Main House at Capon Springs Inn & Farm

 

"We came for the golf and the good food as bachelors. Years later I came back with my  family and have come back almost every year since," GrandBob Tull explained to me as we sat on the porch of the Austin House one night before dinner at Capon Springs & Farm in West Virginia.

 

One of my childhood best friends, Melissa, is the granddaughter of Robert "GrandBob" Tull. She has spent the same week at Capon Springs almost every summer since birth, and carried on the tradition that parked in her grandfathers youth. While Southern West Virginia is a mere 2 hours from our hometown in Maryland, If it wasn't for Melissa, I would have never known about the Mountain Resort that has been popular with families for multiple generations since the 1940s.

Chicken on the Hill at Capon Springs

 

Why has the Tull Family, like so many other families, returned to Capon year after year? The number one reason, it's special. I have never been to a hotel, resort, camp, or vacation spot that is this special. Maybe it's the mountain air. Maybe it's the spring water that runs throughout the resort. There are old claims it has medicinal properties, after all. It could be the nostalgia. Or the mix between being at Kellerman's in "Dirty Dancing" and the summer camp from the Hayley Mills version of "Parent Trap". But really it comes down to it being a completely charming, simple, 3rd generation family-owned establishment with heart.

Beyond all those factors, here are 5 Reasons You Will Want To Spend Quality Time With Your Family at Capon Springs:

 

1). Quality Time With Your Family – Capon Springs is completely about spending time with your family. There are certainly a lot of activities to fill up your day, but the quiet and tranquility of the resort really lends itself to spending time and reconnecting with family.

2). Eat Home Cooked Meals Together -Three homemade meals a day, plus a late night snack, all enjoyed around a table with your family.  Much of the food is grown on Capon's very own farm. They make the best BBQ chicken you have ever eaten, great sides, and wonderful desserts. You really can feel the love in the food.

Homemade Apple Pie for dinner

 

3). Disconnect From Technology and Reconnect With Your Loved Ones – Internet and cell service can be tough in the mountains, and Capon doesn't provide televisions in their rooms. So, for entertainment, you can get back to basics and play games like badminton, shuffleboard, and cards or join in on the group activities that are planned daily.

4). Spend Time Outdoors and In Nature -There are six different hiking trails on the Capon property, along with a swimming pool, lots of lawn games, and golf. There was nothing more heartwarming than seeing three generations of family fishing down at the pond. There is even a place to dig for fossils (My kids totally dug it)!

Playing "Duck, Duck, Goose" at Capon Springs

 

5). Be a Part of Tradition – The weekly itinerary doesn't change much at Capon, so visitors can count on "Chicken on the Hill" every Monday night, followed by hayrides for the kids. Every morning the American flag is raised, and every night, the flag is retired as the National Anthem plays throughout the mountains. An hour before each meal, music is also played from the trees. These little touches and nuances, traditions that have been carried out since Capon Springs Inn & Farm opened to guests, is what makes it unique from other all-inclusives.

Kids learning how to take down the American flag for the night

 

Families who go to Capon, return to Capon – and often the same week and in the same lodging every year. A few things I have learned from veteran Caponers that I will pass on to you: Bring books, crosswords, card or board games, a cooler with snacks and drinks for the kids, and maybe some adult beverages to enjoy an after dinner drink for the parents.

We only spent 36 hours at Capon Springs Inn & Farm, but in that time I watched my children make friends, enjoy nature, learn to play "Duck, Duck, Goose", and be comfortable in an atmosphere that wasn't overstimulated or overwhelming for them. We all loved the simplicity and beauty and were able to enjoy the company of each other. I also learned that we will be back.

 

Capon Springs & Farm is open for weekends through mid-November and booking for Spring and Summer 2016.