We were driving around town a few days ago and noticed a new sign as we drove thru the railroad under pass on Maryland Avenue. The motel at 409 Long Avenue has changed hands from
Lydia Mountain Shenandoah Motel to Valley Mountain Motel. As of this date we could not find a website or a Facebook page for the new owners.
This motel has changed hands several times over the years. Prior to Lydia Mountan, it went by the name of Budge Inn. When it was built it in early seventies, it went by the name of Shenandoah Motel & Restaurant.
Some may wonder why put a motel on the opposite side of the railroad tracks, geographically separated from the main part of town? We found the answer to that question in the August 21, 1973 edition of the Daily News Record. The article was titled Motel Started in Shenandoah. “SHENANDOAH-Construction has started on a hotel-motel-restaurant complex on Long Avenue here that will replace the old YMCA building for housing railroad workers. The new complex, which is being built by former Town Councilman Roy Dale Karnes, also will be open to the public, a spokesman said. The Norfolk and Western Railway will lease the motel from Mr. Karnes for seven years on a monthly rent basis. The railway company has a contract with its labor unions to furnish lodging for trainmen working away from home. The spokesman said that the restaurant and other concessions in the complex will be operated by Mr. Karnes on a profit basis. Railroad officials said they have not decided on the fate of the old YMCA building yet but expect it will be razed.”
We heard comments from local citizens that Shenandoah Motel & Restaurant had very good food saying they loved the macaroni and tomatoes and many others enjoyed going down on Thursday nights for their spaghetti dinners.
Mr. Roy Dale Karnes served on Shenandoah Town Council, and was a very successful business man and was very active in various community organizations and clubs. Mr. Karnes served on the Shenandoah Industrial Corp. and the Page County Industrial Authority and was a charter member and past president of the Shenandoah Lions Club. He retired as a supervisor for Norfolk & Western Railway after 39 years and had operated Karnes Ice and Fuel Company until 1980. He owned and operated Shenandoah Motel and Restaurant at the time of his death. He served in the Army during World War II and was a member of the American Legion and St. Peter's Lutheran Church. Mr. Karnes passed away in January 1984 and was married to Hazel Koontz. Hazel helped Roy with several businesses, Karnes Ice, Coal and Fuel Business and the Shenandoah Motel and Restaurant. Hazel passed away in September 2022.
Above image from Google Earth shows how close the motel is from the Shenandoah Railroad Station. A few hundred feet north on Long Avenue is where The Forrer Mansion once stood. A picture of the Forrer Mansion can be found in the book, Shenandoah A History of Our Town And Its People, next to page one.
In case you are wondering about the fate of the old Historic Y.M.C.A. (Young Men's Christian Association) building, it did not get razed but was turned into apartments. Park Place Apartments is currently located at 308 First Street, across the street from Wigwam Park. Pictures of the old YMCA and tons of articles relating to the history of the Town of Shenandoah can be found in the History room of the Shenandoah Museum. The museum is located at 507 First St, Shenandoah, Va.
