Plans at Va. Rt. 42 trail crossing

[PorkchopBob]

My wife and I are very excited to be planning our retirement at this point and hoping to set up a hostel for hikers on the AT. My wife is a section hiker named breeze and I am well,...a day hiker. We both have spent a lot of time planning and experiencing the love of the woods we share and look forward to sharing great times with all of you in a couple years. We just bought a 35 acre place on the trail and will first be setting up a chapel. We know God is our guide and will give shelter to those who need it until we move in. .

[WIAPilot]

Best of luck to you and keep us posted!

[PorkchopBob]

This is straight forward in that we are looking for needs in the area we can meet.

[Moose2001]

Is this the Bland area?

[HikerMomKD]

Oh this is so exciting... I live in Roanoke, VA Is your property near Bland or New Castle? I would love to meet you both sometime. I would be willing to do anything I can to help you out. I do trail magic around Roanoke. I have a love for hikers and want to reach out to them as well. My daughter has hiked over 1/2 the trail. Trail name is Strange Habit. (her strange habit is she likes to set up her tent IN shelters when possible) I have hiked with her at times. I LOVE being in the woods. God bless you, Karen

[Johnnydavids]

Good luck!!

[Jeff]

Best of luck. PM me if you need any advice.

[Blissful]

Glad to hear!

[Skid.]

From what I recall of that area, it could use a hostel, and also a resupply stop since the grocery in Bland was closed last year. Best of luck.

[camperjames64]

On my list of places to do good things.

[Odd Man Out]

He said it was "on the trail" at the VA Rt. 42 trail crossing, which according to Google Maps Street View is here. Beautiful!

VA42.JPG

[Not Sunshine]

If it's 42 near Ceres, it is south of Bland about 30ish miles. 11 miles north of I-81 at Atkins. We all look forward to the haven you plan on create for hikers! Thank you. Virginia is for Lovers.

[WingedMonkey]

The same area where hikers use to be able to use the O'lystery Community Pavilion. Then they abused the honor so much the church said "No more".

[Slo-go'en]

The trail crosses RT 42 in two places - the first time near Atkins and then farther north near Roanoak. They haven't indicated which end of RT 42 they are planning on. I would think the more nothern crossing would be a better location for a hostel. Although it doesn't matter at the moment as they say it will be a few years and the first thing their going to build is a chapel - I guess that might be useful to a few hikers...

[Jeff]

The trail crosses RT 42 in two places - the first time near Atkins and then farther north near Roanoak. They haven't indicated which end of RT 42 they are planning on. I would think the more nothern crossing would be a better location for a hostel. Although it doesn't matter at the moment as they say it will be a few years and the first thing their going to build is a chapel - I guess that might be useful to a few hikers...

The Rt 42 location near Roanoak is the "Sinking Creek Valley" area. Another 27 miles north of that spot is 4 Pines Hostel.

[PorkchopBob]

Our place is in Ceres and we are taking over an abandoned place that has been vacant for some time. I'll be there in The summer but will not be doing much more than deciding what stays and what goes. We will keep in touch. My wife has some friends on a through hike she started them off in early April for five days and friends have been hooking up for sections. So who knows when we will be there. We sure are grateful for the positive comments.

[Cookerhiker]

Good luck to you!

[Jeff]

If your place is in Ceres, you should contact Rambunny in Atkins. She ran a hostel there for several years and has a ton of experience elsewhere. PM me for her email address.

[mountain squid]

you should contact Rambunny in Atkins. She ran a hostel there for several years and has a ton of experience elsewhere. PM me for her email address.

Absolutely concur.


I hope you are not getting into this without having some experience. When this topic comes up I always suggest to prospective future hostel owners to be caretakers for a season (or five) at an already established hostel. You will learn alot and might even decide that it is not for you . . . hikers are VERY demanding . . . and if you are hoping to make a profit . . . .

At any rate, Good Luck with this endeavor.

See you on the trail,
mt squid

how to hike
some observations

[ScottP]

Rambunny will be a great resource.

I also suggest that you contact The Blueberry Patch hostel in Georgia