Central Virginia is spectacular any time of year. In the spring, the hills look like Monet paintings dotted with dogwood white, red bud fuchsia and forsythia yellow. Summer’s lush green hillsides sparkle with magnolias and a rainbow of crepe myrtles. Even the stark bare branches of winter and the glistening snow bring stunning serenity to the farmlands, towns and rolling hills. Yet it’s the fall when this region nears perfection with swaths of crimson leaves lined with gold under brilliant blue skies with cotton-ball clouds. The temperature is ideal in the mid-70s, the scenery is spectacular, and the summer crowds are gone.
Historic in scope and picturesque in setting, the small town of Lynchburg’s proximity to major historic sites and cultural attractions from the Civil War Trail make it an ideal hub for a visit to central Virginia. Nestled along the James River at the base of the Blue Ridge foothills, Lynchburg is just a stone’s throw from the Blue Ridge Parkway. The town boasts world-class dining, lodging and entertainment, six colleges and universities, and shopping opportunities from bazaars to malls to antiques to outlets.
Settled in 1757, Lynchburg bears the name of its founder, John Lynch, who at seventeen years of age started the first ferry service across the James River, connecting the small hamlet to New London. He later oversaw the building of the first bridge in the town. These two improvements put Lynchburg on the map and by the mid-nineteenth century, Lynchburg was an important center for shipping and trade. Tobacco had long been a major crop in the fertile farmlands surrounding Lynchburg, buoying the local economy and drawing textile and hard goods manufacturing to the area.
As the industrial revolution marched through, Lynchburg, drew more commerce and with it came families, houses and schools. Evidence of Lynchburg’s prosperous place in pre-Civil war America can be seen all over town, but especially in the elaborate mansions that top the “Seven Hills” area of Lynchburg.
The Craddock-Terry Shoe Company, a major influence in the manufacturing and commercial development of Lynchburg, reigned over the area for nearly 100 years. The company survived the depression and bounded back during the World War II years by making military boots. At the apex of its operation, Craddock-Terry was the number one employer in Lynchburg and the sixth largest shoe manufacturer in the world. The influence of Craddock-Terry is still seen in building and street names, and in the fabulous Craddock-Terry Hotel adjacent to the James River in downtown Lynchburg.
Within minutes from downtown Lynchburg are such historic sites as Appottomox Court House, where in 1865 General Lee surrendered his army to General Grant; Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest summer house; statesman Patrick Henry’s Red Hill estate; the Booker T. Washington National Monument, the Legacy Museum of African-American History; Museum of the Confederacy; the National D-Day Memorial, and many others.
Where to stay in Lynchburg
Imelda Marcos, the former Philippine first lady renowned for her passion for shoes, would have loved The Craddock Terry Hotel in downtown Lynchburg, Virginia. A huge, shiny red shoe hovers over the front of the hotel, while shoes and shoemaking memorabilia fill the lobby like a hands-on museum. Next to the reception desk is a velvet chair shaped like a stiletto pump. The guest room doors have individual shoe plaques above the room number. A shoeshine box lays atop the bed with instructions for ordering the morrow’s complimentary continental breakfast.
Once inside the old red-brick building, one would never know the posh interior was ever anything but a fine lodging facility, let alone a shoe factory. Rooms are expansive, ceilings soar upwards of 12 feet, with spacious marble bathrooms and showers. You’ll find thick, terry robes in the closet, thirsty cotton towels and distinctive Bee Kind bathing amenities from Gilchrist & Soames in the bathroom. Fine linens dress the high, cushion-top beds with a selection of pillows for fussy sleepers. Prints of shoes, artfully framed and creatively placed on guest room walls, illustrate the hotel’s shoe-making legacy with the eye of a fashionista turned comfort guru.
Each room is equipped with a Keurig coffeemaker and a selection of coffees, teas, and hot chocolate. A refrigerator hides within the armoire on which the large high definition flat screen television sits. High-speed internet is complimentary, with rooms offering both wi-fi and an Ethernet cable for those who require a direct line connection. Power sockets are plentiful and nearby on the desk for those who have multiple devices to plug in for charging.
Adjacent to the main building is the events center, which, like the hotel itself, is an old building repurposed. Formerly a tobacco warehouse, the event center now boasts more than 4,000 square feet of meeting and banquet space. Rustic and yet beautiful, the natural stone and brick walls are supported by heavy wooden beams. The flexible function spaces within the events center can accommodate groups of 10 to 200. Two on-site restaurants at the Craddock-Terry provide catering for all special events and can create private dinners for anniversaries, showers, and other celebrations. State of the art audio/visual equipment is available.
Lynchburg offers dozens of dining choices, from elegant haute cuisine, to down-home country comfort food. You don’t need to go far from the Craddock Terry to enjoy great food. Connected by elevator to the hotel you’ll find Shoemakers American Grill. Shoemakers heralds the Craddock-Terry factory era with exposed brick walls, a bar and comfortable lounge, along with a courtyard for drinks or dining overlooking the James River. Known for its flame-broiled steaks and Angus prime rib, Shoemakers also offers several preparations of fresh seafood, along with a choice array of appetizers, salads and desserts.
Take a walk along the Bluffwalk connected to the events center and you’ll discover Waterstone. Heavy wooden beams and granite block walls hint at the industrial heritage of this former tobacco warehouse. The aroma of bread or pizza baking in brick ovens delivers olfactory reminders of the restaurant’s gastronomic reuse. Waterstone features an exhibition kitchen where diners can watch the chefs at work preparing the day’s fare. Diners can enjoy paninis and other sandwiches made from freshly baked bread, an array of pasta dishes and numerous salads. Along with beer, cocktails and wine from Waterstone, diners can order craft beers and ale from the Jefferson Street Brewery next door.
The Jefferson Street Brewery adjacent to Waterstone offers the only hand-crafted beer in the area. Here you can sample beers and ales made on the premises, while looking out on the James River. Tours of the brewing facilities are available and private tastings can be arranged.
As previously mentioned, the Craddock Terry offers each guest a complimentary continental breakfast. Inside the shoeshine box is a menu from which guests select typical choices such as fresh fruit, yogurt, croissant, juice, and the like. Guests must place the menu inside the shoeshine box and set the box outside the guest room by 2:00 a.m. for a next morning delivery. Sure enough, the next morning, there sits the shoeshine box, its lid propped up with the day’s copy ofUSA Today and filled with the morning’s choices. Oh, and shoeshine service is also available.
Boutique hotels have carved a special niche with savvy travelers. With only 44 rooms, the Craddock Terry has perfected its service for such special requests as rose pedal turndowns, welcome bouquets, truffle and champagne, and open-minded creativity for bespoke amenities. The Craddock Terry Hotel is a member of the Historic Hotels of America.
