As West Virginia Master Naturalists and avid hikers, we often traveled from our home in Charleston, WV to the New River Gorge to explore and connect with nature. We’d finish an adventurous day of waterfall chasing or mushroom hunting with a delicious meal from one of Fayetteville’s wonderful restaurants and then we’d reluctantly make the hour-long drive home.

We always wanted to stick around, relax after dinner and spend the night, but we’d grown accustomed to the creature comforts of home – things we just couldn’t find in the area’s cabins or hotels. We thought about buying a house to use when we could and rent when we couldn’t, but we just got more and more excited about sharing the West Virginia we know, the real West Virginia, with guests from all over the world.

Then we saw this big ol’ building right in the heart of Fayetteville and fell in love with its history, convenience and beauty. It was constructed from New River Gorge sandstone in 1904 to be the Bank of Fayette. By the time we acquired it, the interior was in pretty bad shape from years of neglect. But we started thinking bigger, bought the building, and dove headfirst into a massive remodel.

We spent 2013 renovating this historic building to create Lafayette Flats Boutique Vacation Rentals and opened for the business at the beginning of the 2014 tourist season. We like to say that we cater to curious travelers – couples who enjoy the cultural details in Lafayette Flats and appreciate our proximity to the small-town charm of Fayetteville and the beauty of the New River Gorge, both of which are just right outside our front door.

Meet Your Guides: Amy & Shawn