Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
The Inn and Tavern at Meander is a beautiful 1766 historic country inn offering fine dining and charming accommodations surrounded by 80 acres of rolling landscape in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. With its historically significant past and its bucolic location on a hill with spectacular mountain views and breathtaking sunsets, the Inn truly exudes the essence of Virginia. Our southern-influenced colonial inspired tavern offers casual dinning paired with the best Virginia wines and craft beers. Our ten guest rooms & cottages combine all the grace and charm of yesterday with the amenities and services of today. Located close to Culpeper, Orange, Madison, and Charlottesville, the inn is a short drive to Monticello and Montpelier – the homes of presidents Jefferson and Madison respectively. Discover the multitude of Virginia attractions right outside our front door, including several award-winning wineries and distilleries.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Romantic
Mid-range
Languages Spoken
English, Spanish
Location
2333 N James Madison Hwy, Locust Dale, VA 22948-4837
This is a lovely hotel with history, charm, good location and friendly staff. The price was more reasonable than other properties nearby and just as nice a stay. Everyone was so helpful. The breakfast is amazing and included. The rooms in January were cozy and warm with real wood burning fireplaces. Everything was provided for. For us this was a kid free weekend getaway from northern virginia and it was perfect. The property also has dining service which was delicious and convenient.
There’s lots to do in the area - hiking (in the Shenandoah National park or not), historical sites, wineries and breweries, and great restaurants. We tried the Silk Mill Grille in Orange (10 minutes away) which is simple but good food and very reasonably priced, and Well Hung brewery in Gordonsville (20 min away) where you can get wine samplers of four types for as little as $11. There are lots of choices for good food.
This was a perfect getaway! We’d do it again! Hope others will enjoy staying here too!
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Date of stay: January 2023Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
As we entered the long driveway, we were immediately impressed by the stately manor house at the top of the hill. This house is not a modern building designed to look old, it is an actual home, begun more than 250 years ago, and lovingly maintained ever since. Meander shares its history with its guests. The interior reflects its several additions: The hardwood floor planks vary in widths and levels, the stairs are narrower, and the floors and doors creak. Meander was home to many generations of people who lived and worked here and raised their families. The rooms, suites, and cottages are clean and beautifully decorated in period reproductions; the beds and upholstered furniture are comfortable. We slept well, and we enjoyed the public spaces in the manor house and gardens. Sunsets viewed from the back porch were spectacular. The breakfasts were delicious and generous. Daniel, the general manager, was welcoming, friendly, and very attentive, with over 20 years in hospitality; he clearly loves his work and loves this property. Our experience here was more than pleasant, it was extraordinary. We look forward to returning. Lafayette slept here. Thomas Jefferson was a personal friend of the first owner and was a frequent guest. You can stay here too, and become part of the history of this remarkable place.
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Date of stay: May 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Beautiful, historic property with lovely views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Charming rooms with fireplaces and we were able to use the public areas in the evening, which were lovely. Had a balcony off our room with gorgeous views. Close to Montpelier (home of James and Dolley Madison), which is why we chose this property. Also a short drive to Orange, Va. The only down side was breakfast was only offered at 8:30 a.m. and we had to leave at that time as we had tour tickets to Monticello, and so missed breakfast. Would have been nice if there were 2 breakfast times offered such as 7:30 a.m. for people with early departures as well as the 8:30 a.m. breakfast. At the very least, a Continental breakfast could be offered for the early guests. Also, I might mention that guests staying during the early part of the week should know they would have to drive into town for dinner as the restaurant is not open the earlier part of the week. This did not present too much of a problem for us. The staff was friendly and we were made to feel welcome. It was a treat to stay in such a lovely, historical home and would love to visit again.
