About
We at the Garvey House Bed & Breakfast invite you to explore the breathtaking world of the New River Gorge National River, the “Grand Canyon of the East.” For nearly a century the Garvey House has welcomed visitors to the gorge — originally as the residence of coal-company executive Martin Garvey and since 1985 as an outstanding bed and breakfast.
Our bed and breakfast is renown for its warm, friendly atmosphere, its proximity to Fayetteville, WV, and the inviting nature of its shady gardens. Though the Garveys grew wealthy, their home reflects a preference for modest comfort and a love of the outdoors. Natural beauty abounds in and around the bed & breakfast.
The Garvey House is conveniently located in the heart of the northern New River Gorge region, fifteen miles from Fayetteville — near hiking, biking, climbing, and whitewater rafting areas, near many of the area’s best restaurants. We’re fewer than 10 miles from the spectacular New River Gorge Bridge at Fayetteville. Hikers and rock climbers will especially appreciate our proximity to the Endless Wall and Beauty Mountain rock-climbing areas, less than two miles from our door.
Accommodation
Most of our lodging accomodations are located in our five-bedroom guest house. Only our suite, the Garvey Suite, is located in the Main House, along with our dining area, where breakfast is served and other meals may be arranged by appointment. All rooms include private bathrooms with claw-footed shower-tubs and underfloor heating. Each is decorated in the comfortable, rural style common among better homes in the region in the early 1900s. All include large windows to admit the invigorating mountain air. See our rates page for more detailed descriptions of our guest rooms.
BREAKFAST IS INCLUDED IN ROOM RATES!
Breakfast is served in the sunny dining room of the main house each morning. We offer a full home-cooked country breakfast.
HOT TUB
Our outdoor hot tub behind the main house is open until 11 p.m. The tub is located in the gardens near the woods — the perfect spot for a relaxing soak after a day on the river. Should you decide to explore the gardens at night, we provide flashlights.
THE GARDENS
Walls of native stone meander through our shade gardens, planted in 1917 under the direction of Mrs. Garvey. The gardens feature an original gazebo, two small fish ponds, and terraces shadowed by rhododendron and towering hemlock. Native plants, including ferns, mosses, and rhododendron, and ornamental trees, shrubs, and flowers are features throughout.
OUTDOOR AREAS
Throughout the lawns and gardens you’ll find several patios and outdoor spaces perfect for picnics and other small gatherings. Some entertainment areas include grills, while a fire ring is located behind the guest house. The gazebo and goldfish pond are also popular gathering spots. Social drinking is permitted on the grounds.
RECREATION ROOM
A recreation room in the small cottage adjacent to the guest house includes a color television and games for children.
Rates
All rooms are rated for double occupancy and include private bathrooms with claw-footed shower-tubs and pillow-top mattresses. Rates include breakfast. Take 5% off for Sunday-Thursday stay. Taxes not included in rates. Each room is decorated in the comfortable, rural style. All include large windows to admit the invigorating mountain air.
GARVEY HOUSE SPECIALS!
Guest House Family Special!
Come relax and make memories in the mountains of Southern West Virginia.
Our Guest House is perfect for that family vacation in the heartland of whitewater rafting, climbing, hiking, fishing or just relaxing. Accomodating 12-16 people our 5 bedroom, 5 bath vacation home will feel like your home away from home. We are close enough to shopping, the New River Gorge Bridge, Summersville Lake and so much more. Take an extra 10% off your stay with a 3 day minimum stay or stay 3 and get the 4th free. Don’t worry about breakfast its included with your stay! Want to sleep in? We do brunch too.
Renew and Refresh you Spirit with a Girlfriend’s Getaway!
Reserve your rooms or the whole Guest House which accomodates up to 16 guests for two nights and get the third one FREE! Rooms are from $100-$85/night/double occupancy. The Guest House is for $450/night for 12 guests with full house privileges. Sleep in and have a gourmet breakfast each morning. Add lunch or dinner for $15 per person. Want to go to the extreme with a rafting trip? Let us plan it for you from the Lower New River to the extreme rafting of the Gauley River. Rafting excursions upon availability
Relax on our front porch. Grill on one of our patios. Go to Beauty Mountain, hike, raft, rent a boat and relax at Summersville Lake, stargaze from our 6 person hot tub, or best of all-DO NOTHING AT ALL!
Valentina’s Hideaway-$95/night ($10/night/extra person)
This sunny first-floor room faces the front of the house and the side yard away from most activity areas. It includes a reading area, a queen bed and day bed.
Ruth’s Corner-$85/night
Intimate with a view of the lower garden, this corner room on the first floor includes a love-seat sitting area and queen bed.
Oscar’s Place-$100/night ($10/night/extra people)
Three large windows admit plenty of sunlight and fresh mountain air into this second-floor room. Includes two queen beds and a sitting area. Air Conditioned.
Carl’s Getaway-$100/night ($10/nigh/extra people)
Great for lovers of morning sunlight, this second floor bedroom faces the front yard and lower gardens and includes two queen beds. Air Conditioned.
The Maribeth-$105/night ($10/night/extra people)
This large first-floor bedroom faces the shady woods behind the house and includes a king size bed and day bed.
J.W. Garvey Suite-$115/nightly
The only lodging in the main house. The Garvey Suite-our honeymoon suite includes a private parlor and large private bathroom with bathroom tv.
Full Guest House Available $450/night/double occupancy. Twelve minimum, $10/night/extra people up to 16 guests.
