We’ve been receiving some questions about our new cabins, and if you find yourself wondering the same things, hopefully you will find an answer below. If you have any other questions, email us at innkeeper@irisinn.com or give us a call at (540)-943-1991.
- Is breakfast included in the cabin rental rate? No, but you may purchase breakfast in the main inn in advance for $15.00 per person. Breakfast is served between 8 and 9:30.
- Is there a coffee maker, and if so, what kind? Yes, there is a Black and Decker 12 cup coffee maker.
- Are filters for the coffee maker provided? Yes.
- Can I cook in the cabin? Yes, there is a kitchen equipped with pots and pan, dishes, glasses and silverware. The oven is a microwave convection oven combination, with a two burner stove top.
- Can I use the hot tub in bad weather? Yes. The hot tub is on a screened in porch.
- Do I need to get a key to my cabin? No. Each cabin has a key pad on the door, and you will receive your key pad code before your stay.
- Do I need to check in/check out in the main building? No. You are free to park in the lower lot and go straight to and from your cabin.
- Are robes included in the cabins? No, however oversized spa towels are in each cabin.
- How do I turn on the fireplace? There is a switch to the left of the fireplace near the refrigerator that turns on the fireplace. Also, there is a light for the fireplace just above it to the left.
- What time is check in/check out? Check in is at 4pm, and check out is at 11am.
- How do control the heated floors in the bathroom? There is a panel to the left of the mirror that turns on and controls the temperature of the heated floors.
During the holiday season, decorative lights abound with great flourish and fanfare. From glistening white icicle lights to flashing designs in the shape of jolly ol’ St. Nick, there is no shortage of festive illuminations.
If you find yourself at the Iris Inn, and you’re looking for an evening out, head over to Staunton, VA’s Gypsy Hill Park, and enjoy their Celebration of Lights: “The light display is organized by a group of community citizens who have found a way to utilize the beauty of the sprawling park during a season that brings families and friends together.” Make it a romantic stroll with your significant other, a night out with friends, or a fun viewing for the kids.
The Celebration of Lights lasts through January 6, 2013 and is open from 5pm-11pm.
And, though these lights are fantastically beautiful, remember the following: “Christmas is not in tinsel and lights and outward show. The secret lies in an inner glow. It’s lighting a fire inside the heart. Good will and joy a vital part. It’s higher thought and a greater plan. It’s glorious dream in the soul of man.” –Wilfred A. Peterson
The weather is growing colder, no doubt, but that doesn’t mean you’re trapped indoors until the first signs of spring. Gather up your gloves, hats, and scarves, and brave the chilly beauty of the natural world.
As you can imagine, the Blue Ridge Parkways is steeped in rich history, and one particular area with physical evidence of the past is the Old Logging Railroad Overlook near Yankee Horse Ridge at Milepost 35. As the legend goes, Yankee Horse is the spot where a Union soldier’s horse fell and had to be put down. (It’s not exactly the most enthralling of legends, but it’s still interesting nonetheless.)
Further interest can be found in the Old Logging Railroad. Construction on the railroad began in 1918 and was completed in 1920, with the entirety of the railroad at 50 miles. As you can probably guess by the name of the track, it was built to haul lumber during the pre-parkway logging days, and it used to be known as the Irish Creek Railway. In a document from 1918, one individual reported, “At present, however, a logging railroad is being built up Irish Creek to a point near Irish Creek post-office, and this would make transportation somewhat easier” (Henry G. Ferguson). Click here if you’re interested in reading the entire document.
Although the use of the railway for logging has long since been forgotten, it now makes for a beautiful complement to the surrounding scenery. If you’re staying at the Iris Inn and heading for a hike at Crabtree Falls, consider visiting Yankee Horse Ridge, as it’s only a short distance away.
The holiday season is just now beginning, and you may already be feeling stressed out. Why not have something restful to look forward to once your Christmas decorations are put away, your New Year confetti is swept up, and family members have departed back home? We’re once again offering Do Nothing Weekends at the Iris Inn!
The Schedule:
Friday: Join us at the Inn anytime between 3pm and 9pm. We will have a light dinner—soup, salad, and fresh bread—ready for you from 6-9pm, and then at 9:00, you are welcome to partake in dessert and coffee.
