Things to Do In Luray: Summer Music Festivals, Concerts and Friday on the Plaza

Free Friday "Evenings on Main" Concerts: Luray Downtown Initiative continues to lead the way in revitalizing Main Street Luray and will be presenting free concerts on Friday afternoons to encourage visitors to visit and enjoy the fantastic Greenway Park and Ruffner Plaza throughout the summer. I'll post more info as I can get it. In the meantime, plan a trip soon and enjoy this view of the front yard in bloom here at South Court Inn.

20 June 08: Steve Carter with an evening of Folks, Rock and Jazz.

July 4th Family FunFest: 3:00 to Fireworks about 9:00PM. Join us for an afternoon of music, duck races and fireworks as we celebrate July 4th with an old fashioned home-town celebration. We'll have lots of things for the kids to do and play and to keep adults busy as well. Then, shortly after sunset, we'll have a great fireworks display to help us all remember what our forefathers meant when the said July 4th should be a day to remember with bonfires, fireworks and general public celebration! Come join us for a weekend of celebration here in Luray.

18 July 08: Clarence Turner and Electric Chicago Blues

Performing Arts Luray (PAL) Ticketed Events: A Summer of Concerts, Dinner Theater, Musicals and Merriment. You are going to be surprised at the variety of performances hosted by PAL this summer. After the success of the beer garden on the Center Plaza at our Festival of Spring, PAL is looking to host a few evenings of quiet music and fun as we swing into summer. PAL is a self-sustaining, community based cultural activity center that enriches our lives and our Town. Please visit their web site and plan to attend one of their programs whenever you visit Luray. You'll be surprised and glad you did! Here's some of the highlights of their summer schedule:

7 June 08: 2nd Annual Shenondah Valley Acoustic Blues Bash! 4:00-6:00PM and 7:30-9:30PM.

Travis Steele Nevels is a former NC/SC combined finger picking champion. A superb guitarist and author of two guitar instruction books, Travis often leaves other guitarists shaking their heads in awe and wonder. He's one-of-a-kind and you'll never forget him when you watch him perform. Travis resides in Charlotte, NC. Visit his website at Freestyleguitar.com.

The Blue Rhythm Boys come to us from Maryland. Tom Mitchell and Jim Stephanson are masters of their instruments and depending on the tune, can be silky smooth or hot as a mouthful of Tabasco. Listening to them and watching them play, the term "virtuosos" comes to mind. Read more about them at BlueRhythmBoys.com.

Beaucoup Blue is the father and son duo of David and Adrian Mowry. Based in Philadelphia, rich vocals and harmonies, coupled with stellar picking have become their trademarks. Their tantalizing combination of six string, twelve string, and resonator guitars is smoky, lush and clear as a bell. Read more about them at Beaucoupblue.com.

Dan Gage, simply put, is an extraordinary harmonica player. Until recently, he was half of the Connecticut based duo, "JD Bone." Now living in California, he's quickly becoming one of the most sought-after "harp" players on the west coast. Check out his instructional videos at "12gagedan" on You Tube.

Luray's own Pops Walker has been aptly described as one of the nation's most powerful solo acts. A consummate performer, Pops will open both shows. Travis Steele Nevels will join him for one of the shows; Dan Gage will join him for the other. Drop Pops a line at Popswalker.com.

27 June, 5, 11, 18 and 19 July
Dinner Theater "Dearly Beloved" - Enjoy a catered dinner and great community theater as we swing into a summer of music, comedy and fine concerts.

South Court Inn goes Green and Offers Free Gas to Help You Visit! Greetings from South Court Inn in beautiful Luray, VA. We've celebrating because we have just become the first B&B in the Page County Chamber of Commerce to be awarded the Virginia Green seal of approval for our efforts to help preserve the environment. Keep an eye out for this seal of approval to help you identify businesses that are joining the Commonwealth's efforts to mobilize business to help make a difference in the state we pass on to the next generation. Besides the usual plastic, paper and glass recycling you'd expect to be part of such a program, we looked for a way to take advantage of some of our "premium" guest amenities to help others as well. We are now taking our magazines to local nursing homes and senior lunch centers so patience, visitors and lunch visitors will have something to read, take home and enjoy or pass along to others as well. Yes, it can be a "physical pain" to move all those heavy copies of Gourmet, Bon Appetite, Southern Living, Martha Living, etc., but the smiles and thanks we get from those who are sharing our deliveries are quite a reward!

