We lean toward the intimate end of travel — design stays, smaller properties, places with a clear point of view. A grand resort with hundreds of rooms isn’t usually where we land. But when the property in question is the oldest resort in the country, open since 1766, set on 2,300 acres in the Allegheny Mountains of Virginia, you make an exception.
The Omni Homestead has weight to it. Thomas Jefferson soaked in its mineral waters for weeks. The Great Hall alone stops you mid-step. And somewhere in between the history and the grandeur, Truffles and Chai found their footing immediately, which is really what we came to find out.
What surprised us most wasn’t the scale. It was how many other dogs were there. The Omni Homestead is, genuinely, a family resort — kids heading toward the arcade, couples booked into the spa, families spread across the lawn. And woven through all of it: pups. More than we expected. Truffles and Chai were in good company.
The Property
The Omni sits on 2,300 acres, and you feel it. The grounds are expansive and beautifully kept — open lawns, mountain views in every direction, and the kind of space that makes a two-night stay feel longer than it is. It’s a genuinely family resort in the truest sense: the arcade, the spa, the pools, the Casino Lawn all running at once. The energy is busy in the best way.
The Deerlick Trail starts right on the property behind Sam Snead’s restaurant, which means you’re hiking within minutes of leaving your room. It’s a challenging 3.8-mile loop with a steep uphill climb to start, and the Sunset Overlook at the top — looking back down over the resort and the valley below — makes the effort completely clear. Dogs are welcome on leash, and Truffles and Chai were fully in their element.
Mini Cascades Golf was a first for us, and definitely memorable as it was the first time we’ve been mini-golfing with pups. Located near Allegheny Springs, the boys explored the course alongside us while we played a round with the mountain views wide open behind us.
The Warm Springs Pools are worth a visit for the history alone. Thomas Jefferson bathed here — these are among the oldest pools in the country, and the stone structure surrounding them is quietly remarkable. Dogs aren’t permitted in the water, but the grounds are beautiful, and the history makes it worth the stop.
The Suite
We stayed in a suite with a separate living room and pull-out sofa — more space than we typically need, but it made the stay feel unhurried. Room to spread out, room for the boys to settle in, room to just be. The accommodations are classic and well-appointed without being fussy, and the mountain views from the property are a constant backdrop that never loses its effect.
Jefferson Restaurant and Taproom
The dining highlight of the stay. Jefferson Restaurant is not advertised as dog-friendly, but the outdoor patio is — and on a cool April evening with authentic southern cuisine, mountain air, and porch blankets wrapped around your shoulders, it becomes the kind of meal that stays with you. The food is deeply good in the way that doesn’t announce itself. The kind of southern cooking that simply delivers.
For lunch one day, we took out from the Jefferson Taproom and ate on the porch out front by the fire pit. A completely different mood — quieter, easy, no agenda — and one of our favorite moments of the stay.
Woody’s
For a relaxed evening out, Woody’s outdoor patio is spacious and fully welcoming to dogs. The food was solid, the setting unhurried, and Truffles and Chai settled in without a second thought.
Martha’s Market
Our morning ritual. Quick bites, grab-and-go, the kind of stop that gets you outside with the dogs without any fuss. Simple and exactly right for that purpose. Worth noting that the morning lines can run long, so build in a little extra time before heading out.
A note on dog-friendly dining across the property: pups are welcome in the Great Hall, the library, and on outdoor patios throughout. More flexibility than most properties this size.
For Travelers With Dogs
A few things worth knowing before you go: the pet policy includes a one-time non-refundable fee of $200 plus $50 per dog per night, so for two dogs over two nights, that’s a meaningful addition to your room rate. Dogs left alone in the room must be in a crate or carrier. There are no complimentary dog beds or bowls provided, so pack accordingly.
The Omni Homestead welcomes up to two dogs per reservation, and the staff acknowledged the boys throughout the stay without making a production of it. Dining options give real flexibility across the property, and the grounds are expansive enough that you never feel like you’re squeezing your pup into a space that wasn’t designed for them.
The one thing we’d love to see added is a designated off-leash area. With this much green space and this many dogs on the property, it’s the natural next step.
For a first resort stay, it set a bar we didn’t know we were looking for.
If You Go
The Omni Homestead Resort & Spa is located in Hot Springs, Virginia, approximately 3.5 hours from Washington, DC. Room rates vary by season and room category. Overnight parking is $39 plus tax per night.
A comprehensive guide to Bath County — the charming, idyllic side beyond the Omni — coming soon to Truffles & Chai.
