Mountain Life Inn The History Of the Inn
A space to stay, a space for play
Creating the Inn
1898
Physician and surgeon Dr. Belmont W. McBee and his wife Ida built the house in 1898; however, they only lived in it for a relatively short time, selling the house to Ida’s sister Gertrude and husband Joseph Largent in 1905. Dr. McBee died of dysentery in 1918, and by 1920 Ida and her now adult son were living on Railroad St.down by the B&O Train Depot and apple packing plants.
Since being purchased by Gertrude and Joseph Largent, the house has been sold more than a dozen times, the most recent purchase was by the firm- Cacapon Preservation Solutions, LLC in August 2023 who oversaw the adaptive reuse of the property. Cacapon Preservation Solutions, LLC was established by an architect and local historian with the vision of protecting and preserving West Virginia’s historical places for the benefit of current and future generations. In fulfilling that vision, the
firm consults with and assists WV property owners, municipalities, residents, and concerned citizens who want to protect and preserve historic structures navigate the historic preservation process.
Our Community
With the beginning of commercial navigation of the Potomac River in 1749 by fur traders of the Ohio Company, land in the vicinity of present-day Paw Paw was settled by farmers and rivermen. As additional settlers began arriving around 1800 in the immediate area of present-day Paw Paw, a town began to emerge, and this growth accelerated in 1836 as the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Company began work on the Paw Paw Tunnel directly across the Potomac River in Maryland.
Later the settlement was identified as “Paw Paw Tunnel”, eventually “Tunnel” was dropped and the area became simply known as “Paw Paw”.
The town of Paw Paw was established (incorporated) in 1891 and its primary
employer from 1868 until 1951 was a large tannery on the banks of the Potomac
River. A large orchard (primarily apple) industry also was centered in Paw Paw that lasted from 1894 until 1985. The town of Paw Paw is currently home to three
individually nominated historic buildings on the National Register of Historic Places:
the 1893 Mayor’s Office and Lockup on Lee St;
the 1876 St Charles Catholic Mission Church (next door to the Inn);
and the 1928 two-room Black School on Amelia St.
Also of note is the late 1890’s B&O Train Depot designed by noted architect E. Francis Baldwin.
Current Day
Embarking on the project of Adaptive Reuse has been a labor of love, blending months of tireless effort and unwavering dedication to craft this extraordinary Inn. Each detail has been meticulously considered to enhance the guest experience, including the addition of private bathrooms to all four bedrooms and a convenient half bath on the main level. We've also incorporated a dedicated housekeeping room to ensure impeccable service.
Infusing character into every corner, the kitchen has been thoughtfully redesigned to evoke the essence of its era, seamlessly blending functionality with nostalgia. Uncovering layers of history during demolition revealed a treasure trove of unique wallpaper, each layer a testament to the passage of time and the stories it holds.