The Billy Motel, Capon Springs and Farms, Coolfont Resort, and Koolwink Motel evoke a time when a few days off looked a whole lot different.
The Billy Motel in Davis offers a convenient location to kick back following a day full of Tucker County adventure. The throwback atmosphere of the place harkens back to the days when enormous station wagons careened down the highways with whole families piled in for family vacation time. There are 10 inviting rooms from which road-weary travelers can choose and an on-site bar that has a reputation for mixing up some of the most delicious cocktails around. If retro resting is what you’re looking for, The Billy Motel has it in spades. 1080 William Avenue, Davis, 304.851.6125, billymotel.com, @thebillymotel on Facebook
If you’re looking for a vacation spot that recalls a time when life moved at a slower pace and when people seemed to find much joy in simple things, Capon Springs and Farms in High View might be the right stop for you. It’s a vacation retreat sure to delight the whole family, with plenty of activities right on the property. You can even take on the Caponchase Adventure challenge, the resident code-cracking treasure hunt designed so guests can explore “secret historical and natural wonders” of the property. 3818 Capon Springs Road, High View, 304.874.3695, caponsprings.net, @caponspringsandfarms on Facebook
Anyone looking for lodging with a heaping helping of retro will love Coolfont Resort outside Berkeley Springs. This property reflects back on a time when families traveled to a single destination for their summer vacations and didn’t leave until vacation was over—these were often places that offered a little something for everyone all in one place. Coolfont does that and more with comfortable lodging, an on-site swim center, a restaurant and lounge for the adults, hiking trails galore, and a 12-acre lake. 3621 Cold Run Valley Road, Berkeley Springs, 304.500.0500, coolfont.com, @coolfontresort on Facebook
Koolwink Motel in Romney is another roadside pit stop that wayworn travelers love for its devotion to simpler times. It’s been in the hands of the same family—the Mauks—for almost a century, although its appearance has evolved over time from the single-structure “tourist home” that first welcomed visitors in 1936. The Mauks characterize the place as a “modern facility with a retro feel,” offering simple rooms and reservations by telephone only. For a truly authentic vintage motel experience, check out Koolwink on your next journey through the area. 24350 Northwestern Pike, Romney, 304.822.3595, koolwink.com, @thekoolwinkmotel on Facebook
photographed by Carla Witt Ford and Nikki Bowman Mills
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