There are really a couple of converging stories that fit in the “about us” section.
The Business
The motel was built by Noah and Virginia Church and began life in the early 1960’s as the Valley Motel. It appears to have been built in several stages and continues to change over time.
When Mr. Noah passed away in the 1980’s the property was sold someone else and renamed Hidden Valley Motel. We arrived a few years later in 1991 and in those early years had the pleasure of knowing Miss Virginia, her family still lives in the area around the motel.
The Family
Jim grew up in Savannah Georgia and claimed Maxine Wilson as his bride a few days after her high school graduation, it’s been a great 50 plus years, but our story in this area starts much earlier.
Dad’s family lived in Charlotte North Carolina and in the early years the family summered in Banner Elk. Dad and Uncle Johnny were in the first class of boys to attend what is now Lees-McRae College in the fall of 1927. Dad was a good teller of tales and over the years Jim grew up hearing his tales of life in the mountains back in those early days.
Maxine and I started visiting in the 1960’s and were drawn to the mountains and this area, moving here 35 years ago as we like the climate better than the hotter climate on the coast.
Time passes ever faster as we age, but we have no desire to retire to something else as we love the area, the guests that visit and Maxine still likes getting her hands in the garden dirt so in 2016 we were fortunate to be joined by Duran and Michelle Collins who will be working with mom and dad and become your next generation of innkeepers.
Our Family Team
