The Railroader Hotel

12/03/2025

As 2025 comes to an end, I would like to wish everyone who has followed this project a very Merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous 2026. Those who know me well know that The Railroader Hotel is a passion project for me as a retired Locomotive Engineer and a native of Clifton Forge Virginia. I knew from the time I came up with the idea and the plans that I would need to have a partnership to be able to bring this dream to life. I love Clifton Forge and the Alleghany Highlands area and have wanted this project as much for the area as for myself. I have an amazing partner who has years of experience in the hotel industry and has helped steer this project with me. Together we have taken my vision and ideas and along with a world class design team from London England, we have an amazing design and plans ready to begin at any time. Clifton Forge Town Manager Chuck Unroe and Mayor Jeff Irvine as well as building officials from Alleghany County have overwhelmingly given us the green light to begin this project. My partner and I have investors who were willing to fully fund the project but unfortunately, the economy, post covid and other factors caused them to put the brakes on for now. They have said that 2026 looks very promising but we will wait and see. I wanted to let all of the thousands of supporters from all across America to know where things stand. It is my hope that we will soon have good news and finally begin to make the Railroader a reality! Thank you all for following along and as things progress, we will make further announcements. Thank you all again for your interest an support! 🚂🇺🇸

12/25/2024

Merry Christmas to all! As 2024 comes to a close, as the founder of The Railroader Hotel, I want to say that this project has been the most meaningful of my entire life. The delays have been many and will continue for several more months into the new year. This was never something I could accomplish alone so along with a solid partner and an amazing design team and investment team, the final presentation of this unique hotel will be absolutely amazing! Thank you to all who have patiently followed us through the many ups and downs but rest assured we are still coming! Everyone have a Happy and blessed New Year and please continue to follow us through the new year! 🎄🎄🎄🚂🇺🇸

08/05/2024

We've won this before. Help us win again! Clifton Forge is an amazing place and we hope to welcome you all soon to the beautiful Alleghany Highlands of Virginia! 🚂🇺🇸

We are so excited to announce that the Town of Clifton Forge has again been nominated for Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine's 𝑻𝒐𝒑 𝑨𝒅𝒗𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝑻𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒔𝒕! 🚵🚣🎣🏊‍♂️🏕

Be sure to vote for Clifton Forge in the 𝐒𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐓𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐨𝐫𝐲 and show our friends in Visit Bath VA some love by voting for Hot Springs in the Tiny Town category as well.

Link to vote: https://www.blueridgeoutdoors.com/toptowns/

Round 1 ends August 18th!🤞

05/29/2024

This video, by rail fan Jersey Johnnie, gives a nice little overview of our beautiful little town of Clifton Forge Virginia. This video shows the Red Lantern Inn owned by my Friend JoAnn! She is a great host for visitors. When we open our hotel, we hope you rail fans will talk about us as well! Clifton Forge is a great place to visit! 🇺🇸🚂

The small town of Clifton Forge VA holds some amazing historic treasures, great food and lodging. C&O Railway Heritage Center, Historic Masonic Theatre and M...

05/03/2024

The building for my project, The Railroader Hotel is located around the corner from The Historic Masonic Theater. Our two buildings have a shared history, having both been built by the same firm in 1905. I actually purchased my building from the theater. After many delays starting with Covid and going through a very detailed design and planning process, we are finally nearing the final permitting process. I still don't have a firm date when the renovations and construction will begin but it is definitely closer than ever and I am very excited with what we will be bringing to Clifton Forge and the Alleghany Highlands! I hope to share more details soon! Thank you to so many of you for your continued support!

12/31/2023

As 2023 comes to a close, I want to say thank you to all of our followers and supporters of The Railroader Hotel! This project has been a labor of love! Love for my hometown, love for my Railroad heritage, and always love for family and friends! Enjoy these sneak peeks of what we have planned for this project. We hope to open in late 2024! I personally hope to meet many of you soon! Happy New Year! 🎉🎊🚂🇺🇸

12/20/2023

With Christmas almost here, Amtrak has been given a gift that we can all get on board with! There are plenty of stories online with the details, but Amtrak has been awarded grants to begin the process of planning new routes and also to conduct studies on upgrades to existing routes as well as other infrastructure projects. The one that excites me the most is the grant which begins the planning process to restore the Amtrak Cardinal to daily service after about 40 years operating only 3 days a week. The Cardinal stops here in Clifton Forge on it's way from New York to Chicago. There have been rumors for years about this happening but this time it's real. I'm very optimistic that it will finally happen this time. This will give rail travel lovers a great way to visit The Railroader Hotel and our beautiful town of Clifton Forge and all we have to offer here in the Alleghany Highland of Virginia! 🚂🇺🇸

10/30/2023

The Railroader Hotel is located directly behind The Historic Masonic Theater. This show was fantastic! Not only does Clifton Forge offer lots of Railroad history with the C&O Heritage Center, we also have this amazing theater and amazing arts facilities and venues in our beautiful small town! Of course we’ve also always had world class outdoors here in The Alleghany Highlands of Virginia! 🇺🇸🚂

10/25/2023

The Amtrak Cardinal stops right here in Clifton Forge Virginia just a short walk from the Railroader Hotel. We just held our annual Shriners Fall Foliage Festival. I can’t think of a better time to visit us once we open for business! We hope to be open sometime in late 2024 and really appreciate your patience and support while we create something very special! Enjoy these beautiful Fall pictures! 🍁🇺🇸🚂

09/19/2023

Our beautiful piece of paradise right here at home! 🇺🇸🚂

08/15/2023

Another great story about our beautiful small town! This energy here in Clifton Forge is why I chose to bring this project to my hometown! Can’t wait to welcome you all here! 🇺🇸🚂

How the arts are powering the transformation of the town.

08/11/2023

Here’s the new C&O heritage locomotive from CSX. The Railroader Hotel is being designed and themed for the vintage C&O passenger trains. Clifton Forge is a C&O town. 🇺🇸🚂

Numbered CSX 1869 in honor of the year the C&O was formed, CSX’s newest heritage locomotive commemorates the proud history of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway...