The Highland Inn

The Highland Inn is a historic hotel located in Virginia's Western Highlands. The hotel is the premier architectural landmark in the historic town of Monterey, the county seat of Highland County, which is fondly referred to as "Virginia's Switzerland." Built in 1904 to serve the lodging needs of tourists escaping from the summer heat of nearby citi... es, the hotel was known for it's first 75 years as The Hotel Monterey. The Highland Inn is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a Virginia Historic Landmark. In 1903, a modest boom time for Highland County, a local businessman saw the need for a first-class hotel in Highland County. Tourists seeking a salubrious and healthful climate had long been coming to spend the summer season at Virginia's mineral springs and cool mountain resorts. He saw a need for a hotel that could serve the area as a social center and a refreshing resting place for travelers making the arduous trip from the Shenandoah Valley, to what is still one of the most secluded locales in Virginia. In more recent years with a few notable exceptions, changes in transportation and lifestyles have seen the demise of nearly all of Virginia's mountain resorts and spas. The Highland Inn is one of the few lodging places of its size to continue operating. The hotel's builder and original owner was Silas W. Crummett, a local businessman. The contractors were the well-known Eutsler Brothers of Grottoes, Virginia who built the Hotel Monterey for $6,000. It was built at the end of the Victorian Age in a commercial Queen Anne style. The hotel's outstanding architectural feature is an elaborate Eastlake style two level porch with a profusion of both turned and sawn ornamentation.Read More