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Harpers Ferry, West Virginia

HARPERS FERRY,
WEST VIRGINIA

Beauty. Power. Location. Passion. Fate.

Beauty. Power. Location.
Passion. Fate.

Year-Round Authenticity just over One Hour from Washington, DC

From nature to history, from mountain hikes to river fishing, from ruined villages to quaint shops, from trains to canals, from battlefields to schoolyards, this town captures some of the most moving American stories ever told.

After you cross the Shenandoah River, you enter another time as you make your way to the heart of the  historic town of Harpers Ferry eventually arriving at the storied Hill Top House Hotel.

The river beyond the wooden train trestle; the canal; the lower town regulars in their 19th century garb; the steep climb up Washington and Columbia Streets to the hotel ridge; and the magnificent Blue Ridge Mountains create your sense of arrival in a very special place.

Harpers Ferry National Historical Park

One of 8 overlapping national parks, the 4,000-acre Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, was established by the U.S. Congress in 1963 and placed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1966. While it is a relatively new park, it receives approximately 500,000 visits each year. The park is a relatively unknown “diamond in the rough” in the greater DC area.

Over 200 years of significant stories are told at the park. Pioneers, inventors, soldiers and civil rights leaders struggled here to change the face of the country. While there is a special emphasis on the story of John Brown, the park offers many opportunities for guests to enjoy history and science in a unique and personal way.

Guests can take a self-guided trip to the park or experience expert Ranger-guided education programs, hands-on living history, science field studies, civic leadership workshops, historical interpretive re-enactors, who work and dress to demonstrate aspects of life in the past, and many other opportunities.

Guests can churn butter, play lawn croquet, tend a garden, become or talk to a Union soldier, hear the rattle of muskets, hike to Jefferson Rock, visit Mr. Harper’s grave, or stroll through silent ruins. There are living history Rangers and events year round. Special group experiential learning programs can be accommodated.

Several historical museums occupy the authentic 19th century buildings, the oldest of which is Mr. Robert Harper’s original house. Mr. Harper operated his ferry in 1747 and obtained a land patent from the Virginia Legislature in 1751. Harpers Ferry is not manufactured antiquity.

Why Harpers Ferry

From nature to history, from mountain hikes to river fishing, from ruined villages to quaint shops, from trains to canals, from battlefields to schoolyards, this town captures some of the most moving American stories ever told.

Where George Washington began his career as a surveyor and later chose for its river power and access, to arm his new nation.

Where John Brown was doomed in a quest to free America’s four million slaves, but in the process, touched the raw nerve that started the Civil War.

Where Meriwether Lewis supplied his courageous expedition.

Where W.E.B. DuBois and others held the first U.S. meeting of the Niagara Movement, which evolved into the NAACP.

Where John H. Hall started the military-industrial complex.

Where Thomas S. Lovett stood on a hill to view the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers, and commented, “Here, where the martyrdom of John Brown took place, I will build my hotel.”

Local Attractions

Harpers Ferry Hill Top House Hotel guests will never be bored. Most off-site activities will be accessed by less than a 10-minute ride or a short walk from the hotel. Many activities, such as scheduled hiking and cycling excursions, will be integrated as a part of the Wellness Program, and all off-site activities will be coordinated by the wellness and activities staff.

Hiking

Bicycling

Lazy River Tubing

White Water Rafting

Guided Fly Fishing

High Ropes Team Building

Zip-line Canopy Tours

Rock Wall Climbing

Championship Golf

Race Car Driving School

Horseback Riding

Horse Racing & Table Gaming

Wine Country Tours

Battlefield Tours

Living History Tours

Shopping in Lower Town

Local Attractions

Harpers Ferry Hill Top House Hotel guests will never be bored. Most off-site activities will be accessed by less than a ten minute ride in a fleet of luxury, electric vans or a short walk from the hotel. Many activities, such as scheduled hiking and cycling excursions, will be integrated as a part of the Wellness Program and all off-site activities will be coordinated by the wellness and activities staff. In general, off-site outdoor activities, such as fishing and river floating, begin at the Yorks 8 Islands Outfitters building, across from the Spa.

Hiking

Bicycling

Lazy River Tubing

White Water Rafting

Guided Fly Fishing

High Ropes Team Building

Zip-line Canopy Tours

Rock Wall Climbing

Championship Golf

Race Car Driving School

Horseback Riding

Horse Racing & Table Gaming

Wine Country Tours

Battlefield Tours

Living History Tours

Shopping in Lower Town

Hill Top House Amenities

HILL TOP HOUSE AMENITIES

Head Chef:

José Andrés

José Andrés

2011 James Beard Foundation Winner:
Award for Outstanding Chef, this is the highest honor an individual chef in the United States can receive.

