I By Theresa O’Neil Knight

I By Theresa O’Neil Knight

Rappahannock News Special Writer

Tourism-dependent businesses in Rappahannock owe I a great deal to the county’s growing bed and breakfast industry.

Not only are “B&Bs” and inns places for tourists to stay while exploring the county, they have in many cases become destinations themselves. Whether a 200-yearold farmhouse in the mountains, or a tum-of-the-century mercantile turned inn, each has a personality all its own and collectively they keep visitors coming back year after year.

Despite the opinion of some that the Rappahannock B&B market has become somewhat “saturated” in recent years, the idea of operating a bed and breakfast continues to hold an appeal for many, especially retirees.

One innkeeper, however, said as many as a dozen B&Bs have come an gone in the past decade as proprietors learn the reality of innkeeping — high mid-week vacancy rates and busy weekends.

In some cases, local B&Bs have diversified to offset sluggish weekday traffic. Wednesday, Sperryville’s Belle Meade Bed & Breakfast went before the Rappahannock Planning Commission to request approval for the expansion of its day-camp operation for workshops and retreats. (See details in next week’s edition of the Rappahannock News.)

Taxes derived from B&B operations eventually flow into county coffers, they contribute to the local economy in other ways as well: as employers, consumers of local goods and by attracting travelers to Rappahannock through advertising. They also act as information clearing houses for area businesses, shops, and attractions. The Conyers House

The Conyers House Inn & Stable is perhaps the granddaddy of all Rappahannock bed and breakfasts. According to the inn’s promotional literature, it has served as a county store, private residence and even a commune over the years. According to Sandra Cartwright-Brown, who operates the Sperryville inn with