By Stephen Smoot
Before Irish and German railway workers toiled to extend the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad through the mountains of Western Virginia, it was there.
When Lieutenant General Jubal Early marched quickly from Moorefield with 5,000 Confederates and drove Union forces away from Fort Mulligan, it was already a more than two decade old business in the town nearby.
The Hermitage Inn has seen the joys and pains, the rises and falls and rebirths, families returning for summer vacations and devastating floods, men and women going off to war.
It still stands as a historical landmark and also a cherished part of the regional business community. And now the historic inn will see new owners that bring experienced hands to the operation. Samuel and Kelly Williams, who own the South Branch Inn serving Moorefield and Romney, as well as a number of other businesses, many catering full or in part to tourists, purchased the Inn.
As a release last month stated, “the property was purchased from Jason and Carla Kaposy, who acquired the inn in 2022 and spearheaded a comprehensive, top-to-bottom restoration of both the hotel and its restaurant/bar.”
Kelly Williams shared that four years ago “we were excited when the Kaposy’s bought it. They put their heart and soul into renovating it.”
She added that they were “very excited” and that they “have a great staff.” She added that the restaurant would remain in the hands of the Keplinger family.
For Samuel Williams, acquiring the Inn served as a family homecoming of sorts. In the release on the purchase, Kelly Williams shared that “Sam’s Aunt’s parents, the Coward family, owned and operated the inn and restaurant for four decades, from 1942 to 1980. Bringing this historic landmark back into our family circle is a true once-in-alifetime opportunity.”
History for the Williams family is not just about marketing tourism. Kelly Williams has produced publications on area history and genealogy, especially in and around historic Old Fields. The Williams family has deep roots in the area’s settlement, its agriculture, and development from before American Independence right down to 2026.
That said, the history of the Hermitage Inn allows it to also form part of a regional tourism promotion strategy that the Williams’ hope will not only profit their business, but keep the tourism economy for the Potomac Highlands growing.
“It fits in very well,” stated Williams. She added that they are renovating their existing hotels to better reflect the themes of the region. “We are half way through our remodel in Moorefield.” The exterior features one of Petersburg artist Kelson Thorne’s masterpieces. Rooms are getting a facelift as well, with Williams explaining that “each room will be named after something to see and do in the area.” That includes attractions such as the Potomac Eagle and natural wonders like Seneca Rocks.
She sees the hotels in Hardy, Hampshire, and now Grant counties as hubs for tourism that should benefit all five Potomac Highlands counties. Williams stated that it makes sense to promote tourism in Pendleton and Mineral counties as well. From Spruce Knob and Seneca Rocks to Jennings Randolph Lake, even those attractions would never be a long ride from a Williams hotel.
Of course other Williams enterprises will serve as part of the plan. They also operate South Branch Smokehouse, The Bearded Hen Pub, South Branch Cinema 6, Highlands Bar & Grill, South Branch Potomac Lanes, Sweet Rose Ice Cream Shop, Old Fields Country Store and South Branch Meat & Cattle Company.
Potential programs that coordination could serve, as Williams shared, include promoting the excellent golf options in the region. Valley View and Fisher Mountain’s stunning views, the Polish Pines’ unique and fun layout, and the Mill Creek Country Club all offer incredible experiences that differ widely from each other and also from golf courses anywhere else.
As Carl Kaposy noted in the statement, “We wish Sam and Kelly nothing but the best,” said Carl Kaposy. “We’re proud that we were able to bring this beautiful property back to its full potential and are happy to be leaving it in good hands. It’s nice to see locals that are fully invested in the area take over what we started and continue to make it shine.”
The core appeal of the Hermitage lies in its part in the traditions of the South Branch Valley, a living legacy of all who have cared for it since 1841. As Sam and Kelly Williams expressed jointly in their statement, “It has been a lifelong dream of ours to own and operate a piece of West Virginia’s living history.”
