This West Virginia Mansion Was Built For A Senator And Now Welcomes Guests With Victorian Charm

Imagine staying at a place that feels like a fancy Victorian novel, but with better food and way more comfortable beds.

This West Virginia mansion was built back in the 1890s for a senator who clearly had excellent taste, because this place is absolutely stunning.

We are talking gorgeous woodwork, colorful stained glass, and a red slate roof that makes the whole building look like it belongs on a postcard.

Today, it welcomes travelers looking for a little old-school charm with modern comforts.

The on-site restaurant serves up locally sourced dishes that will make you want to linger long after dessert.

And those mountain views?

Absolutely breathtaking. West Virginia really knows how to roll out the welcome mat, and this historic gem is proof.

The Senator’s Legacy That Started It All

Built in 1893, this mansion carries a story that feels almost too good to be true. Senator Henry Gassaway Davis, who served in the U.S.

Senate from 1871 to 1883, commissioned the estate as his summer retreat. He named it Graceland after his youngest daughter, Grace, which makes the whole place feel a little more personal and a lot more charming.

Davis was no ordinary politician. He played a major role in developing West Virginia’s coal industry and co-founded the city of Elkins itself.

Staying here feels like walking through a chapter of Appalachian history that most people never get to read.

The mansion eventually passed to the West Virginia Presbyterian Educational Fund in 1939 before being donated to Davis and Elkins College in 1941. Today it sits right on the college campus, welcoming curious travelers who want something far more interesting than a standard roadside hotel.

The history alone is worth the drive.

Queen Anne Architecture Worth Every Slow Stroll

Few buildings earn the phrase “stop and stare” quite like this one. The exterior is built from native sandstone, giving it a sturdy, almost castle-like presence that contrasts beautifully with the soft mountain landscape around it.

Massive towers, wide porches, sweeping gables, and bay windows make it look like something out of a very well-funded fairy tale.

Step inside and the craftsmanship gets even more impressive. The interior features native hardwoods including quartered oak, bird’s-eye maple, cherry, and walnut.

Hand-carved columns line the hallways, and imported Delft tiles surround the library fireplace in a way that feels quietly luxurious.

Many of the original 1893 details remain completely intact, which is remarkable for a building that has been welcoming guests for well over a century. Wandering through the public spaces feels less like touring a building and more like reading a love letter written in wood and glass.

Bring a camera. You will want proof that places like this actually exist.

The Food That Keeps People Coming Back

Henry’s at Graceland Inn serves the kind of food that quietly ruins your expectations for everywhere else. The kitchen leans into Italian-inspired cuisine while pulling in Appalachian ingredients sourced from local farms, which creates a combination that feels both familiar and genuinely exciting.

Chicken parmesan arrives crispy on the outside and perfectly juicy inside.

The salmon piccata has drawn serious praise for its freshness, especially with capers and sun-dried tomatoes worked into the sauce. Butternut squash ravioli shows up on the menu and disappears fast from tables.

Pasta dishes here have inspired guests to declare they could eat pasta every single day if it always tasted like this.

Dessert is not an afterthought. Cannoli with light, crispy shells and just-sweet-enough filling studded with tiny chocolate chips has become something of a local legend.

Dinner is served Wednesday through Saturday from 5 PM to 9 PM. Sunday brunch runs from 11 AM to 2:30 PM, and both services are worth planning your entire trip around.

Sunday Brunch on the Veranda With Mountain Views

Sunday brunch at Graceland has a way of making the rest of the week feel like a very long wait. The veranda wraps around the back of the mansion with views that stretch out over Elkins and the surrounding mountain ridges.

On a clear morning, eating out there feels almost unfairly beautiful.

Outdoor heaters keep the chill off during cooler months, so the experience stays comfortable well into autumn. The brunch menu offers enough variety to satisfy serious appetites while still feeling relaxed and unhurried.

Fresh pastries have been known to disappear quickly from the table before anyone can feel guilty about it.

Local musical talent has performed on the veranda during Sunday brunch, adding a layer of warmth that turns a meal into a full experience.

The combination of historic surroundings, mountain air, and genuinely good food makes this one of those rare mornings that you keep mentioning to people for weeks afterward.

Brunch runs from 11 AM to 2:30 PM every Sunday.

Guest Rooms That Feel Like a Step Back in Time

Sleeping in a room that once housed guests from the 1800s is a very specific kind of wonderful. The inn offers ten to eleven guest rooms and suites, each furnished with antiques or Victorian reproductions that stay true to the mansion’s original character.

Private baths, individual climate control, televisions, and wireless internet are all included, so the comfort is fully modern even when the atmosphere is not.

The Senator’s Suite and The Colonel’s Room stand out as particularly memorable options for guests who want a little extra history with their stay. Creaky wood floors and staircases add genuine charm rather than inconvenience.