Three night minimum stay
Accomodates 16 guests comfortably. Five Bedrooms/5 Baths, fully equipped freestanding kitchen, living room and rec room with stereo, games and TV, full use of the property surrounding Garvey House.
See pictures of guest house and all rooms in our Photo Galery.
With advance notice we also provide dinners, BBQ’s and snacks. Ask us about our guest house specials!
We look forward to seeing you at Garvey House B & B
In the valley of West Virginia close to all attractions. 5 miles to the New River Gorge, Beaty Mountain, Fern Creek and Nuttle hiking trails.
Policies
A late check-in can be accommodated with prior notice.
RESERVATIONS
Rooms may be guaranteed by check or credit card with an advance deposit of 50 percent of the total cost of your stay. Your deposit will be applied at check-in. Make reservations in advance during whitewater season (May-July), Gauley Season (Sept-Oct), and ski season (Dec-March).
CANCELLATIONS
Cancellations made fewer than 15 days in advance will incur a cost equal to one night’s lodging. Fewer than 24 hours in advance, for the cost of the full booking.
HOT TUB
Our outdoor hot tub, behind the main house, is open until 11 p.m. Use caution on the stone steps approaching the Jacuzzi area. Please re-cover the tub when you leave to help keep debris out and the temperature balanced. Do not take glass containers into the hot tub; we can provide plastic. Should you decide to explore the gardens at night, we provide flashlights.
SMOKING
Smoking is prohibited by state law inside the houses and in the recreation
room. We permit smoking on the porch, beside the pond, in the gazebo, and
among the gardens. We adhere strictly to this policy. Should you be found
in violation, a $250 smoke-cleaning charge will be applied, and you will
be asked to find alternate lodging.
PETS
We cannot accommodate pets, as the inn is already home to a cat. Exercise your own judgment in making a reservation if you are allergic to cats. However, it does not have access to guest areas.
Events
Fairs and festivals are in constant supply in the New River Gorge region. Here’s a growing list of some of the best around which to plan your vacation.
April 22 — West Virginia Ramp Festival — Richwood
This annual spring feast celebrates the ramp, or wild leek, a native Appalachian vegetable which supplemented the diet of mountain families. The festival at Richwood, an hour north of the Garvey House, is among the largest of hundreds of similar feasts celebrated throughout central Appalachia.
May 1-7 — New River Birding & Nature Festival – Fayetteville
One of the best spring festivals for Appalachian birding, this weeklong event features five full days of birding in the field followed by an evening lecture series. Highlights include birding by raft through the gorge.
May 20-21 – Battle of Lewisburg Reenactment — Lewisburg
The annual reenactment of the 1862 skirmish fought for control of Lewisburg includes camps, a ladies’ tea, lantern tours, a camp dance, and a reenactment of the skirmish at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 21. It’s a great time to visit this incredible town less than an hour’s drive from our door.
June 10 — Captain Thurmond’s Challenge Triathlon — Thurmond (www.captainthurmondstriathlon.com)
World-famous celebration of athletics includes a 5K run, a 5K walk, children’s events, and high-endurance race through the gorge covering a 12-mile bike route, an eight-mile stretch of whitewater river, and a seven-mile ascent from the depths of the gorge to the finish in Fayetteville.
June 10-Aug. 29 — “Hatfields & McCoys” and “Honey in the Rock” — Grandview
For more than 40 years the outdoor dramas “Hatfields & McCoys” and “Honey in the Rock” have entertained audiences under the night’s sky in the National Park Service’s Cliffside Amphitheatre at Grandview, a 45-minute drive south of the Garvey House. Performed in repertoir nightly (except Mondays).
June27-July 4 — New River Gorge Heritage Festival — Fayetteville
Street fair in nearby Fayetteville culminates in a Fourth of July fireworks display (also visible from the spectacular cliffs at nearby Beauty Mountain ). Festival highlights include live music, a parade, buggy rides, and a carnival.
June 20-22 — Hometown Mountain Heritage Festival — Ansted
Celebrate West Virginia’s birthday during a weekend-long street fair in this historical town and at adjacent Hawks Nest State Park, both about a 15-minute drive from the Garvey House. Festival highlights include live music, food and crafts vendors, a 5K run, and an interpretive walk on the Hawks Nest Trail.
July 30-August 3 Appalachian Stringband Music Festival – Camp Washington-Carver (www.wvculture.org)
Every summer West Virginia masters are presented to an audience of more than 3,000 musicians and string-band music lovers from around the world at this camp fewer than five miles from the Garvey House. The gathering includes contests, concerts, workshops, square dances, camping, and a hymn-sing. (World-renown musicians are known to regularly attend this festival incognito!)
August 8-16 — West Virginia State Fair — Lewisburg
An hour’s drive from the Garvey House, the fair celebrates West Virginia’s agricultural heritage with crafts, food, and livestock competitions and exhibits. The fair concert series welcomes Foreigner, Trace Adkins, Marty Stuart, Big & Rich, The Seldom Scene, Carrie Underwood.
September12-13 Summersville Potato Festival – Summersville
Celebrating cash crop of days gone by. Arts, crafts, 5K run/walk, parade, music, potato judging and auctions, car show, pageant, food.
October 18 — Bridge Day Festival — Fayetteville
This once-a-year opportunity to walk across the New River Gorge Bridge attracts more than 200,000 visitors to the area annually. Professional jumpers from across the world parachute off the span. Events of all kinds fill the week prior to the festival. Whitewater rafting companies offer special packages during the weekend.