The Western State Asylum was originally founded in 1828, and built just on the outskirts of Staunton, Virginia. The main road through the area was an old Iroquois warpath and colonial wagon trail, and with the changes to road infrastructure between 1825-1830, it became a convenient route to transport patients throughout the state. Over the next 60 plus years, construction of the facility was expanded into Staunton. They aimed to become renowned for educating the handicapped, and women – two groups that at this time were often left out of the traditional academic process. It wasn’t until 1894 that the hospital would undergo a name change and become the Western State Hospital. The structures were built in Greek Revival architectural style, and designed by Staunton Architects William Small, Wiliam D. Phillips, Neilson DeJarnette, and Dr. Joseph.

In early days, the hospital was a resort-style asylum. There were terraced gardens, allowing patients to plant flowers, and roof tops where patients were allowed to walk and view the mountain scenery surrounding them. The structures also held numerous ornate architectural details, which they had hoped would create an atmosphere that would aid in the healing process. By the mid-1800s, this utopian model of care had been replaced by overcrowding in the facility. After the death of hospital director Francis T. Stribling, things became hectic for patients admitted to the asylum, as darker days were welcomed into the world of treatments. Techniques such as ankle and wrist restraints, physical coercion, and straitjackets became much more prevalent in asylums across the country, including Western State. In 1924, the Eugenical Sterilization act of 1924 was passed in Virginia, allowing doctors to forcibly sterilize patients at the asylum. Joseph DeJarnette, a noted eugenicist, was director of the hospital from 1905 to 1943. This law was not repealed until the 1970s, but even after it was, other rather dark treatments were still practiced at the facility, such as electroshock therapy and lobotomies. It’s so strange looking into the past and seeing how we used to treat patients, thinking these things would help them get better.

On November 25, 1969, Western State Hospital was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Only a year later, the property was vacated as the hospital moved their operations to the present site near Interstate 81. After they had moved out, the site was repurposed as the Staunton Correctional Center – a medium-security men’s prison. The prison remained in use until finally closing in 2003, leaving most of the site vacant for several years. By 2008, a small portion of the entire complex was rehabbed, and opened as residences called the Villages at Staunton. The first condominiums went on sale in 2008.

For several years, most of the complex still sat vacant, collecting dust, rust and decay with the passing of time. By June of 2018, much more of the complex had been repurposed and opened as a luxury inn. The Blackburn Inn now features 49 rooms, with 27 different floor plans and even its own restaurant, housed within the former Western State administrative building. The Blackburn Inn is now even hosting a Saturday barbecue series that kicked off in the summer of 2018.


Photos below showing restored areas are from the Blackburn Inn Facebook Page

You can find more info about the inn and book a room or schedule an event at their website HERE