Affectionately known as just Hellbender by the locals, Hellbender Bed & Beverage is a unique way to stay in Blowing Rock. This historic property has been part of the Blowing Rock lodging and dining landscape for nearly a century. Completely modernized, the inn now offers cozy rooms, onsite dining with outdoor seating, and a popular local bar. Its name is taken from a local indigenous salamander, the hellbender. The owners wish to bring more attention to this beautiful local amphibian and the importance of protecting our mountain waterways and recreational spaces.
Hellbender Bed & Beverage is locally owned and operated by the Milner family and maintains its historical charm while offering a comfortable and relaxing stay. The rooms are painted in calming tones and feature a king bed, controlled heat/air, shower, smart TV, and a Keurig. Rustic beams support the ceilings and large windows provide plenty of light, making them feel like actual bedrooms instead of hotel rooms.
Breakfast biscuits and smoothies are available every day of the week drawing guests and walk-ins alike to start the morning off right. They are always experimenting and adding things to their menu and right now they’re featuring Grits Bowls that look super delicious! They currently offer lunch, dinner, and drinks every day as well. The unique menu, artisan cocktails, and local craft beer selection keep folks coming back.
Though the restaurant and inn have a more contemporary vibe, the building itself is a piece of the town’s vibrant hospitality history. Construction began on the Sunshine Inn around 1928, and it opened in 1931. Built by local William Holshouser, and soon taken over by his daughter Ethel Burns, the Sunshine Inn offered affordable prices to summer visitors.
Ethel, whose son, Jerry Burns, went on to become the much revered editor of the local newspaper, ran the Sunshine Inn until her retirement in 1969. It continued under that name until 1994 when it became Crippen’s Country Inn & Restaurant. When the Crippens relocated to be near family the property underwent another transition, becoming the New Public House & Hotel. At this time, the outdoor spaces were expanded and sunny-day dining on the patio became popular. In 2020, the Milners opened Hellbender Bed & Beverage at this historic spot.
Today, the inn is still full of vibrant energy in the dining room and bar on the main floor, while the upstairs rooms and adjacent cottage offer cozy respite. Hellbender Bed & Beverage continues a long-running legacy of warm welcome, excellent food, and comfortable accommodation in a prime downtown location.
