The Oaks Victorian Inn

311 East Main Street, Christiansburg, Virginia 24073
Innkeeper(s): Linda & Bernie Wurtzburger
  • Alexandria Room

    Alexandria Room

  • Sir Christopher's Chamber

    Sir Christopher's Chamber

  • Major Pierce Room

    Major Pierce Room

  • The Garden Cottage

    The Garden Cottage

  • The Bonnie Victoria Room

    The Bonnie Victoria Room

  • The Julia Pierce Room

    The Julia Pierce Room

  • The Julia Pierce Bathroom

    The Julia Pierce Bathroom

 
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  • Alexandria Room
  • Sir Christopher's Chamber
  • Major Pierce Room
  • The Garden Cottage
  • The Bonnie Victoria Room
  • The Julia Pierce Room
  • The Julia Pierce Bathroom
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Table Of Contents

  • Introduction

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    The Oaks Victorian Inn is the only Select Registry Bed & Breakfast in the Mid Atlantic Region to receive the prestigious AAA Four Diamond Award for 17 consecutive years. This award-winning historic Queen Anne Victorian Bed & Breakfast Inn is located in the small historic town of Christiansburg, Va. near Roanoke just 2 miles off I-81 in the heart of the New River Valley; minutes from Blacksburg, home of Virginia Tech "hokies" and Radford University. Whether you are planning a romantic getaway, an elopement, a reunion, a trip to the Blue Ridge Parkway, your honeymoon, antique shopping, a opportunity to experience the changing of leaves, attending a Virginia Tech football game or touring Virginia wineries; come and enjoy the glorious setting and relaxed elegance, while feeling as comfortable as you would in your own home.

    Built in 1889, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, The Oaks offers guests
    the gracious warmth of Victorian elegance, combined with all the casual comforts of today.

    Beautiful surroundings, luxurious guest rooms, a dedication to detail, warm hospitality and memorable breakfasts are the hallmark of the The Oaks. Cross the threshold and return to a bygone era of elegance. Our parlor or library offers a perfect setting for relaxing conversation with friends old and new.

    The large wrap-around porch with rocking chairs draws you outside to relax and enjoy the perennial gardens, 300 year old oak trees; the Inn, just 2 miles off I-81 is set on Christiansburg's highest hill in the beautiful mountain highlands of southwest Virginia. Our air-conditioned Inn is open year round. Six guestrooms are furnished with antiques, oriental rugs and many amenities creating a rich blend of warmth, style and comfort to ensure a comfortable and memorable visit.

    Beautiful landscaping provides an ever-changing backdrop for the five historic oak trees, one of which is believed to be one of the largest white oak trees in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Surrounded by lawn and the oak trees, the Inn faces Main Street, once part of the Wilderness Trail blazed by Daniel Boone and Davy Crockett. Perennial gardens and fish pond surround a large brick terrace, complete with wrought iron tables and chairs. Popular for breakfast or "tea" in summer. Cottage and gazebo complete the picture.

    Each of our five large guest rooms have personal refrigerators with complimentary beverages, private baths. Some featuring body showers, jetted Jacuzzi tubs, claw foot tubs and fireplaces. The Garden Cottage has a refrigerator with complimentary beverages, microwave oven, coffee maker, a 400-gallon private hot tub, and bathroom with shower and sauna.

    Convenient Location

    • 2 miles off I-81 exit 114 or 118.
    • 35 miles south of Roanoke Airport.
    • 10 minutes from Virginia Tech and Radford University.
    • 25 miles from the Blue Ridge Parkway.
    • 33 miles north of I-77 and I-81 Interchange.
    • Approximately 30 minutes from several Virginia wineries.

    The entire history of the house is steeped in romance. Major W.L. Pierce built the inn in 1889 as a wedding gift for Julia Baird. Seven Pierce offspring were born at The Oaks. Julia, who devoted her entire life to the keeping of her wedding gift enjoyed the house until her death at the age of 99.

