Graham Ordinary Lodge

Really cool place right off of the Blue Ridge Parkway. The rooms are off of the Meadery and they’ve got some old-time tavern elements in the design, but also some cool modern touches, and it is very open and bright, but with good room- darkening curtains for sleeping. We stayed in #3 which has HUGE back windows looking down the valley. Communication with the owner John was easy and when my wife inquired by text about buying some mead, he left a flight in the room! We arrived later than expected from the parkway, and he expressed concern and made suggestions about us finding some dinner, but we had food in the car (and there is a microwave.) it’s very quiet here, there were breakfast fixings in the room, and we had a lovely morning… overall a really pleasant experience. We’d definitely come back!

Charming, clean, authentic and affordable B&B just a mile and change from the peaks of Otter Lodge and park area, my happy place. Log cabin outside, modern on the inside (ultra-modern bath suite with heated floor!). I called to make my reservation just hours before arriving and it couldn’t have been easier or friendlier. Clean and restful accommodations including common areas in rustic decor suited for a mini Scottish castle. Definitely will return.

Was a 2 night stop on my southbound Blue Ridge Pkwy trip. I could have stayed for a few more nights.

John, the proprietor, was awesome to chat with, the location is remote enough to allow for a "retreat" feel, while being close enough to Bedford proper if needed. The terrace view was mesmerizing in the best way in the mornings with coffee, the room and lodge were full of so much character with design elements you felt rather than could describe (like it's own type of lodge rather than one you already know from hunting or skiing)...it was really really cool. It's got its nuances but all that does is add to what it is. I really want to come back. Grateful for the hospitality.

Spent one night. The beautifully paneled room in the main lodge is spacious with a view overlooking the wilderness. We were able to make a simple breakfast of oatmeal or breakfast bar and a selection of juices. There are eggs for those who would want one.

Graham Ordinary Lodge and Meadery may be the best kept secret in Bedford just off the Blue Ridge Parkway. Loved the modern rustic feel to the entire place. My wife are local, but went up for a quiet weekend getaway to celebrate our 5th wedding anniversary. The View from their deck in the fall is worth it alone. The weekend we went was unseasonably warm (80° in late October) so the room did get hot due to the sun heating it like a greenhouse. John is an amazing host and Savannah's meads were delicious. We will definitely be returning for another quiet escape into the mountain.

P.S If you go during the summer months and the meadery is offering their mead floats, Maiser as a float taste just like an orange creamsicle and is incredibly good.

What a great bed and breakfast this is!! So quaint and beautiful and rustic along with all the modern amenities. Great mountain Vista views and really close to lots of great hiking trails. We did Sharp Top.

As an added bonus the honey meadery was open so we were able to sample some delicious spirits!

A very quiet peaceful sleep then delicious breakfast breakfast. Wish I could stay another day.

I can hardly do better than a lot of the reviews already posted. There's not much NOT to like about the Ordinary. The mountain location gives plenty of privacy and quiet, plus fine views and easy access to lots of hiking and outdoors activities and local area history. Nice that it's close to Parkway access. The meadery adds an extra dimension (and the mead is good!). It's really a unique experience to stay in a historic property that has been respectfully updated, holding the flavor (and a lot of the structure) of the original property but adding everything you'd want in modern conveniences, and all done in a "handmade" way but competent... function plus rustic beauty.

I'm addition, John was patient and helpful with getting me safely parked when I arrived with a tiny-camping gear trailer. He also filled me in on the history of the property (since I had asked!), providing a pleasant and informative social interlude after the day's travel.

I'm looking forward to coming back on my many family trips between New York and Asheville.

My wife and I stayed at Graham Ordinary for our wedding anniversary and thoroughly enjoyed our experience: the delicious mead, the uniquely rustic and handcrafted building renovations, the mountain view, the location (near lots of great hiking, the Blue Ridge Parkway, and Peaks of Otter Lodge restaurant), and the personal attention. Highly recommend for nature lovers looking for a romantic and unique getaway.

Stayed here for one night on a family road trip from New York to Miami, easily fitting three of us in the massive king bed. It’s a big difference from your usual franchise hotel rooms so be prepared for rustic and charming and you can’t go wrong. Great to have a choice of food items in the fridge and a decent coffee in the morning. No light pollution in the area which means you get to see the Milky Way clearly on a cloud free night - with a loud background chatter of the insects! Surrounded by greenery, you can see across the valley in the morning although don’t expect massive vistas of the mountains. Would stay again in a flash. Good to meet and chat with John in the morning, and wish him all the best in the future.