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Date of stay: October 2024
Value
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Location
Cleanliness
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Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Room Tip:Â Only one breakfast time option. Restaurant not open early part of week. No TV in room. Take...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Went for wedding anniversary. Stayed in the Lightfoot Room in the Manor House. The location and setting are beautiful, the history of the place in enchanting, its clean, the breakfast was excellent, and Gen. Mgr. Daniel was very friendly and accommodating. However, the pictures and descriptions on the website are very deceiving. The manor house and grounds are badly in need of maintenance and renovation. The common rooms, with the exception of the dining room, are stark, and uninviting: devoid of any quality furnishings or decoration.The overall appearance is run down. Our room had a very noisy window A/C unit that recycled every 2 minutes (20 secs on, 2 mins off......) that made sleep nearly impossible. The chairs in the room were old and worn, the cushions flat, and the bathroom very inconvenient and in need of renovation, We had booked 3 nights, but stayed only one as we could not face another night without sleep. WE explained our concerns to GM Daniel, and he listened politely and apologize for the problems, but offered no real consolation. We paid in advance over $600 for the 3 nights and were give only a partial refund of $78. Very disappointed in our experience.
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Date of stay: September 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Far cry from our stay in December 2012! When we (wife and I) walked into the main house/lobby, New Year's Eve, we were greeted by two dogs and kids. We got checked in and walked a very tricky path to the Washington Cottage. At 430pm when we were shown the cottage, it wasn't made up yet! We sat in the lobby till 5pm. While there, the kids and dogs were running around, dogs barking, and kids turned the once elegant sitting room into a playroom. We got to the cottage and realized there was no TV. Essentially a bedroom and bathroom (which was ice cold). The toilet did not flush so I had to ask to get it fixed. It got fixed as we went to our four course New Year's Eve dinner in the main house dining room. Although the food was good, the four courses cost $243! Some couples were dressed elegantly. Unfortunately, the little white dog roamed the dining area as we were eating! Not to mention the dog was wet from being outside and filthy. After dinner we sat in the lobby waiting to see the karaoke. While waiting I played pool in the big sitting room. The room was messy and appeared to be the two kids' game room. We were tired of waiting and went to our cottage after 10pm. The walkway to the cottage is over a treacherous brick walkway. We slept ok, but again, the bathroom stayed cold. There were no instructions for using the small heater mounted on the wall nor the fireplace, but we managed. The water pressure in the bathroom was weak and the hot water took a while to heat up. We went to breakfast and our omelets were not freshly made. They seemed like they had sat out and just got lukewarm. Both days we were there we went out to the local wineries to enjoy the fair weather. The second night we went out to Culpepper for dinner after seeing another multi course meal at the Tavern (which did not appeal to us). We had another good night sleep and made use of the fireplace and heater, though it overheats the bedroom and does little to get heat to the bathroom! We found a dead stinkbug in the bathroom and a dead ladybug in the bed! Breakfast the next morning was better - instead of omelets we had eggs to order. We were told "we're short on bacon and sausage" so we got one slice of bacon each! While eating breakfast, another couple and us noted the little white dog was again roaming the dining room, begging. On at least three occasions, the dog sprayed the carpet, a dining chair and the wall! At this point we were ready to walk out. A Health Hazard. We paid over $600 to stay here! Not worth it. The Washington Cottage needs repair/overhaul. It is not a standalone cottage as it is attached to another "cottage." Management is clearly overwhelmed. Very disappointing.
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Date of stay: January 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Room Tip:Â Read the Reviews! Do your homework!
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
My wife and I recently stayed here for a weekend getaway. Based in research and reviews on paper the Inn looked like a great choice. Sadly, that was not the case. To sum it up overpriced rooms, property is in need of repair and understaffed - we were not at all impressed.
Positives - staff, although extremely understaffed, was friendly and provided good service. We ate breakfast and dinner at the Inn and had the picnic lunch. All meals were very good. Views from the patio area are beautiful.
Negatives - we stayed in the Robinson room. Let’s just say the pictures online don’t match what we encountered. The room is not worth $300 per night. Here are just a few issues: 1) mold around tub, 2) toilet seat barely attached, 3) rotted wood on baseboard, 4) patched holes with what appears to be white tape on the wall near towel rack, 5) hot & cold water on sink is installed backwards, 6) noticed a few cockroaches in the room, 6) deadbolt misaligned and doesn’t work, 7) furnishings in the room are very dated.
