We arrived at almost 11pm for a two-day business-related stay (the driving distance was such that my husband asked me along as a second driver,) and were startled by the friendly welcome, even at a late hour. The architecture of the Mimslyn was also striking and beautiful -classic columns, a perfect driveway, hardwood floors and a beautiful spiral staircase all made it seem more like a beautiful museum than a working business. We checked in and found a delightfully cozy room, with the softest bed imaginable, all the modern conveniences (including a clever little CD-alarm clock, wireless internet and a handsome little desk,) and a shower of unusual luxury. Even the tiny soaps were top-shelf and the towels as soft as what you'd find on wedding registries. The up-to-date flat-panel TV was also very cleverly installed in a piece of practically-period furniture with drawers beneath that kept up the atmosphere until the very moment it came time to turn on the news, and once opened, we were delighted to find a nice high-def LG model instead of the shabby CRTs one sees in most hotels.
The whole experience was a little like the movies 'Somewhere in Time' and 'Gone With The Wind' crossed and mixed, puzzlingly enough, with 'Chicago' -the Speakeasy restaurant in the Mimslyn's basement is subtly and cleverly themed to a 1930s atmosphere with sumptuous modern food. Our server was astonishingly efficient and friendly, the kitchen prepared my husband's favorite dish exactly the way he likes it (not an easy task,) and the live music was a surprising bonus to an already superlative venue. There are beautiful backlit stained-glass windows there and remarkably good service, which we had, by the second night of our stay, come to notice at the Mimslyn, but to our astonishment, the prices were also quite reasonable, even remarkable given the quality of the food.
Best of all, the staff went above and beyond to make us feel welcome and to help in any way they could, from providing local-area directions to offering good advice and information about the town of Luray. What had begun as a simple job interview became our introduction to a truly beautiful small town with wonderful people, and I simply cannot wait to bring relatives to visit us in Luray so that we can treat them to a stay at the Mimslyn Inn also. (After the excellent rest and friendly encouragement from the Mimslyn and its' staff, he got the job!) This is truly an amazing hotel experience, not to be missed, and I'd recommend it to anyone. (Also, finding out that the same family runs the Bavarian Inn near our in-laws in Shepherdstown, WV was also a thrill -we'll have to try it next!)
