The historic Hermitage Inn, a landmark cornerstone of downtown Petersburg since 1841, has officially been acquired by local entrepreneurs Samuel and Kelly Williams. The Williams family brings extensive hospitality expertise to the property as the current owners of the South Branch Inn locations in Moorefield and Romney, alongside a diverse portfolio of community businesses including South Branch Smokehouse, The Bearded Hen Pub, South Branch Cinema 6, Highlands Bar & Grill, South Branch Potomac Lanes, Sweet Rose Ice Cream Shop, Old Fields Country Store and South Branch Meat & Cattle Company.
The property was purchased from Jason and Carla Kaposy, who acquired the inn in 2022 and spearheaded a comprehensive, top-to-bottom restoration of both the hotel and its restaurant/bar. The Williams family expressed immense gratitude for the Kaposys’ dedicated stewardship.
“We are so appreciative of the incredible vision and hard work Jason and Carla put into beautifully renovating and restoring this facility,” says Kelly Williams. “We plan to honor their remarkable legacy by maintaining the exact same exceptional level of service, warmth and hospitality that guests have come to expect.”
“We wish Sam and Kelly nothing but the best,” says Carl Kaposy. “We’re proud that we were able to bring this beautiful property back to its full potential and are happy to be leaving it in good hands. It’s nice to see locals that are fully invested in the area take over what we started and continue to make it shine.”
For the Williams family, the acquisition represents a deeply personal homecoming.
“It has been a lifelong dream of ours to own and operate a piece of West Virginia’s living history,” says Sam and Kelly Williams in a joint statement. “Our family has deep roots in this community, and this purchase carries a profound personal meaning for us. Sam’s Aunt’s parents, the Coward family, owned and operated the inn and restaurant for four decades, from 1942 to 1980. Bringing this historic landmark back into our family circle is a true once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
Looking ahead, they emphasize the inn’s vital role in the area: “Having premier lodging and dining at The Hermitage is a tremendous asset for Petersburg and the surrounding Potomac Highlands region,” says Sam Williams. “We, along with our children, are honored to take over operations and welcome both long-time patrons and new visitors to this special place.”
The Hermitage Inn and the 1841 Restaurant & Pub is located at 203 Virginia Avenue in downtown Petersburg. For bookings, dining information, or history, please visit hermitageinnwv.com.
