SmithmoreCastle
Welcome to Smithmore Castle—the distinguished seat of House Smithmore, a noble Victorian residence of rare dignity and standing, and the only Five-Star Castle Hotel in all America. Nestled upon English Knob amidst the resplendent majesty of the Blue Ridge Mountains, this ancestral house elegantly embodies the grandeur of a bygone age whilst steadfastly shunning the banalities of modernity.
The Smithmore family, who reside within these storied walls, choose to live in the manner of their forebears, embracing the noble traditions of the Victorian aristocracy. Within the Castle one encounters governesses overseeing the nursery, footmen and butlers in polished livery, nannies tending to the young, and housemaids and farmhands carrying out their timeless duties—all part of a household that continues, to this day, the rituals of a noble estate. House Smithmore does not merely preserve history; it inhabits it, choosing refinement and custom over the clamour of the present world.
Smithmore Castle is far more than mere lodgings. It is a living noble house, meticulously restored and reverently maintained so that every stone, chamber, and corridor speaks of heritage and aristocratic splendour. Themed chambers and suites—such as the opulent Royal Tower View Suite and the Carlyle Family Suite, complete with nursery and children’s room—recall the days when families of rank dwelt in grandeur, attended by their household staff. Balconies, towers, and secluded alcoves bestow commanding views across the Parkway, the Eastern Continental Divide, and Mount Mitchell, affording every guest the majesty of an unspoilt vista.
A sojourn at Smithmore offers more than comfort; it is immersion into a philosophy. Each guest is received as though a member of the peerage: greeted with a three-course dinner and gourmet breakfast daily, prepared by our Michelin-star-trained chef, and served with all the ceremony befitting a noble house. Whether dining by candlelight in an intimate parlour or attending a banquet in the Knights Hall, one experiences not mere service, but the choreography of tradition, executed with the exacting grace of staff trained to Les Clefs d’Or standards.
House Smithmore stands as the quintessential venue for distinguished gatherings—be they weddings, family assemblies, or retreats of the highest calibre. Exclusive reservation of the Castle grants private access to its sumptuous suites, its acres of noble grounds, and the undivided attention of a household devoted to its guests with reverent discretion. Here, privacy and privilege are not commodities, but conditions of life itself.
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History and Provenance
In 2008, Lord Robert Smith, head of House Smithmore, acquired this magnificent estate, bestowing upon it his family’s noble name in honour of its commanding views and rolling mountains. By 2017, the estate had begun receiving select guests for exclusive occasions, its beauty and service swiftly garnering acclaim. By 2020, the Castle stood as America’s sole Five-Star noble residence open to the public by reservation, whilst ever remaining a private family seat. Its 100+ acres upon English Knob hold caves, forests, vineyards, and ancient trails, affording both seclusion and majesty.
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Amenities and Aristocratic Pursuits
Smithmore Castle epitomises British Victorian architecture, its rooms adorned with hand-painted frescos, its Knights Hall crowned by a Swarovski chandeliers and marble floors, its grand corridors illuminated by crystal sconces. Only eight resplendent bedrooms grace its 15,000 square feet, for exclusivity here is held above excess. Guests may wander the estate’s private caves, partake in archery, etiquette lessons, afternoon tea, and wine tastings, or recline beside a three-storey stone hearth. Outdoors, fire pits, vineyards, and trails whisper of English country pursuits, whilst indoors one may enjoy the refinement of a vintage bar, parlours, and drawing rooms.
Above all, Smithmore Castle is not a mere hotel but the seat of House Smithmore, a noble family who reside within, choosing tradition over modern convenience, and the values of the Victorian peerage over the vagaries of the age. It is a place where time is held in reverence, where every occasion becomes ceremony, and where noble living is not performed but lived.
