The Blue Ridge Mountain Inn, formerly the Blue Ridge Motel, in Meadows of Dan is under new management.
James and Anita Watts purchased the 18-room motel just off the Blue Ridge Parkway in January.
James Watts said an adjacent property, which his wife’s family owns, helped put the motel on their radar when it came up for sale.
“There’s a piece of property that’s adjacent to it, and that’s in my wife’s family, so that’s what really got the property itself on our radar when it came up for sale,” he said.
Originally from Texas, Watts met Anita while attending Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.
“We are just so attracted to the Appalachian Mountains and the Blue Ridge Mountains, so we’ve spent quite a bit of time out here. Her mom specifically has origins back to the house that’s next door to the motel,” he said.
Watts said the couple does not have ties to the motel’s previous owners.
The motel’s first 10 rooms were built in 1963, followed by four rooms in 1973 and another four in 1983, Watts said.
“So we’ve got a little bit of a collage of decor and construction items, which is all new, with the renovations we’ve done have been made consistent, at least on the interior. We have not really done any exterior renovations yet,” he said.
The renovations have included general cleanup, facility maintenance, a new fire pit, and new hardwood flooring in all 18 rooms. The rooms also received new paint and fresh trim.
“We have 30 beds in the motel, and all 30 beds have been replaced with steel-enclosed bedframes and new mattresses,” Watts said.
The bathrooms have not yet been renovated.
“The bathrooms have been deep-cleaned, but we’ve got plans to renovate and update all of the bathrooms in each of the rooms,” he said.
Because he expects fall to be the motel’s busiest season, Watts said he anticipates beginning the bathroom renovations in December or early 2027.
The Blue Ridge Mountain Inn remained open throughout the renovation process.
“Once all of the permitting was issued … that’s really when we started the renovation process. It’s continually been operated, and I would say we have seen an increase in occupancy with the improvement activities that have gone on,” he said.
Watts said many guests are visiting the Blue Ridge Parkway, traveling along the U.S. 58 corridor or visiting family members in the area.
As part of the motel’s transformation, Watts said the couple plans to give each room a theme based on national parks or local points of interest in Meadows of Dan and Southwest Virginia.
Potential themes include the Blue Ridge Parkway and Lover’s Leap Overlook, he said.
“We’re working with the designers on that, and it’s something that might help set us apart a little bit and make us a place people want to come back to and enjoy the time here with the tranquility of the Blue Ridge Mountains,” he said.
While seeing the motel’s transformation has been gratifying, Watts said he also appreciates the support from the Meadows of Dan community.
“They’ve been great. I mean, every other business owner and person in the Meadows of Dan area have been extremely supportive of what we’re doing, so that’s been very gratifying as well and very reassuring,” Watts said.
For more information or to book a room, visit www.blueridgemountaininn.com or call 276-952-2244.