It has been a spectacular spring here in the Shenandoah Valley. We're half-way through the Spring flower cycle here at South Court and have hundreds of peonies in full bloom in the front garden right now. They will be followed by waves of daylily and roses blossoms until the black-eyed Susans kick in as the heat begins to rise. We know gas prices continue to rise and hurt, so make sure you get a look at out free gas packages to help you pick South Court for your next visit to the Luray area. Hope you enjoyed the picture of the peonies in bloom in the front garden! See you soon here on South Court Street in beautiful Luray, VA...the marvel above the caverns!

Things to Do In Luray: Enjoy Rare Plants; Fantastic Luray Parks and Recreation Programs

Spring Brings Mother Nature's Rare Plant Surprise!

Good evening! First off, I can't pass up the opportunity to show off my new robe...along with Mr. & Mrs. Richard Dix, who I married here at South Court Inn on 4 April 2008. I finally took the plunge and bought a fine official robe to wear when I'm marrying couples staying here at South Court. We offer 3 great elopement, marriage, honeymoon packages to match just about any budget. Make your reservations and come planning on an elegant wedding with all the trimmings...including a nicely robed marriage officiant...gray-mustachioed fellow in the dress on the right here!

Second, I have fantastic news tonight! I've been one-upped and am beaming ear to ear! About 3 years ago I bought a much-distressed, container-gown plant at a discount "lost label" sale. Nobody knew what it was, but the sticker on the side of the pot said "Chinese Magnolia" and that really got my attention. I had visions of the usual large-petaled, purple Saucer Magnolia and was glad to have one at only $5.00. So, I brought the pot home, let it set around unloved for probably a month or more...after all, it could not be much if it only cost $5.00...then finally decided to plant it where I hoped it would, one day, shade the entry walk to the house and restore our faith in nature when it burst into giant mauvish-purple saucer-sized bloom each spring. Then I largely ignored it. When it got to be head-high, I staked it, blessed and wished it well. When it seemed to flourish, I refused to get too excited, after all, the location was not just right. So last fall, just to remind me that nature has a better plan, this spindly little tree-wanna-be set small, velvet-coated flower buds and thumbed its nose at me! I knew we'd have a hard winter and the buds would not last. Come spring, however, there they perched...right out on the sides of limbs and at the tips of twigs. Well, to make a long story a bit shorter, that scrawny Chinese Magnolia bloomed this weekend and sent me scurrying to the internet! Darned it my Chinese Magnolia doesn't have YELLOW flowers! I've never heard of, much less seen a YELLOW-FLOWERED MAGNOLIA, yet right there she is in my own front yard...what turns out to be Magnolia "Elizabeth," rare as can be! It will reach a height of maybe 30 feet with a 20 foot spread and thrive in exactly the spot where I accidentally planted it.
Unless we get a heavy frost in the next week or so, you will be able to enjoy this increasingly floriferously explosive, yellow specimen as you walk to the door here at South Court Inn. Just when you think you are setting pretty, puny Mother Nature take you by the scruff and give you a good shake! Can't you just hear her as she talks about Elizabeth... "So, big boy, think you've seen it all? Well, let me show you! Pay attention, now. Remember, here is a YELLOW MAGNOLIA, and though she is rare, I got a lot more on the way!"
Spring is upon us and the rush of color will go on for another several weeks. Behind Magnolia "Elizageth" here you can see that we have 3,000 daffodils in bloom, the weeping and tidal basin cherry trees are breaking into flower red-buds are showing just a hint of color. By the end of April, we'll have azaleas and rhododendrum flush with color joining the march. Then in May come the royal peonies...waist high flashing deep green foliage with pinks, reds and bicolor headed flowers to fill the air with fragrance and butterflies.