    Featured in more than two dozen magazine articles and the TV series Inn Country USA, The Oaks was selected for the cover of three books, including the travel guide to inns, published by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

  • Breakfast

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    Prepare to be Spoiled

    We invite you to enjoy a three course breakfast by candle light in our cozy but elegant dining room.

    Breakfast at The Oaks begins with fresh ground coffee and a variety of juices. For those who prefer tea, choose from a variety of blends served in your own personal teapot.

    The first course is a grain/bread offering. Enjoy homemade granola with yogurt, mixed berry scones, muffins or sweet potato zucchini bread with cranberries. For those of you who are here for a romantic getaway share a banana pecan bread made just for 2.

    Our second course is always a fresh fruit creation. We serve whatever is in season. Be prepared to indulge in poached pears with a tropical caramel drizzle or maybe fresh strawberries and bananas in an orange and strawberry sauce. In the fall we offer dishes made from apples picked from the tree in our own backyard.

    Now for the main event. Entrees may consist of a garden frittata with bacon, savory cheese pie with salsa, or baked parmesan eggs accompanied by apple sausage bundles in puff pastry. Our apple upside down French toast and blueberry soufflés are made with wonderful cinnamon swirl bread that comes from a local Amish bakery.

    Breakfast is served at 9:00 AM. For the early riser, coffee and tea is available at 7:30. Pour yourself a cup and relax in our library with the morning paper. During the warmer months enjoy your coffee on our wraparound porch or in our lovely gardens. For those who need to make a quick getaway, just let us know and we'll prepare you an early breakfast.

    We happily accommodate special dietary needs. Please let us know if you are diabetic, vegetarian, vegan, gluten free, lactose intolerant. If there is a particular food item that you are allergic to or just don't care to eat please let us know about that too.

  • Amenities at The Oaks

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    In-room Amenities

    • King/Queen Beds with comfortable mattresses and soft, luxurious linens
    • Plush robes and towels
    • Imported soaps and shampoos, hair dryers
    • Wine glasses with a cork screw
    • In room refrigerators with complimentary beverages
    • Flat screen TVs with cable, DVD players, wireless Internet access and private telephones

    Several rooms have fireplaces and Jacuzzis. The Major Pierce room boasts his and hers bathrooms with a 100+ year old claw foot soaking tub. If you are a guest in the Garden Cottage enjoy a soak in your private hot tub followed by a dry steam in your sauna for two.


    Goodies in the afternoon

    Tired after a long drive? Been hiking all day? When you come home to The Oaks there will be hot water available for tea, coffee or cocoa. Homemade cookies and complimentary sherry are available throughout the day.

    Outdoors

    • Extensive perennial gardens
    • Fish pond with a waterfall
    • A large brick terrace in our backyard, complete with wrought iron tables and chairs
    • A large wrap-around porch with rocking chairs and side tables, perfect for an cup of coffee first thing in the morning or good conversation and a glass of wine at the end of the day

    For Business guests

    • Corporate Rates are available for the single business traveler Sunday-Thurs nights. Inquire about rates when making your reservation.
    • Limited Faxing and Copying Services
    • Early breakfasts and coffee to go

  • Meet the Innkeepers - Linda and Bernie Wurtzburger

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    In 2005, they decided that they wanted to someday leave corporate America for a more tranquil lifestyle. Linda was approaching her 25th year with UPS and Bernie had worked on Wall Street for 22 years and then several years at Pfizer Pharmaceutical.

    WurtzburgersLinda loves to cook and garden, Bernie loves to clean and work on the internet, and they both love staying at B&B's and meeting the interesting variety of people that stay at them. What could be more ideal than becoming innkeepers? They compiled a fantasy list of what would make the perfect bed and breakfast, a yellow Victorian with a rocking chair porch and a turret, stained glass windows, beautiful woodwork, 4-6 guest rooms, lots of fireplaces, pretty gardens, window seats, 2 ovens in the kitchen and good owner's quarters.

