Bedford in Bedford County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

The Hotel Mons

Photographed by Craig Swain, August 2, 2025

1. The Hotel Mons Marker

Inscription. The Peaks of Otter area has long been a favorite stopover for travelers. Benjamin Wilkes and his son, Leyburn, opened the Hotel Mons on this site in 1857. The hotel became a popular vacation resort, and Wilkes expanded his operation as public demand grew. By the 1920s, the complex included two main buildings, cottages, and other outbuildings. Visitors came from all across the United States to enjoy this mountain resort. Requests for reservations continued for years after the hotel closed its doors in the 1930s.

Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Parks & Recreational Areas. A significant historical year for this entry is 1857.

Location. 37° 26.945′ N, 79° 36.371′ W. Marker is in Bedford, Virginia, in Bedford County. It can be reached from Blue Ridge Parkway, on the right when traveling south. The marker is located on the Johnson Farm Trail, part of the Peaks of Otter unit of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 85554 Blue Rdg Pkwy, Buchanan VA 24066, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally,

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this marker is in Southwest Virginia.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Abbott Lake (approx. 0.2 miles away); A Community at "the Mons" (approx. 0.3 miles away); Peaks of Otter (approx. 0.3 miles away); Polly Woods' Ordinary (approx. 0.4 miles away); Johnson Farm (approx. 0.4 miles away); Johnson Farm Apple House (approx. 0.4 miles away); The Johnson Farmhouse (approx. half a mile away); Sharp Top Mountain (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bedford.

Also see . . . Hotel Mons, Camp Kewanzee, and the Appalachian Trail. Prior to the 1930s, the Appalachian Trail passed through Peaks of Otter at Hotel Mons. In order to make room for the Blue Ridge Parkway, the

Photos in the Center of the Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Swain, August 2, 2025

2. Photos in the Center of the Marker

Photos in the center show the Hotel Mons main building and annex. The photos were taken in the 1930s.

trail was relocated to the west (it's current path) and the parkway gained a path through Peaks of Otter. However, as result of these projects, Hotel Mons was taken over using Eminent Domain by the state of Virginia, who then turned the property over to the National Park Service. The link here provides some of the backstory for those changes (as well as for Camp Kewanzee to the north). (Submitted on August 6, 2025, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)

Photos on the Right Side of the Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Swain, August 2, 2025

3. Photos on the Right Side of the Marker

On the right side of the marker are photos of the Peaks View Cottage, Road Cottage, and Family Cottage. These are all from the 1930s.

Photographed by Craig Swain, August 2, 2025

4. The Hotel Mons Marker

Site of the Hotel Complex Today image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Swain, August 2, 2025

5. Site of the Hotel Complex Today

Only some variations in the surface remain. Using maps from the National Park Service surveys for the parkway, the marker's location is oriented directly in front of the site of the hotel's main building. The location of the hotel and outer buildings is now an open pasture.

Credits. This page was last revised on August 6, 2025. It was originally submitted on August 6, 2025, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 174 times since then and 40 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on August 6, 2025, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.