We have a few rooms available at least one night on weekends through the rest of April, but you'll get a better price if you can break away for a weekday visit and enjoy the march of color across the gardens at your leisure. Do get a look at our Free Gas Getaways...it is money in your pockets and out of our's, but we can all enjoy the spring of color and the quiet of country nights all the same. Take that as an invitation to enjoy a discounted visit and enjoy South Court's gardens as they race toward spring!

Fantastic Luray Parks and Recreation Programs:
OK, hold on to your hats now! It may well be true that those of us who live in Luray are proud of what this small Town has accomplished over the past five years, but it also true that visitors seem surprised by just what a great place Luray is to visit. Everybody knows about Luray Caverns, and heavens knows we are lucky to have it as the great attraction it is, but Luray is fast becoming known for more than the Caverns. Consider, for example, the number of guest we have here at South Court Inn who are esctatic to learn about the Greenway Park. It is a nearly 2 mile walkway and park along the banks fo the Hawksbill Creek through the middle of the Town. The Greenway Park is filled with walkers, strollers, joggers and sight-seers almost round the clock. Our guests find it a great place to enjoy a quiet walk long-side the creek to talk or watch kids feed the ducks, or to sit and enjoy a picnic lunch picked up at one of several restaurants/bakeries/eateries in Town. Luray Parks and Recreation have oversee more than 300 acres in 9 parks and keeps things neat, trimmed, in bloom, on schedule and otherwise enjoyable for those of us who live here...and for you, our visitors, no matter what the time of year. So, visit the Town web site and learn more about everything that Parks and Recs has in store for the year, then plan on enjoying Luray's parks as part of your visit...every month you visit during the coming year!

Things to Do in Luray: Comedy Night in April; Bicycling Luray By-ways

Good evening! We must be getting close to Easter. I don't know about you, but it seems I spent more Easters freezing my duff off that Christmases. February finally falls victim to the sun's march and March gets your hopes up, then you get a cool, humid gray day like this and you can't get warm. We took a bit of a risk last fall and decided to gamble that the price of oil would continue to rise and justify our replacing an otherwise serviceable air conditioner with a heat pump. I can't begin to tell you how glad we are we did that. Our guests have been, too. We've spent a far warmer winter in this 130+ year-old house and used far less oil than we had dreamed. Yes, the electric bill is up a bit, but when I'm working on the books for 2008 and compare oil bills to 2006/2007 I think I'm gonna like the numbers.
Here at South Court Inn, we finally got the steps up the rock wall and the second pergola installed on the landing at the end of the rear garden. I got 2 large pots and set them at the edge of the steps, but find I need even larger pots to fit the scale of the view from the main house or the rear of the cottage. We offer special packages for the cottage and you'll really kick yourself if you miss the chance to spend some time sitting on the private patio and doing nothing sometime between now and July 4th. I'll plant clematis vines in the two pots and have them tangle their way to the top of bamboo pyramid trellises to raid the scale a bit, but still need 2 larger pots to make it a tad more dramatic. We have the barn scheduled for painting next month and when that is done, I think it will become a favorite place for garden weddings. Check out our elopement, private wedding and vows renewal package.

April 12, 2008 at 7:30 PM

Comedy Night featuring Glick & Phillips

John Glick and Steve Phillips have been entertaining audiences with their mixture of divine duet harmonies and sarcastic song lyrics for over a quarter of a century. Their music is reminiscent of the great Homer & Jethro with a bit of political satire and social commentary added for spice.

Best friends, brothers-in-law, and partners in the practice of healing laughter, they have performed in folk festivals, on radio, in cafes, and on stage. They have tickled the fancy of the Virginia State Animal Control Officers as well as knocked them dead at the Shenandoah Valley Funeral Directors annual Ladies' Night.

Glick & Phillips are best known locally for their annual appearance at Harrisonburg's New Year's "First Nite" celebration. Fans look forward to hearing on what new toes the duo will tread as they unveil their latest original work or parody roasting whichever public figure has caught their eye recently. No stone is unturned as they consider themselves equal opportunity offenders. Purchase tickets here on-line before your arrive or in at shops in Luray.

