Mac Arthur House is a family-owned hotel named for General Douglas MacArthur, and folks who stay here usually notice the sense of history and the home-like feel that comes from a place that's been cared for over the years. The hotel sits close to the New River and Giles County, Virginia, with scenic spots like the Narrows Duck Pond and Mill Dam just around the corner, so it's easy to find a peaceful view or a bit of nature. Downstairs rooms include handicap accessible options, and upstairs there's a suite, plus there are Queen Rooms, King Rooms, Double Queen Rooms, and Single Rooms to choose from, all with air conditioning, big beds, and individual heat or cooling controls, and some rooms have mountain views and bathtub amenities. Guests get daily housekeeping, laundry service, towels (including plush ones), irons, hair dryers, and both plasma TVs with satellite channels and cable, keeping things comfortable. If you like music, they hold an old-time music jam every Thursday night, which gets the building-a brick place with white columns and a curved entrance-filled with the kind of tunes you don't hear much these days.
The 24-hour front desk keeps things running smoothly, offering a safe for valuables, and friendly staff see to cleanliness and good order, which gives everything an easy pace and relaxed atmosphere. The coffee shop or café's nearby if you want to step out for a cup, and there's self-parking available, sometimes with a charge, and rooms for service animals if needed, though pets aren't allowed. The hotel stays non-smoking except for the designated areas. Inside, you'll find checkered floors, artwork on the walls, dark tables and chairs in the dining area, stylish living rooms with sofas and armchairs, and windows that catch a lot of natural light. The lawn is tidy and there are trees that seem to keep the place quiet.
Plenty to do nearby, from trout fishing or watching smallmouth bass and catfish in the rivers, to canoeing, kayaking, and rafting when the mood takes you, and they say guides are available if you want help out on the water. For those who ride motorcycles, scenic mountain roads go out in nearly every direction and there are more outdoor spots like Wolf Creek Park, which has a playground, picnic area, duck pond, and a swimming hole. There's Narrows Mill Creek Park too, with different trails for hiking or biking, some gentle, others more of a challenge. Folks who like exploring longer paths can find both the Appalachian Trail and the Great Eastern Trail close by. Over the years, Mac Arthur House has picked up some recognition, like a 2013 Gold Award from Blue Ridge Country Magazine for Best Inn, though the main thing you'll notice is how the place keeps a historical, quiet ambiance, somewhere that's good for people who want an unhurried pace and simple comfort, and the high-speed wireless internet never hurts when you want to keep in touch with family or just look up the weather before a day out.
