The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-06-01
HoT4L RockLEDeE.
An Excellent Place to Spend the
Summer Months.

a cooling, quieting effect on these hot
| days and awakes within ones soul an
irresistible desire to leave care and
trouble behind and spend few delight
full hours in the beautiful hosiery at
the top OF Mill Mountain. And beau
tiful place it is, too. Nesting among
the trees on the very top Of this males
tic mountain the cozy house presents a
very attractive appearance. For a
magnificent view and delicious cool
breezes it has no equal in this section
of the country.
The coach that is to ply between
Hotel Roanoke and tho Rockledge,
made it's initial trip yesterday morning
Manager j. C. Rawn, Councilman j. A.
Mcconnell and TIMES reporter were
among it's occupants. The trip from
Hotel Roanoke to the base of Mill
Mountain is a very pleasant one and
the new coach rides as easy as a cradle.
As the vehicle begins to wind around
the side of the mountain magnificent
view of the surrounding country is OBJ
tanned. Every turn of the road presents
to the eye new beauties of nature The
strong guard rail that has been placed
along the side Of the road rlakes n trip
to the top of the mountain perfectly
safe and q feeling of security adds to
the enjoyment of the ride.
When the top is reached the traveller is
prepared for beautiful scene, but the
view that bursts upon his gaze surpasses
any anticipation. On every side can be
seen the blue capped tops of the Allie
ghanies or Blue Ridge. Seeming at the
foot of the mountain, but stretching
out for miles, lies Roanoke, while off
in the distance, plainly visible to the
naked eye is Salem. In the other
direction tho Peaks of Otter rise up
with startling distincness, and objects
for miles and miles are plainly discerni-
BILE.
There are two sights of unsurpassing
beauty and grandeur which can be seen
from Hotel Rockledge and these are the
furnaces at night and the sun rise in
the morning AS the pail of darkness
settles over the mountain and objects
fade from sight the bright glare Of the
furnaces commands the attention OF
everyone and every time blast is let
oil it resembles much more forcibly
than any of Dore's pictures.a scene from
Dante's Inferno. Entirely differently,
although, If possible, more grand is the
sun rise. Long before the sleeping city
has awakened to the business activity
OF the day old Sol battles the hotel and
tho surrounding country in flood OF
light.
The hotel is beautifully situated, and
gets its name from white ledge of rock
directly in front of it. The building is
two stories in height surrounded by a
broad porch, from which a magnificent
view is obtained in every direction.
The office, dining room, ladies' parlor,
Kitchen, buffers and dish washing
rooms are on the first floor. The office
is cool. airy place and the dining room
in its primitive simplicity, seems to woo
the waning appetite. There are eleven
guest chambers upstairs, all furnished
in antique oak, long brass candle sticks
and other old fashioned articles. such
as were used by our great grand parents.
The rooms are large and com Portable,
well ventilated and so situated as to
catch all the breeze that is stirring.
The kitchen is presided over by an eX-
perienced chef, and the menu would
tickle the palate of the most fastidious
epicure. The meals are we'll served,
and polite walters are ever ready to
crafty tho slightest wish of the diner
The grounds surrounding the hotel
are being made beautiful with flowers
and graveled walks, while cute little
rustic seats are scattered among the
trees, atfordiny excellent opportunities
for sweet little tete- a. tete.
The welfare Of the guests is looked
after by Z. A. Lewis formerly Of Penn
sylvania. Mr.. Lewis is an experienced
hotel man and thoroughly understands
how to make his visitors comfortabl
a lawn tennis court will soon be built
back OF the hotel and croquet grounds
laid out.
The Rockledge is becoming favorite
place for dinner and dancing parties. A
mum Der. of young people are going to
give dance there tonight and other
parties are to follow.
A prettier place for spending day,
week, month or the whole summon can
not be found, and the hotel is sure to be
well patronized.