Bicycling Luray By-ways If you are a bicyclist and going to be anywhere near Luray, make sure you note that Appalachian Outdoors Adventures has moved to a new shop at 18 East Main Street, Luray, and is THE place to go for bicycle rentals, repairs and purchase. You'll also find advice and maps on cycling and hiking trails throughout the area. Watch out for the fierce protector, the famous Shop Dog! He's been known to break many a visitor's heart.
Gary and Linda are well-known boosters of sports activities in the area and willing to share their insights and warnings with you...whether you buy anything or just stop by to shoot a buffalo. If you are an ardent cyclist, ask them about their famous Three Peaks Challenge and the Three Peaks tee shirt. If you are not an ardent cyclist, ask anyway and see how long it is before you begin to get a real feel for what ardent cyclists they are! Ask them, too, about the Luray Triathlon scheduled for 16 and 17 August 2008. Now is the time to start your training program if you want to swim Lake Arrowhead, run the hills and ridges outside Town or bicycle to a blazing finish line dash. They'll be right in the middle of the local planning and there cheering you on during the Triathlon.

Things to Do In Luray: Watch the Daffodils Bloom, Win Great Prizes at the Duck Race

Watch the Daffodils Bloom at South Court Inn

Good Morning! At one point last night I thought one of the tornados just might be in our area. Wind, thunder and pouring rain! Thankfully, it was just the strong weather front moving through. I have to get out and see if we lost any limbs, but they will be worth the damage for we need water on the ground.

BTW, the daffodils in the front bed are about an inch out of the ground, so if things stay on schedule, we'll have 3000 or more daffodils blooming by late March. Then we'll hope for good cool weather to keep them bright for 2 or 3 weeks. Do drive by our place if you are in Luray. For all you Garmin fans, that is 160 South Court Street, Luray, VA 22835. Speaking of driving, get a look at those Free Gas packages we just posted...they give you free gas to help easy the gas bill for your visit.

Win Great Prizes at the Duck Race on the Hawksbill Creek on 10 May 2008

Make sure you mark your calendars to be in Luray, Virginia Mother's Day weekend. That will make sure your are here for our 4th annual Luray Festival of Spring, 10 May 2008. Along with all the crafters, food vendors, and live music, we'll be having Duck Races again this year. The big Duck Race news is that first price in our first duck race will be a 3-night stay in a fantastic house in Duck, North Carolina, valued at $1,000. There are another 10 prizes to be awarded to the next 10 ducks to follow the winning duck across the finish line. To help spur sales along and give everyone a chance to enter the duck race, we have tickets available on-line and winners do not have to be present to win. Click here to buy your Duck Race tickets on-line today

Things to Do In Luray: Celtic Music Concert on 15 March!

Good morning! The sun is out, the last guests of the weekend are headed home and Anita and I are on our way to enjoy the brilliant day we have been given here in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley. For those of you who are always looking for an edge on your budgets for your travel and getaway times, South Court Inn just loaded two Free Gas packages yesterday and will be adding one for Virginia Wine Lovers in the next day or so. Bottom line, if you book the rooms or packages we are offering, you'll save anywhere from $10 to $112 to be used to cover your gas bill for your visit. Remember, South Court Inn is 2 hours or less from the Washington D.C. area and we'd love to have you stop and enjoy a break with us here at the Inn. Have a great day!


Don't Miss the Celtic Music Concert in Luray, VA, 15 March 2008!


The MARTIN FAMILY BAND has been sharing their music for 15 years. They started playing together at home as a family activity. It wasn't long before others began to notice the way their music brightened up a room. They are presenting their concert at the BB&T Performing Arts Center here in Luray, VA on 15 March 08. Visit the PAL web site to buy tickets in advance of your arrival and plan on a great night of Celtic celebrations on your special day.

This talented group performs a rich blend of Old-Time and Irish music. Walt Michael, Director of Common Ground on the Hill calls them "An exciting and unique blend of traditional music. Always lively and fun to watch."

Their unique mix of instruments - hammered dulcimer, mandolin, fiddle, banjo, guitar, button accordion, piano, recorder and tin whistle in various Old-Time & Irish music traditions has earned them a reputation of a group that is fun loving and a joy to hear.

