Our History
Our History
The Inn
The Inn at Lost River sits on property originally owned by William (Billy) Harper, an early landowner in the Lost River Valley. Harper operated a gristmill and general store which served as the commercial and social center of activity for the valley.
In the late 1880’s, James Garrett purchased the Harper Grist Mill and a portion of the Harper property. Garrett and his son, Ferg, constructed the wood frame lath and plaster home (c. 1884) which later became the Inn.
Although the Grist Mill no longer stands, the Lost River General Store – National Register of Historic Places – and the Inn at Lost River remain a center of activity for the Lost River Valley and continue to provide a community gathering space for residents, guests and travelers alike.
A major renovation and restoration of the historic farmstead began in the mid-1990’s and concluded 20 months later. Today the 140-year-old soft pine floors, milled from local forests, still grace the center hall. With the removal of fourteen coats of multi-colored paint, the entrance hall's banister once again shines as a woodworker’s masterpiece carved from local walnut. The main house and several outbuildings have been restored to their original luster and welcome guests from around the world to experience the warmth and Appalachian hospitality of the West Virginia mountains.
The General Store
Built in 1898 and on the National Register of Historic Places, the Lost River General Store (once known as the Lost River Store House) has served the valley for over 125 years. Built on a parcel of land owned by William Harper and initially leased to a mercantile company operating in nearby Wardensville, the first chief clerk of the store also served as the local undertaker. For nearly the first 70 years of the last century, the store was managed and eventually owned by the Haas family. Each successive generation lived in rooms above the store and also served as the local postmaster as the store also served as the local post office.
The store’s business continued to grow and change over the decades eventually offering a wide variety of domestic and practical items like fabric, dry goods, hardware, whiskey, and caskets. The store was once even known for its bologna sandwiches! Between 1910 and 1915, with the emergence of the automobile, a gas pump replaced the original wagon hitches that once stood at the front of store. With the 1930s came industrialization and improvements to the valley by the Civilian Conservation Core and the Works Progress Administration (WPA). What is now State Road 259 in front of the store was paved, the nearby Lost River State Park was developed, and the creation of a newly built “modern” outhouse was completed by the WPA right here on the property. The outhouse still stands as a reminder of our mountain roots, but it’s been updated to be the fanciest outhouse in our neck of the woods! But don’t worry, we’ve upgraded…modern plumbing is available in the General Store and all Inn rooms have been equipped with an ensuite bath and modern amenities.
The 1990s saw a major rehabilitation of the store building to ensure its legacy continues for generations to come. Instead of horseshoes, bourbon, fabric, nails, and caskets, the Lost River General Store now offers local, West Virginia, and national American crafts, and fine WV culinary delights. Today, the café at the Lost River General Store remains a social hub of the valley and visitors and locals alike are drawn to the local, regional, and American made crafts and wares that now stock the shelves.