Saturday- The day is your to do with what you will! Sleep in, play some board games, chill in front of the television, or get a massage. If you’re feeling a bit restless with all the relaxation, there are numerous hiking trails around the area as well as some great shopping destinations in Waynesboro as well as in Staunton and Charlottesville. Meals for the day include a 9am brunch and a full dinner at 6:30pm (salad, entree, dessert, and wine).
Sunday- Enjoy a wonderful breakfast at 9am before checking out around 11am. Hopefully by this time you will be will be well rested!
Dates:
January 11-13, 2013
February 22-24, 2013 (with an Everything Chocolate theme)
March 1-3, 2013
March 8-10, 2013
March 29-31, 2013
Price: Minimum 2 night stay. Rooms will be discounted 5% and food costs will be an additional $99.00 for two persons. A couple may take advantage of Friday only for $40.00, or Saturday only for $60.00.
Can you remember the last time you were completely awestruck by something? Be it a sea of stars in the night sky, the panoramic view from a mountaintop, or the soft, green scent of the woods in summertime, awe-inspiring moments are certainly few and far between. Besides their rarity, they are also nearly impossible to describe—how do you put into words something that overwhelms yet pacifies your senses? And it turns out that these experiences are not only pleasing to the senses, they are also healthy for the mind and body.
A recent study tested the hypothesis that that “awe can alter time perception.” Participants in the study “unscrambled sentences, watched commercials (with large, striking images), and answered questions about personal beliefs in order to create a perceived time availability index…In addition to confirming the expansion of time, the study shows that awe can ease impatience and actually make you more willing to volunteer time in the name of others. People also begin to prefer an actual experience over a material good. And just in case that wasn’t good enough, an awesome moment can increase your overall satisfaction and happiness in life” (The Atlantic).
So, how do we go about experiencing these awe-inspiring moments? Sometimes they happen by chance, for which you simply have to wait with painstaking patience. Other times though, you can seek them out. For example, the Iris Inn is located in a breathtaking setting. We overlook the Shenandoah Valley, and we are close by to some of the most beautiful areas in Virginia (in our opinion, anyway). If you need one of these moments of awe, let the Iris Inn be the catalyst for your experience.
Photo by Alvesgaspar (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Alvesgaspar)
If you follow us on Facebook or Twitter, you’ve probably been hearing all about the six new cabins that we’re adding to the Iris Inn. Perhaps, though, you’re wondering about the details of these delightful lodging additions. If so, then read on for the juicy details.
Are you in search of an extended stay in a secluded, self-contained, woodland setting? Consider a getaway in one of our brand new cabins, fully comparable to an adult tree-house with all the modern conveniences.
Awake to a Shenandoah Valley morning streaming in through the windows that surround you. With nature as your wallpaper, you’ll feel as though you’re camping in luxury. Practice your culinary expertise in the cabin’s full-sized kitchen. Need to recover after a day of sight-seeing? Toss your laundry into your personal washer and dryer, then relax in the two-person, rain-head shower. Immerse yourself in the sunset and the night sky through the cabin windows that encircle you or from the bubbling waters of your hot tub. Curl up to sleep in your king-sized bed, or, if it’s a warm night, rest in the comfort of an Aerobed on the screened-in porch (with advanced reservation). If you are a lover of nature and luxury, then our cabins are certainly the best pick for your getaway.
We are excited about our new cabins, and we hope that you are as well! Click here to make your Iris Inn reservations.
Schola Cantorum is a local, volunteer choral group “formed to present great works of the master composers to the community.” They are comprised of immensely talented musicians and oftentimes partner up with other musical groups such as the Waynesboro High School Concert Choir and the Waynesboro Symphony Orchestra.
One of their upcoming projects is “Murder with a G String,” a delicious murder mystery fundraiser held at Barren Ridge Vineyards on August 19, 2012. Partake in a complimentary glass of red or white wine, indulge in a lavish dinner, attempt to solve the theatrical murder, and purchase a raffle ticket for a chance to win some fantastic prizes—a six-month family membership to the YMCA, a one-hour home deck inspection, a Pulsar men’s watch, a pair of Waynesboro Players season tickets, and more. Once you’ve eaten your fill and quickly solved the mystery—all our guests are incredibly clever—return to your forested privacy at the Iris Inn.