Things to Do In Luray: The Mimslyn Hotel Opens

Good evening! Well, just as we hoped, the weather front moved faster and warmer than predicted, so we are looking for a house full here at South Court Inn this weekend. February and March are a good time to get away from the winter blues to celebrate with the love you're with and South Court has a getaway package to warm your heart and match your budget. Click that link and get a look at our new web site format and South Court Inn in April bloom. April and May are great times for your private wedding in the garden and a specially priced elopement/wedding package to match.
Now, let me surprise you. I think it will be a surprise because I'm going to tell you about the newly renovated Mimslyn Inn here in Luray, VA. I know it seems a bit odd for me to be tauting what will be a strong competitor, but I can't help it.

The Mimslyn Hotel Has been Restored!


For years now, we, like the rest of Luray, have been praying for someone to come in, buy and restore this grand old hotel.Opened in 1935, the hotel had a good run and was well-known across Virginia for its accommodations and food. As society became more mobile and began to move to the newest invention, motels, things changed, revenues fell and the business did not support the sort of upkeep needed. There she sat, a Georgian Revival beauty right on Main Street....just waiting for the right vision and determined owner. Well, 3 years ago, we got our wish when Erwin Asam (yes, who also own and operate the Bavarian Inn, Shepherdstown, WVA) and his family bought the hotel. The hotel opened the kitchen and dining room in time to handle a few Christmas parties, 2007.
Last night we got to see what $6+ million dollars will do to a grand but faded beauty...and result is fantastic! The hotel hosted members of the Luray-Page County Chamber of Commerce at an open house. The food was great, the bar stock impressive and service responsive and the rooms are something you will want to consider...when you're not looking for the special getaway touches offered by South Court Inn. They are now renting rooms and from what we saw last night, we are going to see a growing stream of folks from far and near coming to Luray to stay at the hotel, enjoy its magnificant rooms, restaurants and soon to be renovated gardens. I'm sure they will have better pictures on their web site as time goes along, but I pulled these to give you an idea of what sort of place the Mimslyn has become. You are gonna like it, just like those of us who live here do. We are all smiling as we drive by and here's one citizen who can't help but say, "Welcome back, Madame!"

Things to Do in Luray: Mom's Day Out of the House, 10 May 08

Greetings from the Innkeepers:
Good morning! It is bright sunny day here at South Court Inn, 160 South Court Street in Luray, VA. We are wondering what the weather will bring us tomorrow because the forecast is not too good. We're expecting the weekend weather to turn out better and lots of folks to be here enjoying their own private Valentine's celebration or getaway.
Of course, one of the reasons for this blog is to let you know about South Court Inn, the great Victorian B&B where you can get away from it all. FYI, your's truly is the mustachioed one in red, picture top left. Anita, the better looking in this duo, and I hope you will plan on staying with us here at the Inn when you are in the area, but we also want to give you a long list of reasons to visit this beautiful, small hometown in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley. I keep reminding guests that while Luray is famous for Luray Caverns, the Town of Luray is the marvel above the Caverns.
You are going to love all the things to see and do in Luray...arts, entertainment, nature... and all the things the Town does to provide you places to do absolutely nothing! So, keep coming back and checking out the things to do in Luray and use us as your resource to help you plan a getaway of "doing" or "doing nothing!" We'll keep an ear cocked for your phone calls and check our email frequently for your reservations request.

Luray's 3rd Annual Festival of Spring: 10 May 2008

With that prologue then, here's a very good reason to plan ahead and spend Mother's Day weekend here in Luray, VA with your wife, Mother or best friend. It is gonna be even better than last year's festival and that one was a blast!

