For more information about Blackburn Inn, visit www.blackburn-inn.com, call 540-712-0605, or email event.sales@blackburn-inn.com. Public business address: 301 Greenville Avenue, Staunton, VA 24401. Service area: Staunton
Business & Innovation · Business feature
At the Blackburn Inn, a Staunton landmark makes room for a new kind of gathering
Heart-pine floors, tall windows and a spiral staircase give the Blackburn Inn something a new hotel cannot simply order: the character of a building that has lived through generations of change. In Staunton, that architectural inheritance now provides the setting for overnight stays, wedding weekends and gatherings that bring people together.
Heart-pine floors, tall windows and a spiral staircase give the Blackburn Inn something a new hotel cannot simply order: the character of a building that has lived through generations of change. In Staunton, that architectural inheritance now provides the setting for overnight stays, wedding weekends and gatherings that bring people together.
The Blackburn Inn & Conference Center occupies part of the former Western State Hospital campus. Its history is complex, and its modern identity rests on a substantial change of purpose: preserving historic buildings while giving them a continuing role in the city. The inn opened in June 2018, followed by the conference center and spa in September 2020.
Today, the 49-room inn combines that older fabric with the practical needs of a contemporary hotel. Guests have a base close to downtown Staunton, while the surrounding grounds provide a quieter setting for walks and time outside. The property's more than 80 acres give the experience a sense of space unusual for a stay so closely connected to a small city's center.
For couples planning a wedding, the appeal extends beyond a single room or ceremony backdrop. The conference center offers approximately 8,400 square feet of restored event space, allowing the main celebration to sit within a larger weekend of arrivals, meals and visits with family. Overnight accommodations, the spa and Second Draft Bistro add places to spend the hours around the event itself.
The architectural details help establish the mood without requiring a celebration to feel formal at every moment. A meal, a walk across the grounds or a conversation before the ceremony becomes part of the visit. Gallery 1828 adds another connection to the arts, giving guests something to explore within the property as well as in Staunton.
That combination is the Blackburn's particular strength: a destination built around the reuse of a recognizable local landmark, with enough variety to serve both the planned occasion and the unhurried time surrounding it. Couples and event organizers can work with the venue team to discuss spaces, guest arrangements and the shape of a gathering that suits them.
