Draft:Warm Springs Inn
Historic Courthouse Structure turned Inn
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38.05346°N 79.7792°W The Inn at Warm Springs is a historic inn located in Warm Springs, Bath County, Virginia. The property occupies the former Bath County courthouse and jail, originally constructed in 1796, and is situated across from the Warm Springs Pools (formerly known as the Jefferson Pools). The building is a contributing resource within the Warm Springs and West Warm Springs Historic District, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[1]
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History
Early history and establishment
Bath County was established on December 14, 1790, from portions of Augusta, Botetourt, and Greenbrier counties as settlement expanded into Virginia’s western frontier. Development in the area was closely associated with early transportation routes and the presence of mineral springs, which contributed to Warm Springs’ emergence as a regional destination. Historical documentation associated with the district notes that George Washington traveled through the area early in his career as a surveyor.[2]
Warm Springs was designated as the county seat shortly after Bath County’s formation. The first courthouse was constructed in 1796, and a jail was erected nearby in 1792 on the site now occupied by The Inn at Warm Springs, establishing the property as the center of county government in the late 18th century.[2]
Courthouse and jail (1796–1906)
The courthouse and jail served as the center of Bath County’s government for more than sixty years. In 1841–1842, the original structures were replaced with a brick courthouse and jail, which also housed the county sheriff.[2]
The complex functioned as the county seat throughout the 19th century and remained in use during the American Civil War. Court proceedings, detentions, and executions were carried out on the property during this period.[2]
By the early 20th century, the location of the courthouse—directly across from the Warm Springs resort and bathing facilities—was increasingly viewed as incompatible with the area’s growing tourism economy. In August 1906, the Bath County Board of Supervisors ordered the construction of a new courthouse elsewhere in Warm Springs, and the county seat was relocated.[2]
Conversion to a hotel
Following the relocation of the county seat, the former courthouse and jail were sold. The property was purchased by Charles Rogers, who began converting the buildings into a hotel. Renovations included removal of jail bars, interior reconstruction, and the addition of a second floor to the former courthouse to increase guest accommodations.[2]
The property opened as the Maple Court Hotel before being sold at auction in the 1920s. In 1928, it was purchased by Orvis E. Dunham, who operated it as the Warm Springs Inn. In 1947, the inn was acquired by Edmond and Juliette Routier, whose family operated the property for several decades.[2]
In 1990, storm damage affected the main structure, and the property changed ownership the following year. The inn continued operating under successive owners into the 21st century.[2]
In a 1986 travel feature, The New York Times described the Warm Springs Inn as overlooking the village of Warm Springs and noted its earlier use as the Bath County courthouse and jail, situating it within the historic spa landscape of the region.[3]
Modern use
The property later reopened as The Inn at Warm Springs following renovations that preserved its historic character while adapting the building for modern hospitality use. The inn retains many original architectural elements and remains a contributing structure within the Warm Springs and West Warm Springs Historic District. In the 21st century, the inn has continued to operate as a lodging and dining establishment and has been the subject of independent regional newspaper coverage documenting its ongoing use and public presence in the community.[4]
Architecture
The former courthouse and jail reflect late 18th- and early 19th-century civic architecture typical of rural Virginia. The complex includes a masonry jail building and a former courthouse structure that was later expanded to accommodate guest rooms.[5]
Location
The Inn at Warm Springs is located in the village of Warm Springs, Virginia, across from the Warm Springs Pools, one of the oldest continuously operating spa facilities in the United States. The property lies within the Warm Springs Valley, an area historically associated with resort tourism and mineral springs.[2]