo courtesy of The Homestead
Warm Springs Pools are open year- round.
Take the Waters: No visit to the Homestead would be complete without a soak in the same geothermal mineral springs where presidents from Thomas Jefferson to Franklin D. Roosevelt have “taken the waters.”
The Warm Springs Pools are located a few miles from the Homestead in the town of Warm Springs. The two pools, situated in side-by-side 19th-century buildings, are fed by four natural warm springs. They reopened in 2022 following a 14-month, $4 million rehabilitation.
The octagonal stone basin of the Gentlemen’s Bathhouse was constructed in 1761, making it the oldest spa structure in the country, and was covered by a building in the mid-1820s. The Ladies’ Bathhouse was built in the mid-1870s, while the adjacent reception house was added around 1890.
The pools are open to anyone, not just Homestead guests, with a $30 fee for 50 minutes of serene soaking time. The water flows at a rate of 1.7 million gallons a day, remains at a constant body temperature range of 96 to 98 degrees, and contains 15 minerals.
With the scent of sulfur confirming the mineral content, guests float serenely in the warm, clear water. If you’re looking for a luxury experience, the Homestead has an expansive on-site spa that includes an adults-only Serenity Garden with its own mineral springs pool, infinity pool, reflexology walk, and spa services.
The resort also has a spring-fed indoor pool as well and an outdoor family-friendly water park with water slides and lazy rivers that are also fed by the natural springs.
Hit the Links: (The golf courses close in mid-November and reopen in April.) Golf continues to be a top attraction for Homestead visitors. The first six holes of the Old Course were built in 1892, and it’s home to the nation’s oldest first tee in continuous use. In addition, there’s the nationally ranked Cascades Course where “Slammin’ Sammy” Snead launched his legendary career along with short-game practice facilities, driving ranges and golf instruction.
The 18-hole mountain courses offer fairways that are both historic and challenging. Among those who have teed off here are Presidents William Howard Taft, Dwight D. Eisenhower and George H. W. Bush.
Bask in Nature: Given its scenic mountain setting, the Homestead offers outdoor activities that include horseback riding, hiking and biking trails, sporting clay shooting, fly fishing and falconry. In the winter, there is skiing, ice skating, snowboarding and snow tubing.
The facilities include tennis courts, zip line, lawn games, fitness center, movie theater and plenty of porch space outfitted with rocking chairs and fire pits, perfect for reading a book, enjoying a scenic vista or sipping a glass of Virginia wine.
Be sure to check the website for fall and winter activities! For more information, visit www.omnihotels.com/hotels/homestead-virginia.
