We just returned from four relaxing and pampering days at the North Fork Mountain Inn. My husband and I went there for our ten year anniversary. There was quite a bit of sightseeing available in the area and we treated the inn as our home base. We stayed in the Seneca Rocks room which had a queen bed, fireplace, and Jacuzzi at $180.00 per night. The room was very comfortable and decorated in log cabin style so it wasn’t too frilly or girly just comfortable and homey. This was the first time we have ever stayed in a bed and breakfast and have sworn we will never stay in a hotel again.

The Hospitality
The first night we didn’t arrive until 2:00am and Carol, one of the innkeepers, was still up and waiting for us. It was a very nice gesture after driving to have a smiling face to greet us. She showed us to our room and then told us breakfast was to be between 8:30am and 9:30am. When we woke the next morning the first thing we noticed was the great mountain view from our room. Our room was clean and filled with small welcoming touches like chocolates on the night stand and chilled apple cider; even the towels were tied with small cloth ribbons. We even had fluffy robes to use in our rooms when getting in and out of the Jacuzzi bath. They had movies in the game room that could be watched there on the comfy leather couch, with popcorn and drinks available for with it. There were water bottles and walking sticks available for hikes and even a cookie jar next to the front door that was constantly filled with homemade cookies.


The Food
When we arrived downstairs for breakfast we were greeted by Ed, Carol’s husband and the other innkeeper. Ed was making his “famous to anyone who has ever stayed there” omelets. The second morning we had croissant French toast and bacon, and the last morning Farmer’s breakfast casserole. With every breakfast we had fruit and a pastry. Everything was delicious and we did not eat lunch any of the days we stayed because the breakfast were so filling. We also opted to eat dinner at the inn after reading other reviews and that was a fantastic decision. The additional meals cost $25 to $40 a person depending on the night. Ed and Carol made gourmet quality meals. We had BBQ ribs and chicken and steak all with various sides and appetizers. We had bruschetta with fresh made mozzarella and jambalaya as appetizers and it is hard to say which was better, both could have made up the whole meal with out being disappointing. Saturday evening we had a wine tasting, which was a new experience for both of us. Ed took the time to explain tasting technique as well as the details on each wine. My husband has said this was one of his favorite parts of the trip which is surprising because he usually prefers to not drink wine.

The Area
One wonders with a name like Smoke Hole, WV, if this is a place worth coming to. With breathtaking mountain views right out your window or a mountain top view of the sprawling hills and valleys a two mile hike behind the inn it certainly didn’t disappoint. We found the people to be extremely friendly and accommodating even at some of the more “commercialized” places like Smokehole Caverns. We counted a total of nineteen whitetail deer on the road to the inn and we even saw a bear on our way home near Mt. Storm. We really enjoyed horseback riding to the top of Seneca Rocks. We paid $20 a person with Yokum’s stables and let the horses do the hiking for us that time. The Yokum’s took the time to match each rider with a horse that was a good fit in both size and personality without making new riders feel inferior. It was wonderful to be able to enjoy the view on the way up as well as at the top. We also enjoyed feeding the deer at the inn. We saw several bucks very close up with velvet covered antlers. In short, it was a peaceful getaway with plenty to do or not do as the mood may take you.