When Families Gather at The Inns at 8th & Main
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
The Innkeeper's Journal | By Amy Smith
This summer, within about one month, three families have gathered here at the Inn.
The Robisons returned for their Fourth of July tradition. The Martins came back to a place that has become part of their family story. And the Ramers arrived for a carefully planned sibling retreat after we had been properly vetted the year before.
They came for different reasons, but Dan and I watched the same thing happen each time.
Coolers were unpacked. Snacks covered the dining-room table. Games appeared. The library filled with morning conversation and laughter while we prepared breakfast nearby.
No one was rushing. They had come for the simple pleasure of being together.
When the Inn Becomes Home Base
Most family retreats reserve both The Stone House and The Morris House. Everyone has a private bedroom and bathroom, while the library, dining rooms, and other common spaces become theirs to enjoy together.
It feels a little like a family beach-house retreat, only the drive is closer, and everything is nearby. Families can explore McConnelsville, visit The Wilds, take a dinner cruise in Marietta, or simply stay at the Inn.
Dan and I are here to prepare breakfast, help with plans, and handle
the details. That means the person who organized the gathering gets to enjoy it too.
No one has to host. Everyone gets to come home.
A Fourth of July Tradition
For the past four years or so, the Robison family has spent the Fourth of July with us.
Former Morgan County residents, they now travel from Columbus, South Carolina, and Georgia to gather with family still living nearby. Fireworks are often watched from the Inn’s backyard, and on Sunday morning, their local sister, Jody, and her family join everyone for breakfast.
Through the years, we have gotten to know them well. Their visit has become part of summer at the Inn and something we all look forward to.
A Place That Holds Family History
We first met Dick and Glenda Martin during COVID. Over time, returning guests became good friends.
Glenda hoped to gather her family, celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary at the Inn and renew their vows at the church in the town where Dick grew up. With help from their family and a little help from us, it happened.
When Dick realized he had forgotten his wedding attire, Dan stepped in. Dick renewed his vows wearing the same shirt Dan had worn when he married me.
Sadly, Dick passed away about a year later, but the family’s connection to the Inn remained.
This July, Glenda gathered everyone here again for three days of games, laughter, breakfast, and a return trip to The Wilds. Before leaving, the family told us the Inn simply feels like home.
They were already talking about returning for Christmas.
The Ramer Sibling Retreat
Last October, Jan Ramer and her husband stayed with us to decide whether the Inn would work for the family’s rotating sibling retreat.
As they left, Jan purchased Stone House mugs to place in everyone’s room as arrival gifts. That was when we knew we had officially made the cut.
On the first weekend in August, the siblings arrived together in a van and quickly made the Inn their own. The dining room became snack central, the front room hosted nightly games, and each morning everyone gathered in the library to share stories while Dan and I prepared breakfast.
They explored McConnelsville, enjoyed dinner in town, and traveled to Marietta for a dinner cruise aboard the Valley Gem.
Then Sunday came. Everyone piled back into the van, the Inn grew quiet, and Dan and I were left with a wonderful group of new friends.
The Memories Made Between the Plans
The most meaningful family moments are rarely the ones placed on an itinerary.
They happen over the first cup of coffee. Around a table covered with snacks and game pieces. During breakfast when no one is quite ready to leave.
That is what makes a family retreat at the Inn different. Everyone has private space, but the people they came to see are waiting just beyond the bedroom door.
For a few days, the Inn becomes the family home.
If your family keeps saying, “We should all get together,” perhaps it is time to choose the dates.
Come for a sibling weekend, a summer tradition, a milestone, Christmas, or simply the chance to be under one roof again.
Pull up a chair. Your family’s story has room here too.
Amy & Dan
The Inns at 8th & Main
Hospitality With Heart❤️
Thinking about gathering your family at the Inn? Email Amy directly at info@innsat8thandmain.com, and we’ll help you explore the possibilities.