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~Thorn Run Inn~ Policies, Prices and Directions ~~~ "Nestled at the foot of Knobley Mountain is a place for people who hunger for country quiet." The Charleston Gazette ~~~ Directly below you will find information on our prices and policies, and well as directions and a map to Thorn Run Inn for visitors coming from Canaan Valley, Washington/Baltimore, and Pittsburgh.  Identify yourself as one who appreciates back roads and we are happy to point our some exceptionally scenic shortcuts (in addition to the one below for the DC/Baltimore folks).   If you have any questions don't hesitate to call! Home

Prices

We have three rooms with their own bath. These cost $80 for one person, and $90 for two people per night. We also have two rooms that share a bathroom.  These rooms are $70 for one person and $80 for two people.  Extra occupants are $10 per night with a limit of 3 adults per room. Add 6% for West Virginia sales tax.  These rates include a full country breakfast.

Bullfrog Cottage, our cabin, currently rents for $85 per night double occupancy.  This rate will increase as renovations proceed so it is best to call and confirm.  The cottage has a kitchen, bathroom, and two bedrooms, one with a queen-sized bed and the other with a bunk bed and a single.  The floors are painted concrete, and we provide bottled drinking water.  Morning-time fresh-baked goods, rather than a full breakfast, are included in the price of the cottage, as is full access to the house and pool.

Guests choosing to eat dinner at Thorn Run can do so for $18. This includes fresh baked bread, soup or a salad, a main course, and a fresh made dessert. The house specialties include an excellent lasagna and a number of African dishes learned during our work overseas. We ask for at least one day's notice if you would like dinner.   Dinners at Thorn Run Inn feature a free glass from the Potomac Highlands Winery, and for good reason.  It isn't uncommon for guests to pass by the winery on their way home to buy some for themselves.  Besides, where else can you buy wine on a road named "Fried Meat Ridge Road" (yes there is a story attached.).

Policies

We'll confirm your room upon receipt of a room deposit equal to one night's stay.  This deposit is refundable up to a week before your stay. If your plans change less than a week before your visit we'll return your deposit so long as we rent your room to another visitor for the duration of your cancelled stay.

We don't discriminate based on age or species, or anything else for that matter.  Children turn our house from a beautiful place into a Norman Rockwell painting--who wouldn't want that.  Our experience with pets (always dogs) has been that they have a great time--do warn us you are coming so we can make sure that the sheep are secure, and brief you on what behavior to expect of your urban dog and etiquette in the country.  Please note that there is a $5 pet fee.

Unfortunately there is no smoking in the house.

Directions to Thorn Run

Our Location We are 3 hours from Washington and Pittsburgh. In an effort to maintain a beautiful countryside we have refrained from installing signs along the road. Rather, we have developed the following sets of directions for people coming from".  Washington/Baltimore via route 50 Washington/Baltimore and points to the northeast via I 270 and I 68  Washington/Baltimore via route 55 (scenic shortcut)  Davis/Canaan Valley. Pittsburgh and points to the north/northwest.  Points south.

From Washington/Baltimore and points east the simplest route is:
1) West on Interstate 66 to Interstate 81.
2) Then take I-81 north and follow signs to Route 50 west and Romney.
3) Turn west on Route 50 and go to Knobley Road at Ridgeville, about 5 miles past Burlington. Keep track of this mileage since you won't find anyone who knows where Ridgeville is.  The drive from Romney to Knobley Road approximately 23 miles.
4) We are  11.8 miles south of Ridgeville on Knobley Road (P.O. Box 125). As you drive through Antioch on Knobley Road, watch for the large red building on your right. This is the old Wool Mill and dates to when wool production was a mainstay of the regional economy.

People coming from the northern Washington metropolitan area or Baltimore may prefer the northern route:
1) Take Interstate 270 to Interstate 68.
2) Take I68 west to Cumberland.
3) At Cumberland follow the signs to Route 220 south.
4) Route 220 brings you to Route 50. Where Route 220 takes a sharp left turn after the Wal-Mart in New Creek you will see a small-scale sawmill. These mills used to be scattered across the countryside and are now much less common.
5) Turn east on Route 50 and drive about one mile to Knobley road at Ridgeville. Immediately before you turn onto Knobley Road, on your right, you will see a large white house that served horse-drawn carriages in the 1700s as an Inn.
6) Turn right onto Knobley Road and go about 11.8 miles to Thorn Run Inn. As you drive through Antioch on Knobley Road, watch for the large red building on your right. This is the old wool mill and dates to when wool production was a mainstay of the regional economy.

