About the Innkeepers
We are often asked how we arrived at the Inn…We began our journey looking to move closer to our children and grandchildren in Vermont. Having spent most of our young adulthood in Vermont, then leaving for various reasons, we longed to move back to the mountains in our “retirement” years. John’s Vermont time had been spent as a “ski bum” who worked in the hospitality industry in the winter and as a residential home builder in the summer. Jeanne raised her family in southern Vermont before she and John met and moved to North Carolina, then Connecticut. Jeanne’s career included being an assistant Innkeeper in Newfane, Vermont. Having gone back to school, she worked many years in accounting but her heart was always on her bike. Other interests include skiing, rowing and baking. As a Navy brat, she grew up in many states and enjoys new challenges. John’s passion resides with his motorcycles and often times he is seen leading other motorcycle enthusiasts to discover new roads! Of course his skills as a home builder come in very handy while running a busy Inn.
Once we retired, we realized we weren’t quite ready to stop working. So….looking at options, we knew we had interests and skills that could be utilized for fun. After months of looking in Vermont, we were invited to look at the Inn at Riverbend in the western hills of Virginia and came for a look. It was love at first sight and the rest is history.
We are both active outdoors people and love rural settings. Jeanne is a cyclist while John’s bikes have a throttle. We love the challenge of riding hilly roads and the Appalacian Trail is within two miles, while the New River offers kayaking and canoeing. What more could we ask for? Oh, yeah, add scenic beauty and friendly towns.
We truly enjoy being hosts for this amazing Inn and countryside. We can offer a relaxing day reading by the waterfall on the property or bird watching from the decks. You can participate in a more active day of hiking Cascade Falls or Angels Rest. Either way, we love to show off the natural beauty of the area and endeavor to make your stay relaxing, comfortable and fun.