Overall condition of property needs a lot of work. Walkways are uneven with no lighting which is a fall waiting to happen. Number of window panes on third floor of the main house(rear) are missing. One appeared to have an extension cord running out of it across the roof. The fence needs repair. Several fence rails were actually zip tied on to the post.
The property has tremendous potential however the owners need to bring it up to speed and properly staff up.
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Date of stay: September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Just got back from a fantastic weekend at the Inn. It was pretty much perfect. Friendly host, beautiful setting, comfortable rooms and our dogs were welcome there.
When we arrived, the host took us on a brief tour to orient us and make sure we got settled in our cottage. In the room there was a basket for our dogs with some doggie treats and other items to make their stay as nice as ours. We ate dinner with our dogs on the patio the first night and were treated to an amazing sunset to top off a terrific meal. We enjoyed the walking trails and the good old-fashioned swimming hole at the river complete with a rope swing and zip line. The area is beautiful and I highly recommend visiting Madison's home, Montpelier, during your stay.
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Date of stay: July 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from , Owner at The Inn & Tavern at Meander
Responded Aug 29, 2023
Dear Guest, We're delighted that your weekend with us was practically perfect in every way. Providing a warm and welcoming environment for our guests, including their furry companions, is something we're truly passionate about. It's fantastic that you made the most of our walking trails and enjoyed the river activities. Providing opportunities for outdoor enjoyment and relaxation is a cornerstone of what we offer, and we're glad you took advantage of them. Thank you for recommending a visit to Madison's home, Montpelier. Exploring the area's historical sites and natural beauty is something we encourage, and your endorsement adds even more value to the overall experience we provide. We're so grateful for your kind words and for choosing to spend your weekend with us. If your future travels lead you back to our area, we'd be absolutely thrilled to welcome you, your dogs, and your positive energy once again.!
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
This gem of an historic property gave the two of us a wonderful anniversary getaway! The summer kitchen with its gas fireplace downstairs & its wood-burning fireplace upstairs, the soaking tub, the huge and comfortable bed, wooden floors with period square nails and lovely vistas from the windows created the perfect ambience of a peaceful time in the country. We enjoyed a truly first-class breakfast in terms of selection, taste and presentation. The sunset over the inn proved spectacular, as well. Keep in mind that this is not a new property meant to look old. As a pre-Revolutionary home, it's a step back in time, holding a unique charm and personality ready to win the hearts of discerning guests.
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Date of stay: October 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We booked our weekend getaway for our 10 year anniversary with the Inn at Meander. They had availability for us a week out, so we booked the Washington Cottage and purchased the wine weekend getaway package.
The photos and website are very well done. The grounds area is very nice, but the conditions of the inn do not match the photos.
My two star review falls into "it could've been better". Mostly for the price we paid for the room, ~$300 per night, I would have expected top notch amenities and service. The inn and our room in particular are run down and in need of some maintenance. There was clearly a towel rack repair in progress in the bathroom. The blinds were cheap and in poor condition including a few slats missing pieces. The light switch hardware was top of the line in the 90's and is now old and missing pieces. The chairs on our private patio were missing back cushions making them uncomfortable. We did see other identical chairs with pads on the back so this was an opportunity for the Inn to have their grounds in order. I am confident had we brought it to the attention of the staff, they would have fixed it, but that's not the point.
We arrived for breakfast at rush hour when several other groups had just sat down. We were served a yummy yogurt and fruit dish and coffee, then waited our turn in line. After 40 minutes we received our omelets and toast which was nothing fancy.
We inquired about the picnic basket and expressed our desire to head out about 10:30 for a hike then hit some wineries. The picnic basket isn't provided until noon, so the ingredients can be made fresh. I think that is a great idea, but the staff missed an opportunity to point that out in the website, check in or welcome email. We could have set expectations.