    For 3 years they looked in New England visiting B&Bs along the southern coast of Maine, Newport RI, Cape Cod and the Berkshire Mountains never finding one that was just right. They expanded their search to Upstate NY, Lancaster PA and Northern Virginia still not finding just the right place.

    In the spring of 2009 they decided to try Asheville, again not finding the perfect B&B. To break up the 12 hour drive home, they decided stay at an inn just 2 miles off interstate 81 in the town of Christiansburg VA. When they walked in the front door Bernie' s jaw dropped and all he could say was, "Why couldn' t this place be for sale"? Surprise, it was for sale and on April 15th, 2010 they became innkeepers.

  • Gardens

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    All gardeners live in beautiful places because they make them so.- Joseph Joubert


    Upon entering the grand driveway you'll encounter the first of many gardens that abound at The Oaks Victorian Inn. Linda has always had a passion for making things grow and if you can't find her just look among the flowers. She'll be the one wearing the shirt that says "Plays in the dirt, calls it gardening".

    From early spring until late autumn everywhere you look there is something in bloom providing an ever-changing backdrop for the five historic oak trees on the property. One of them is believed to be the oldest white oak in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

    Walk under the wisteria arbor to the back gardens where you'll hear the sounds of birds, soft wind chimes and the fish pond's tranquil waterfall. A large brick terrace complete with wrought iron tables and chairs invites you to sit, sip a glass of wine and relax.

  • Guest Comments

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    "A home away from home"

    What a lovely experience we had staying at The Oaks! From the time we arrived we felt like we were home. Bernie and Linda were incredibly gracious and accommodating, and when we left it was with true regret. There were so many personal touches that made a difference. We have stayed at B & Bs before, but we rate this experience at the top of the list. The Oaks is a wonderful old home that has been treasured and loved, and it shows. We especially appreciated the fact that they took the time to sit down with us when we arrived and truly wanted to get to know us. It was lovely.

    What a serendipitous treat !"

    My wife and I try to stay at inns or a B and B as often as we can. Most are pleasant enough but every once in a while we stumble upon a truly memorable and delightful place. The Oaks is simply one the best we have had the good fortune to visit. To begin with Bernie and Linda are as gracious and hospitable as they come. After staying only one night ( alas) we feel as though we have made two new friends. The inn and the furnishings are both extremely tasteful and cozy. The rooms are large and well appointed, with a whirl pool bath, a refrigerator and plush bath robes. The town itself is sleepy and after dinner we sat on rocking chairs on the porch, drank some complimentary sherry talked of when we might come back. We hope to and will hopefully bring friends as well.


    "Our first stay at a bed and breakfast"

    This was our first stay at a bed and breakfast. The Oaks certainly exceeded our expectations. We stayed in the Julia Pierce room which was beautiful and very comfortable. The entire home is stunning and the owners, Bernie and Linda, were the perfect hosts. The breakfast they prepared was outstanding. They also know the area very well and recomended excellent places to dine and visit. We just returned from 3 weeks of traveling up and down the eastern portion of the country and we can truly say that this was the best experience we had of the great trip we were on. Thank you Bernie and Linda for sharing your beautiful home with us and making our stay so wonderful.

    Sincerely, John and Sherry
    Plymouth, Ma.

    "Where to begin"

    After arriving at The Oaks Bernie,the owner,gave us a brief history of the mansion. It was charming and quite informative. He than directed us to the menu basket which contained all of the menus of the restaurants in the area. Then the nice part of the conservation, Berni asked us if we had any dietary restrictions for breakfast. With me being a diabetic and always a concern he informed me I would be taking care of. I was special.. They fixed me a wonderful three course breakfast that consisted of yogurt, fruit and for me a beautifully prepared egg/cheese souffle that was to die for. All served in an elegant setting. The rooms carried a sense of style and elegance that was befitting of the era in the moment of time. I was truly relaxed, I was home. Thank you Linda and Bernie for the moment in time. It was truly remarkable.