Rooms are spacious, which surprises guests who expect historic buildings to feel cramped.

Waking up inside a National Historic Landmark is not something most people get to do on a regular basis. The morning coffee is reliable and the pastries at breakfast have earned their own devoted following.

Free parking and complimentary Wi-Fi make the practical side of the stay completely stress-free.

The Two-Story Fireplace That Stops Everyone at the Door

Walking through the front door of Graceland and coming face to face with a two-story fireplace is the kind of moment that makes you forget what you were about to say. The fireplace anchors the grand entrance hall with a presence that is both commanding and surprisingly welcoming.

A painted mural nearby adds another layer of visual drama to an already stunning space.

From that entry point, the public areas of the mansion open up into a collection of intricately carved woodwork, stained glass windows, and carefully chosen antiques. Spending thirty minutes just wandering through the accessible rooms before sitting down to eat is completely reasonable behavior here.

Nobody will judge you for stopping every few feet to admire something.

The library fireplace features imported Delft tiles that are worth seeking out specifically. Each room has its own personality, shaped by the original architecture and the antiques that fill the spaces.

The whole building rewards slow exploration in a way that few historic properties manage to pull off so effortlessly.

Local Farms, Fresh Ingredients, and Appalachian Flavors

The kitchen at Henry’s takes the idea of local sourcing seriously, and the food on the plate makes that commitment completely obvious. Ingredients come from nearby Appalachian farms, which means the menu shifts with the seasons and always reflects what the region is actually growing.

That kind of cooking has a depth that pre-packaged ingredients simply cannot replicate.

Italian-inspired techniques meet West Virginia roots in a combination that should not work as well as it does. The BBQ pork chop, for example, arrives tender and perfectly cooked with candied bacon and a sauce that balances sweet and tangy in a way that feels almost architectural.

Every dish carries a sense of place that goes beyond the plate.

Charcuterie appetizers have reportedly arrived at tables with an unexpected sparkle, which is the sort of detail that makes a meal feel like an event rather than just dinner. The kitchen clearly enjoys the craft of cooking.

That enthusiasm comes through in every bite, from the first appetizer to the very last bite of cannoli.

Holiday Dinners and Special Celebrations Done Right

Graceland has developed a reputation for turning holiday meals into full-scale experiences rather than simple dinners. Thanksgiving buffets have drawn guests from across the region, with seasonal dishes that go well beyond the expected.

Pumpkin pie has arrived at tables decorated with painted plates and a sprinkle of Pop Rocks, which is exactly the kind of creative flourish that makes a meal genuinely memorable.

Christmas dinner in a mansion decorated for the season hits differently than a restaurant with a few plastic ornaments on the door. The historic rooms take on an entirely new warmth when filled with festive touches and the smell of good food.

Views of Elkins from the upper floors during winter evenings add a quieter, more reflective kind of beauty.

Birthday celebrations have also found a natural home here, with staff going out of their way to make the evening feel special. The atmosphere does a lot of the heavy lifting on its own, but the genuine hospitality from the team consistently earns its own recognition from guests who return year after year.

A Perfect Base for Hiking and Mountain Exploration

Graceland Inn sits close enough to some seriously good hiking that packing trail shoes alongside your dinner reservation makes complete sense. The surrounding mountains offer trails and overlooks that reward the effort with views that stretch farther than most people expect from West Virginia.

Coming back from a full day outdoors and walking into a Victorian mansion for dinner is a very satisfying contrast.

Guests have spent full weekends hiking during the day and returning to the inn each evening feeling refreshed rather than worn down. The comfortable rooms and reliable food play a big role in that recovery.

A good bed and a well-cooked meal do remarkable things for tired legs.

The property is also within walking distance of downtown Elkins, which adds easy access to the town without requiring a car for every errand. Free parking is available on site for guests who do drive.

The combination of outdoor adventure and historic comfort makes Graceland work equally well for active travelers and those who simply want a beautiful place to slow down.

A National Historic Landmark Worth the Journey

Being listed on the National Register of Historic Places and recognized as part of the National Historic Landmark Davis and Elkins Historic District is not a small thing.

Graceland earned that designation because it genuinely represents a significant piece of American architectural and political history.

Visiting here means stepping into a place that historians and preservationists have worked hard to protect.

Fish Hawk Hospitality, led by Chef Dale Hawkins, took over management of the lodging and dining operations in July 2023, bringing fresh energy to the property while keeping its historic integrity fully intact.

The balance between honoring the past and delivering a modern guest experience is handled with real care.

Nothing about the place feels like a museum that forgot to add warmth.

Whether the goal is a romantic weekend, a family celebration, or simply a great meal in an extraordinary setting, Graceland delivers on all of it. The mansion stands as proof that West Virginia has been quietly holding onto something spectacular.

Address: 160 Graceland Dr, Elkins, WV.