Mostly I feel for the price point, our expectations were higher. It's the little things that make a weekend getaway like this great and the Inn at Meander is missing those. If you are looking for luxury, perhaps this place isn't for you.
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Date of stay: September 2021
Value
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Chris Seek, Owner at The Inn & Tavern at Meander
Responded Sep 24, 2021
Hi Virginia Wine Taster, Though it’s never easy hearing we’ve disappointed one of our cherished visitors, we appreciate you taking the time to share where we fell short, so we can improve going forward. We are fixing the problems you highlighted immediately. The tip about the lunch baskets is particularly useful and we are making a point to include that in our messaging. Thank you. In response to your comment about waiting times, we can assure you that our goal is always to seat and feed guests a delicious breakfast in a timely manner, but sometimes there are other circumstances beyond our control. When you visited, our executive chef was out on an emergency. We do everything we can – from staff scheduling changes and better communication across departments – so these situations don’t happen too often, but when they do, it’s frustrating for everyone involved. We are sorry you caught us in this situation. Should you decide to give us another chance, and we sincerely hope you do, please reach out to us at +1 540-672-4912 so we can give you an extra special experience to make things right‌. You absolutely deserve a 10 year anniversary memory you can cherish forever. Thank you again for taking the time to share your feedback with our team – we take all reviews seriously and will use them in our continuous improvement efforts. Sincerely, Chris Owner of the Inn and Tavern at Meander
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
I was extremely satistfied! I would give my experience a 10/10! I wenWt with my boyfriend for a romantic, relaxing getaway and all our expectations were met. This is such a charming b&b. The owners are wonderful and extremely hospital and friendly. The food is delicious (we had both breakfast and 3 course dinner with a bottle of wine). The grounds are kept well. We both were confused by the posts where people said grounds were run down. This is a HISTORIC INN. So it is kept up to historical standards. It feels very charming. We didn't have any issues with building not being kept up. We found it very clean, charming, and relaxing. We loved the views as well from the back patio and back yard. We stayed in the Madison cottage and we both said we'd stay there again. HIGHLY Recommend. The owners and staff were very knowledgeable and helpful with choices of activities in area, winery, and about the history of the area and home. We brought two dogs and they loved the treats and were extremely pampered when we arrived. We loved the gift basket charm for them. They did too. Thank you so much for having us. We will be back. :)
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Date of stay: August 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from , Owner at The Inn & Tavern at Meander
Responded Aug 29, 2023
Dear Guest, Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for sharing your delightful experience at our B&B! Reading your review brought smiles to our faces and reaffirmed why we're so passionate about what we do. We're absolutely thrilled that your romantic getaway with your boyfriend met and even exceeded your expectations. Achieving a perfect 10/10 score from you is an honor we cherish, and we're overjoyed that our charming B&B played a role in making your stay truly memorable. Your kind words about our staff's hospitality and knowledge are deeply appreciated. We're dedicated to ensuring that our guests have access to the best activities, wineries, and historical insights in the area. Your praise is a testament to our commitment. We're already looking forward to welcoming you back to our B&B! Your return is something we eagerly await, and we'll be here to provide you with another unforgettable experience. If you have any special requests or preferences for your next stay, please don't hesitate to let us know. Once again, thank you for choosing to stay with us, and for taking the time to share your positive experience. We can't wait to see you again!
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Hi! As Andrew said, we do not have an official nightly social activity, but you will find sunset time on our patio serves as an unofficial one. Our guests from around the world love to gather for a drink while taking in the sunset. We also have regular events - check our Facebook page or contact us directly to learn about upcoming activities. We do have beer and wine available for purchase at all times.
Hello! Thank you for your inqiiry. The Groom's Cottage and the Summer Kitchen can accommodate an extra rollaway bed, twin mattress sized. The other cottages do not have enough room.
There are more places to choose from in the Locust Dale area.
PRICE RANGE
$131 - $230 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
inn at meander plantation hotel locust dale
FORMERLY KNOWN AS
Inn at Meander Plantation
LOCATION
United StatesVirginiaLocust Dale
NUMBER OF ROOMS
12
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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