2018 James Beard Foundation Winner:
Award for Humanitarian of the Year, given to an individual whose work has improved the lives of others and benefited society at large.

2018 Time Magazine 100 Most Influential People in the World:
Award that features and profiles a person, a group, an idea, or an object that for better or for worse…has done the most to influence the events of the year.

Food & Beverage

The hotel’s main restaurant is positioned to take advantage of the dramatic cliff views above the breathtaking confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers.

Additional small plate food options will be available throughout the main hotel & hotel campus.

The Hill Top’s food and beverage offerings will be curated by Chef Andrés and his acclaimed ThinkFoodGroup team, the only chef in the world to have a two-Michelin-star restaurant and four Michelin Bib Gourmands, all in the DC area. A second bar/lounge, “John Brown,” is located at the highest point of the hotel, over 500 feet above the Potomac River on the Rooftop Deck where patrons can be inspired by breathtaking river sunsets. It is anticipated that this deck will be fitted out flexibly, allowing it to serve different purposes (such as yoga) throughout the day/week.

The hotel will also support a Coffee and Wine Shop as well as Mr. Andrés particularly romantic version of room service. Most Hill Top venues will offer “Spa” as well as standard cuisine.

Catering

The Hotel’s catering operation has been designed to make it one of the top private function venues in the Washington, DC area. It includes 9,000 square feet of ballroom conferencing, and “Silicon Valley-style” learning spaces as well as dramatic pre-function spaces and multiple outdoor venues.

The T.S. Lovett Ballroom can accommodate more than 270 in a full banquet setting or more than 400 for a reception or ceremony. There is additional capacity in the pre-function areas and the adjacent facilities. Outdoor, tented areas for very large groups are also available.

The conference area will include a state-of-the-art business center and a secure facility.

The Capital's Most Romantic Wedding Location

In context, Thomas Jefferson’s comment on the raw natural beauty of the area is itself “stupendous”.

The overwhelming beauty of nature will conspire with gracious architecture; a world-renowned chef; a luxury spa; a special bridal cottage; a top-flight, experienced executive staff; and, a convenient location (only 45 minutes from either the Dulles Airport or Shady Grove Metro Station) to create the most sought after wedding venue in the Capital area.

Cooking School

To round-out the topic of food, the hotel will take advantage of both the growth in interest in gourmet culinary education as well as its proximity to one of the world’s greatest celebrity chefs, a pioneer in molecular gastronomy.

World class

Wellness & Spa

  • Exercise Room with the latest equipment and dramatic views, which make it appear as though it is suspended over the Potomac River
  • Luxurious Indoor & Outdoor Spa, multiple Relaxation and Meditation areas, including secluded Gardens with Steam Grottos and breathtaking, private Cliff’s-edge Walk
  • Fitness Center, Counseling and Exercise Classrooms, including Roof-top Yoga
  • Wet & Dry Treatment Rooms, including Couples’ Massage, Experience Shower, Steam, Cool Mist and Sauna
  • Year-round, Black-Bottom “Infinity” Pool, 485 feet above the Potomac River at the Cliff’s-edge
  • Multiple Cliff-top Hot Tubs 
  • Multiple Indoor Pools, including Cool Plunge, Vitality and Hot
  • 3 to 30-day Structured Wellness and Coaching Programs
  • Aerobics, Yoga and Dance
  • Luxurious Men’s and Women’s Lounges 
  • Spa Apothecary and Boutique

On-Site Programming

Unlike resorts that offer you the opportunity to observe, Hill Top House welcomes you to fully engage.

Photography & art studio/school

José Andrés organic garden

Wine cellar

Half-court basketball

Sophisticated & nostalgic board games

Business center

Board rooms

Silicon Valley-style thinkorium

Library

Scholarly institute

Museum quality galleries

Central piano

Sophisticated electronic arcade

Billiards

On-Site Programming

Unlike resorts that offer you the opportunity to observe, Hill Top House welcomes you to fully engage.

Photographic & art studio/school

José Andrés organic garden

Wine cellar

Half-court basketball

Sophisticated & nostalgic board games

Business center

Board rooms

Silicon Valley-style thinkorium

Library

Scholarly institute

Museum quality galleries

Central piano

Sophisticated electronic arcade

Billiards

Championship golf simulator

America's third President called the confluence of the rivers "one of the most stupendous scenes in nature..." adding that the view was... "such a beautiful spot that it was worth a trip across the Atlantic!”
America's third President called the confluence of the rivers "one of the most stupendous scenes in nature..." adding that the view was... "such a beautiful spot that it was worth a trip across the Atlantic!”

THOMAS JEFFERSON, 1783

THOMAS JEFFERSON, 1783