If you can plan a daylight arrival, and you appreciate a good shortcut, people coming from Washington/Baltimore ought to consider the following:
1) Take I66 west to I81.
2) Then go south on I81 about 3.2 miles to the Route 55 exit.
3) Go right on Route 55 for about 43.8 miles to Cunningham Lane. Caution: When going through Wardensville on Route 55 we recommend that you stay within the speed limits--we are speaking from experience! Also, Route 55 and Cunningham Lane are slated to become part of the extension of I66 so now is a good time to appreciate this stretch of road known as the "Highland Trace Highway." If you miss Cunningham Lane you can continue into Moorefield and pick up Route 220 north there.

Alert:  9/03  Work on the highway paralleling route 55 is proceeding quickly.  As a result people choosing the scenic shortcut now drive a significant distance on this new highway.  This makes the scenic shortcut a little less scenic and a lot faster.  You can access this highway right next to Baker.  Also, because of this construction, the milage to the turn onto Cunningham Lane has changed.  Currently, starting where the new route 55 rejoins the old route 55, proceed 4.9 miles to Cunningham Lane--the turn is unlabled but still there.   If Cunningham Lane is missed then proceed into Moorefield and pick up route 220 there with little (~10 min.) loss of time.  In addition, this highway may extend all the way to Morefield as soon as October.  Feel free to call us for last minute updates

4) Take Cunningham Lane about 2.7 miles to Route 220.
5) Go right on Route 220 for about 2.3 miles to Old Fields/Twin Mountain road. (This road has different names at either end.) This is across from the Old Fields gas station/grocery/post office. The stretch of Route 220 that you travel has a high density of Civil War mansions including "The Willow Wall" a huge ante-bellum mansion on your left. If our facts are correct this area has been designated as an official historic district by the National Park Service.
6) Turning left onto Old Fields/Twin Mountain road will take you about 7.9 miles over Patterson Creek Mountain to Patterson Creek Road. At the high point of Old Fields/Twin Mountain road you have a beautiful view west to New Creek Mountain with Knobley Mountain showing as little knobs along the base of  New Creek Mountain. As you descend, watch out for two switchback type turns.
7) Turn left on Patterson Creek Road and go about 0.8 miles to Belle Babb Lane.
8) Turn right onto Belle Babb Lane and go 3.6 miles to the stop sign. The large brick house that you pass near the intersection of Patterson Creek road and Belle Babb Lane is the Babb House. This house and Thorn Run Inn shared the entire countryside in between in their heyday even though they are about 3 miles apart.
9) Turn right on Knobley and go 1.3 miles to Thorn Run Inn--the first big brick house on your left (Box 125). Deer are abundant to the point of being dangerous. And this is more the case the closer you get to Knobley Road, so please watch out.

For skiers and other coming from the Davis/Blackwater Falls area, we are 28 miles from Davis.  Add another 10 miles for Whitegrass and Canaan Valley Resort.  Directions from Davis are as follows:

1) Take 32 north from Davis approximately ½ mile to intersection with Route 93.
2) Follow 93 east until Scherr.  This includes a right turn at the BP gas station about 17 miles from Davis.  At this point route 42 joins route 93. Wind your way down the mountain for about 4 more miles.
3) Turn left following 93 east where route 42 splits off. This is Scherr.  Go just a few hundred feet.
4) Turn right onto Greenland Gap road. There is an old white church marking this intersection.  You will see two yellow and black bridge abutment signs directly in front of you.  Go over this bridge--do not veer right along what appears to be the road.   Continue past a quarry and drive 1 to 2 miles to the village of Greenland.
5) At Greenland take the first and only right.  This turn is marked with a "Wildlife Viewing Area" sign.  Continue on Greenland Gap Road through The Greenland Gap Nature Conservancy Preserve to Knobley Road, about 2.5 miles.
6) Turn left on Knobley Road and drive about 2.5 miles. Thorn Run Inn, a large, red brick farmhouse, ca. 1871, will be on your left.

From Pittsburgh and points to the northwest the best route is:
1) South to I-68.
2) Then east on I-68 towards Cumberland. Just before Cumberland you will see signs for Route 220.
3) Follow the "northern route" directions above beginning at Cumberland.

From points to the south.
1) Follow I-81 north to route 220 (not on map above) in Virginia.
2) Turn onto route 220 north and drive to Petersburg, West Virginia.
3) In Petersburg go through the light and go up the hill to the intersection of route 42 at the second (and last) light.
4) Take route 42 north for 10 miles to Maysville.
5)  Turn right onto Knobley Road at Maysville and drive 8 miles.  At about 6.5 miles there is a fork that some people have mistakenly turned on--stay to the left at this fork.  We are the large brick house on your left!