We here at the Iris Inn have been lucky to meet some wonderful individuals who pass through as our guests. Two of these individuals, Colin and Derek, proved not only to be polite and respectful young men—traits that mirrored their training at Fishburne Military School—but they also showed themselves to be calm and collected in an extreme situation.
On the night of February 18, 2012, a fire broke out beneath the porch of our bed and breakfast. Colin and Derek were the first to notice the fire. Derek stayed with the flames to see if there was any way he could tend to them, as Colin calmly made his way into the inn, quietly insisting that Dave follow him to see something. The way in which he approached Dave kept the situation from becoming panicked chaos.
The arrival of the fire department was delayed, and during the wait, the young men requested a fire extinguisher and baking soda, then making every attempt to help smother the flames. When the fire trucks eventually arrived, Colin and Derek aided the men in unloading the hose, while speaking with the fire chief, and giving a brief interview to the media.
Colin and Derek are two remarkable young men, sensible and level-headed. We offered them a “heroes dinner” to thank them for their help, but nothing we do can adequately express our gratitude. The fire undoubtedly would have been too much for us to handle without their assistance.
And so, Colin and Derek, you have the deepest thanks of the Iris Inn.
“He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion.” –Anonymous
Although we, Dave and Heidi Lanford, are the head innkeepers here at the Iris Inn, there is a third individual who whole-heartedly welcomes guests on arrival. She helps show them to their rooms, keeps them entertained, and bids them farewell when they leave. We are, of course, talking about Katie, our 12-year old border collie who has been our constant companion since she was five months old.
A few reasons why we all love Katie:
Guests enjoy using a “launcher” to throw tennis balls for Katie outside. She always returns with a tennis ball, but we suspect that it’s rarely the same ball that was thrown. There are tennis balls scattered about the surrounding woods, and Katie always manages to bring one back so as not to disappoint the thrower.
To the delight of most everyone who meets Katie, she has a trigger word—“tail.” Say this word to her, and she will immediately begin chasing her tail, her barks growing louder as her viewers’ laughter increases. Sometimes it requires a firm command of “stop” before she actually ceases the pursuit of her tail.
If Katie wants you to throw her ball for her inside the inn, she certainly lets you know. She nudges it towards you with her nose, and then backs up in anticipation.
Katie knows she is not allowed in the rooms, so after she had helped show guests to the rooms, she patiently waits at the threshold, nudging her ball into the room so that guests will play with her.
Know that when you arrive here at the inn, you will be met with the utmost warmth and enthusiasm, not only by your innkeepers, but also by our beloved Katie.
One of the most well-loved holiday traditions is baking. Whether you’re cooking for Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or New Years, family recipes are always a must during the holiday season. Here at the Iris Inn, we certainly love our food (as you well know if you have been a guest here!), and we are happy to have contributed a few recipes to the new Bed and Breakfast Association of Virginia’s cookbook.
One of our recipes features our highly requested “Amazing Cinnamon Rolls,” which we make with a handy little “shortcut,” a package of frozen biscuits. And so, we present this recipe to you in hopes that it delights your taste buds enough that you simply have to have the entire cookbook. (If you would like more in depth information about the cookbook, check out one of the BBAV’s latest blog entries)
Ingredients:
1 (26.4 oz.) package frozen biscuits
¼ cup butter, softened
¾ cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ cup chopped pecans, toasted
1 cup posdered sugar
3 tablespoons milk
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions:
Arrange frozen biscuits, with sides touching, in 3 rows or 4 biscuits on a lightly floured surface. Let stand 30 to 45 minutes or until biscuits are thawed but still cool to the touch. (May defrost in refrigerator overnight.)
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Springle thawed biscuits lightly with flour. Press biscuit edges together, and pat to form a 10×12-inch rectangle of dough; spread evenly with softened butter. In a bowl, stir together brown sugar and cinnamon; sprinkle evenly over butter. Sprinkle chopped pecans evenly over brown sugar mixture. Roll up, starting at one of the long ends; cut into 12 1-inch-thick slices. Place rolls onto lightly greased 10-inch round or 9-inch square pan. Bake for 35-40 minutes or until center rolls are golden brown and done; cool slightly.
Stir together the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract; drizzle evenly over rolls.
Photo by Rebecca (http://www.flickr.com/photos/70757891@N00/3685013163)
