I’ve been obsessed with this hotel since I was little. (43yr F). I have always had an overwhelming visceral pull to it for as long as I can remember. We would pass it on our way home from vacation every year. I dreamed of staying there from the moment I saw it’s lights high on the hillside in the twilight of the evening. I then moved to Lexington Va and it was so close I could visit whenever I wanted. As a Stephen King fan even back then when it probably wasn’t age appropriate, I always saw this as the “Overlook Hotel” from The Shining. Once living close to it, I used to drive the sit in the parking lot and imagine it in its glory. The 70’s and 80’s huge parties, the glamour of when it was new. Never having the guts to get out because of the less than ideal residents that infested it in the later years. Years ago when you googled the hotel, there was a photo taken of a woman standing naked in the open doorway of one of the rooms facing the mountain view. It was the most beautiful artistic photo I’ve ever seen and now I fear it’s gone forever. I searched for over an hour today with no joy. Thank you so very much for this video, You have no idea what it means to me to FINALLY see the inside. I am stunned that even with the ease of entry and the inhabitants of the last decade, it hasn’t been completely destroyed. Again. Thank you.
this hotel absolutely has some kind of power. I hiked the appalachian trail in 2012 and at that point it was almost completely abandoned, yet still open. there was something haunting and it felt like a time warp into the 1980s. Somehow the 1980s really did leave a permanent impression on the place, as though mystically burned into it.
This was originally a Holiday Inn. The restaurant was an Aberdeen Barn and was considered quite the place back in the 1960s and 1970s. The paved area in the back was an ice skating rink.
Too cool. Howard Johnsons! My grandfather used to take us up there on the weekends when we were kids. The Holiday Inn restaurant was where I took my gf to dinner for WHS prom in '85.
We stayed there for camp Jeep in Nelson county. It was a dump 15 years ago and just kept going downhill. Great views just crap motel with an owner who just didn’t care. That stained glass in the restaurant was gorgeous.
I really enjoyed your video. I had always wanted to go inside the, "Inn at Afton" but wouldn't dare go alone. The hotel was originally built as a Holiday Inn and was once a very nice property. You are correct that the orange roofed restaurant served as a Howard Johnson's restaurant. It closed at the end of the 1998 season and never reopened due to the difficult task of staffing for business. The second hotel you mention was an older hotel (older than the former Holiday Inn/Inn at Afton atop the hill. It was a colonial looking hotel property (much smaller than the one on the hill) and was torn down after it has been set on fire multiple times over the years that it sat abandoned. I appreciate getting to see the inside of all of these properties via your eyes and footage.
Stayed there many times back in the day either on the way home or on the way up to hike with friends. The best prime rib I have ever eaten was at that hotel! Things change I suppose but still sad to see. Thanks for posting this.
I’m not far from Afton Mtn. Every time I go up Afton, I see this abandoned Hotel/Inn. It’s really cool to see what’s inside after seeing it there for so long!
That place is pretty cool and pretty weird. I went out there in 2016 and 2017 on my way to go camping and there were still people living in the hotel in those days. The owner of the land and the hotel also owns the massive estate on the hill behind it called Swannanoa and evidently he doesn't have the money or desire to do anything with any of it
I live not far from Afton Mountain. I’ve never seen the Swannanoa, but have heard cool things about it. Never knew the owner of the Inn owned that too! Such a shame they can’t do something with them. Oh and if you don’t mind me asking Alan, me and my family go camping a lot, so I’m just curious where you went as you mentioned in the comment.
Awesome vid bro 🎥 It sucks that people lied to the guy about just filming and now he can’t trust anyone. People like that really suck! No need to ever break stuff. Anyway love the content! 👌🏼 💯
With the drug problems around this area and rehab facilities being limited it would be awesome to see the community come together to make it a rehab center
It’s been a while since I was there. When I drove around there were cats in some of the floor level rooms. Called Animal control and they said they were very well aware and they were taken care of. People there when I came. Asked me what I wanted. Told them was just looking. Guess everyone has really jumped ship now. Beautiful spot. Someone should do a new hotel there.
Sadly, this property can't be sold as it was deeded to the current owner as being unable to be sold or given away. So unless the current owner decides to improve the property (which he has refused to), or the current owner passes away, it will remain like this. As a resident here, I share in many other's embarrassment that this is the first thing they see when they visit our great area. We don't like seeing it rot away, but have no choice in the matter.
Interesting. Any articles you could share link to? Seems like they could get employees now. It should be condemned before squatters take it over. It this was California it would’ve been full of squatters and burned down by now. I doubt the owner has insurance on it so that can’t be his motivation. So odd. This place has great location. Could even be for middle income workforce housing.
I tried to explore this, but there was a bunch of people watching birds when I went here and this dude who is paid by the owner to scare off would be explorers lives in one of the rooms on property basically nicely told me to leave if I didn't want to be arrested for standing outside.
went there with some buddy’s and we went inside for a little walked around awhile and ended up finding out someone still lives there. some old black dude he chases us around the whole building until we finally made it back to the car. whole building is covered in needles and broken glass. was a rlly cool experience tho
@c6o6r6r5 the owners pay him to live there. The hotel used to have power but the city cut it off and now he uses a generator to power just the room he lives in
Guess what - if you don't secure the property - you're liable. This place is not secure. The actual owner who just kicked off was a total whack job and trashy who let multiple properties fall to pieces.
i believe i went here but it was dark and extremely cold, it was all creepy and we think that we ran into a squatter staying in one of the rooms. and he high tailed out of there
thats pretty cool, I wouldn't think it would be 100% safe and idk how bad the security is. but who I saw seemed like they were living in one of the rooms all set up and such. but all power to them!