    Dana and Tom

    "The Oaks is the Place to be!"

    My wife and I spend our anniversary every year in a different B&B. We have stayed at many B&Bs over the years, some I would recomend, others I would not. I must say The Oaks is a wonderful and peaceful place to get away. Beautiful manicured grounds, the views and the hospitality was excellent. Linda and Bernie have made The Oaks a wonderful escape and we will definately be returning. If you are ever in the Christiansburg area, stop in and see for yourself and experience The Oaks!

    Jack L Roanoke, Virginia

    "One of our top B & B experiences .. and, we have many!"

    This is a beautifully restored Victorian house, with many amenities. Our room was well-furnished and comfortable, with a view of the lovely garden. We were served a delicious breakfast -by candlelight! Our hosts, Bernie and Linda, know just how to please.

    Mary C
    Arlington, Virginia

  • History of The Oaks Victorian Inn

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    Steeped in romance from the moment construction began in 1889, this majestic Queen Anne Victorian was built as a wedding gift from Major William Pierce to his bride Julia Baird. They decided to call their home The Oaks, named for the gigantic 300+ year old towering oaks surrounding the property. The Pierces married in 1891 and moved in upon completion in 1893. They raised a family of 7 children here, all born in the room now known as The Julia Pierce Room. William, an investor, insurance agent and entrepreneur was always seem in public dressed in formal attire. It is said that even when gardening he wore a coat, tie and dress straw hat. The Pierces loved to entertain and Julia was a grand hostess decorating their home for many festive occasions. William passed on May 6 1949 and Julia remained in her beloved home until her death on November 25 1968 just shy of her 99th birthday. Members of the Pierce Family lived in the house until 1981 when the property was sold to Thomas and Mary Lou Hardy.

    The Hardys, with 2 dozen workman, spent 9 months updating the interior and restoring the exterior of the house to its original charm. Tom and Mary Lou removed the aluminum siding added years prior and restored the weather boarding to its original Victorian yellow. During restoration they were careful to keep all the original ornate radiators which are still used to heat the house. The kitchen was updated, walls were insulated, bathrooms were added and the attic was finished creating a retreat for Tom and a play area for their children. The Hardys moved in Halloween weekend 1982 and remained in the house for 7 years.

    In 1989 Tom and Margaret Ray purchased the property converting it to what is now The Oaks Victorian Inn Bed and Breakfast. Tom, an architect, added built in bookcases to the library and converted the sun porch into a formal dining room complete with a beautiful working fireplace to warm guests in the cold winter months. The original dining room was converted to a large guest room and the swinging pantry door now opens to a dressing area and bathroom. In 1993, 100 years after construction, The Oaks was named to the National Registry of Historic Places. In 1996 The Oaks received the prestigious AAA 4 diamond award for excellence and continues to win this award every year.

    The Oaks changed hands in December of 2004 then again in April 2010 when the present owners, Linda and Bernie Wurtzburger, became the caretakers of this very special home.

  • Activities and Events

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    Activities

    River /Biking Recreation

    Golfing

    Swimming

    Inspired by nature

    Wineries and Vineyards

    Attractions & Shopping

    Events

    Arts and Crafts

    Music and Food

    Sports & Entertainment

    Area Dining

    Spa & Wellness

    Theatre & Music

  • Directions

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    From I-81
    Take exit 114 follow the sign toward Christiansburg- you will be on Main Street.  Travel straight approx. 2 miles - The Oaks is on the corner of East Main and Park

    From Blue Ridge Parkway
    Take Rt. 8 (MP165) west 28 miles in to Christiansburg (Rt.8 becomes Main Street) follow straight to The Oaks

    From 460
    Travel 460 East toward Roanoke- pass
    Virginia Tech and Blacksburg
    After hospital sign take the next
    Exit 460 Business/Downtown
    (N Franklin) Travel straight approx. 2 miles. Turn left at the corner of East & West Main Street - follow straight to The Oaks