Last night I attended the first joint committee meeting about the 2008 festival. The festival is held each year on the Saturday before Mother's Day.
The aim is to provide everyone with a way to give Mom a day out of the house, a day filled with family fun, food, arts and crafts, music, wine-tasting, park strolling and relaxation she does not otherwise get a chance to enjoy all the rest of the year.
Then of course, there is the Duck Race! Buy her and yourselves ducks to compete in the great race down the Hawksbill Creek that flows through the middle of the Town of Luray. We haven't settled on the Duck Race prizes just yet, but you can bet we'll have some nice prizes. There is a chance that your's truly will be chained to the the table selling rubber ducks all day at the festival, but all the proceeds go toward the Luray Downtown Initiative, our central effort to revitalize the historic center of the Town, so it is all toward a good cause and loads of fun to boot!
This year, it looks like the Festival of Spring will start with a new activity....a 5 K Race even before vendors begin to set up on Main Street at 7:30AM. The race will probably end about the time the Festival officially starts at 9AM. From there on , it is Cady bar the door!
We'll have almost non-stop music, food vendors with everything from popcorn to Carolina BBQ, crafters, kids rides and activities, and, if we are lucky, a Canine Frisbee contest in the middle of the Greenway Park. Buy a ticket to the Wine Garden, bring you lunch there and add a glass of your favorite tasting to your lunch break. And that is just an idea of what you'll enjoy up to lunch. Return for more details as we get the full schedule planned over the next couple of weeks. So, mark your calendar and don't miss a great day out of the house with Mom and the whole family! It is all going on here in the Town of Luray, VA, the marvel above the Caverns!

Things to Do in Luray: Dinner Theatre and JMU Brass Band

Good morning! The picture left is of the James Madison University Brass Band which will be performing a rousing concert here in Luray, VA, on 23 February 2008! Today it helps us launch a new feature here on the blog for South Court Inn, Luray, VA. The title says it all! Make sure you bookmark this site and return often to find out what is happening in Luray and the surrounding area.

South Court Inn will be providing a continuing discussion of upcoming events and activities, things to do and see, as well as anything else that we think will be of interest to our readers. You'll be happy to discover that our discussion is not limited to just the short term, but highlights things in the longer term as well. I'll get to the dinner theatre and James Madison University Brass Band Concert here in Luray in a moment, but let me talk long term planning for a bit.

For example, let's talk about visiting during the fall color season. If you think you might like to spend a few days enjoying the beautiful fall colors in Luray and the Shenandoah Valley, you need to know that peak color season runs from about the middle of October to the early November. The best rooms at B&Bs in the area are booked up by the middle of September, so advance planning and reservations get you what you want, when you want it. Want an even better idea about fall visits? Well, if you can plan now and schedule your time away from your job so that you can visit during the week rather than on weekends, you'll find smaller crowds, shorter lines and waits, less traffic on Skyline Drive and get a much more personal welcome just about anywhere you go or stay. Weekends can get hectic, but things sloooooooooow down during the week. So, keep those points in mind and plan a great fall getaway while you have the best choices of everything!

BB&T Center for the Performing Arts and Performing Arts Luray

Luray is most fortunate to have many talented musicians, actors and artist who have retired to the area or live here for the great small, hometown look and feel of the Town. Thanks to many of them and caring citizens of the Town and area, we have our own Center for the Performing Arts and an active support organization committed to presenting music, theatre, concerts, recitals, hoedowns and other performing arts venues several times each month...all year long!

Here's what's happening at the Center for the rest of February 2008. Notice the link will take you to their web site, where you can learn more about what's happening for months in advance and buy tickets for any performance right from the web site.

JMU Brass Band Concert

7:30 PM, 23 February 2008. Tickets $12 or less.

This will be the third concert provided by the award winning JMU Brass Band for us at the BB&T Center for the Performing Arts here in Luray. Last year's concert left the audience calling for encore after encore. We're sure they will present a rousing collection of all your favorite brass band pieces and have you calling for more even as the exhausted musicians finally have to start packing it in for the night! Band Awards include: 2006 & 2007 North American Brass Band Association Championship Section Runner-up and2004 & 2005 North American Brass Band Association Honors Section Champion

February Dinner Theatre

28, and 29, 2008 at 6:00 PM

Tickets: $35 (advanced sale only)

The cocktail hour starts at 6:00 PM with light music and cash bar, followed by dinner about 6:45 PM. Then comes the comedy "The Foreigner," a tale about a proper Englishman visiting the U.S. for the first time knowing that he'll encounter a passel of low-brows and conspires with a traveling companion to convince others that the Englishman neither speaks nor understands English...and thereby hangs a far different and hilarious "tale." The troupe has already done the play 5 times in February, so you'll get their best-rehearsed-and-polished performances before the play closes for this run. Buy tickets at the PAL web site, as there are no tickets at the door the night of the performances.

Happy Valentine's Day and Month!

Good morning! It was 22F when I went out to get the papers this morning, but there was not a cloud in sight. What a glorious day this is going to be to get married and we have one couple arriving this afternoon to do just that.

Imagine having a lifetime of anniversary celebrations ahead of you which just happen to fall on Valentine's Day! Well, that opportunity is almost gone for 2008, but we have the rest of February ahead of us and we'll be celebrating Valentine's every day at South Court Inn. For those who did not manage to schedule a Valentine's getaway just yet, here's a one-night special Valentine's Getaway that will put a spring in your step and a smile on your face:

One-Night Valentine’s Celebration!
Any night in February, overnight stay, bouquet of roses or box of Godiva chocolate, champagne flutes and chocolate cake at bedtime and breakfast in the morning: $250. Pick your room and night, then call toll free 888-749-8055 to make your reservation.

We also offer a great choice of other getaway packages specially priced for real value for your dollar. Hope to see you soon. We'll keep an ear out for your phone call and review or email often looking for your reservations. Have a great Valentine's day! Cheers, Tom

Crocus Buds! We Survived Winter!!!

Good morning! I know, right now it's raining and the rain is freezing to trees. Traffic is at a crawl. Wall Street is a mess. The forecast from talking heads on all those fronts is only a bit encouraging, but I'm all smiles anyway!

You see, I got a lifeline from Mother Nature this morning. When I went out in the rain and frozen landscape to get the papers, I saw crocus buds! Those buds were tightly wrapped against the elements, but by their size I know they must have broken lose and shouted greetings of yellow, purple and pink at the bright, ground-warming sunlight we had for just an hour or so yesterday afternoon.

I missed their arrival yesterday, but you can bet I'll be watching for those tight closed specs of color to paint patches of cadmium yellow and royal purple in front of the cottage the next time the sun appears. I hope the picture will put a spring in your day too.

So what does all this have to do with South Court Inn? Well, it means now is the time to plan a Spring getaway. The crocus won't last long, but spring is just around the corner and we'll have special rates for March and April escapes and loads of flowers too.

March launches the garden blooming season here at the Inn. It won't be long before the 2,000 plus daffodils we broadcast and planted across the bed in front of the house 2 years ago, break the ground and send up clusters of bright yellow trumpets to herald the parade of color that will march around the yard for months to come.

April brings South Court something you don't see much of in Luray...azalea blossoms.

The Delaware River White's add a bright edge just at the shade line of our 60+ foot Norway and red spruce trees.

The the rhododendron join and raise full heads of lavender and red to join the azaleas as we move toward May.

Now is the time to book your getaway to make sure you are looking out the window from the Margaret Bland room here at South Court and seeing in mid-May 2008 what we saw last year.

Or, you can look down on the whole front garden and lawn from the Mary Kennard room.

Get a look at all our rooms and check availability here to make reservations as well.

Speaking of mid-May, don't miss the annual Festival of Spring here in Luray on 10 May 2008. Even if you can't stay for the weekend, drive out here for the day and give Mother a day out of the house to enjoy food, music, crafts and time with the family.

While you are here, look for the beds of large bearded German irises planted around the Town. The Town planted 5,000 irises a few years back and they bloom in time for Mother's Day each year. They are quite a site to behold.

Be sure to swing by South Court and see our part of the collection as well! Better yet, take the lifeline the crocus are sending to all of us this year and plan a Getaway at South Court as a surprise gift for the one you love or just to spend some quiet time alone...well of course also getting massaged into a blissful nap after a hour lulling in the warm whirlpool tub!

So, be sure to greet your crocuses for us. You can't beat South Court Inn anytime, but it's great to be here for the spring blooming season!

We'll keep an ear out for your phone call and check email often looking for your reservation request.

All the best to you and your's! Tom