Writing this before check out. It's been a wonderful 3 days here. My friend and I, had a wonderful time. From the amenities, spacious room and the atmosphere is perfect for those nature lovers. Several pictures were from the top of Peaks.m, which is so close, about a 5 minute drive.

Highly recommended to anyone in the Roanoke - Bedford Blue Ridge Parkway area needing a lodge!

Definitely will be returning!

EDIT: Did return and had the 1 Suite. Everything was exceptional like the other room. Wonderful location, a gem of a location on the Park Way

LOVED it!! Cool Medieval, industrial vibe. Beautiful view from our room and breakfast provided too! We also got to taste and enjoy Mead made on site. We will be going back and advise you to go as well.

Beautiful views right of the parkway. Friendly staff. They make their own mead. Restaurant, great coffee. This place feels and looks like a mountain lodge should. Every where you look there is something to see and great places to relax. Events happen often. My pictures don’t do it justice.

I came here from out of town, I have traveled many times before, but this place right here was the best everything I could ever ask for. I love mead, after having it here, it is the only mead I will ever want again. The people were very hospitable, the service was indescribable. I came for the mountains... I stayed for the mead. Thank you all for making my journey perfect.

We spent the night at Graham Ordinary Lodge and absolutely loved our stay. The service was top notch, the room and bathroom were very clean. We stayed in room three and the view is just to die for. Sitting outside on the deck looking at the stars and then waking up to the natural sunlight from the giant windows was our favorite part! We would highly recommend Graham Ordinary!

We came to Bedford Virginia for a marriage conference, not knowing where to stay as we were not familiar with the area. We are so thankful that we lucked up and called Jim about the Graham Ordinary Lodge..
As soon as we opened the front door, I knew that we were going to absolutely love this place!
They have gone to a lot of work to fix this older lodge up for their guests.
When you walk in, you just feel the warmth and comfort, which makes you just want to stay there for days..
We had originally planned to stay one night, but after our first night, we wanted to stay another!
There were so many wonderful things to share with you about this place..
Our quaint and rustic room had windows to view any area of the mountains, king-size comfortable bed, heated floors in the cutest bathroom, complimentary snacks and breakfast items, coffee, and tea!
Jim, the owner, and his daughter were the best hosts and very knowledgeable about the area.
You are missing out if you do not have a stay at this hidden gem!!
We are looking forward to our next stay during peach season!

Graham Ordinary is one of those fairytale places you always hope you’ll get a chance to stay in. Upon entering, you can feel the history and love put into this property. John, the proprietor, is a lovely fellow, knowledgeable about all sorts and nice to have a chat with.

We first stayed here on an anniversary road-trip in November 2022 in the larger King Suite off the main hallway. The mead was delightful, and the room was enchanting. So cozy, yet spacious, with great attention to detail and little touches to make every stay pleasant.

Our second visit was in March 2023, in the smaller King Suite off the great room. The views from both king suites are phenomenal, and both have access to the outdoor deck space which will be lovely in warmer weather with the fire pit and lounge chairs.

The beds in both suites are comfy, the rainfall shower heads and heated tile floors are next level, and the items offered for breakfast are convenient and much appreciated.

On our first stay, we woke up to a power outage, which John was already aware of and was more than happy to accommodate whatever we needed, even offering to reimburse us for going out to get coffee and breakfast.

The only thing I’ll say that some may find negative (we don’t), it being an ancient building (with tremendous upgrades over the years) it has it’s little cracks and crevices, and it’s on the side of a mountain, so you’d be hard pressed not to find a creature or two in the corners, etc. If you’re terribly averse to stink bugs and spiders, then here is your warning.

My fiance and I stayed for our anniversary. The Grahams have amazing vision and did a wonderful job renovating this 1790s cabin. We felt very comfortable here, and our hosts provided ample snacks, breakfast, and beverage options, all complimentary. The view from the window and the deck was lovely, and I woke up to see sunrise and read in the hammock while listening to the sounds of nature all around. Very close to Peaks of Otter restaurant and hiking trails, also only a short drive to Bedford. Our only regrets were that the bar wasn't staffed that night and that we couldn't stay for longer. We will definitely be back. Thanks John, Kathy, Savannah, and Jim!

We stopped on the Blue Ridge Parkway when we ran out of daylight. It was tremendous luck that we needed lodging in the vicinity of Graham Ordinary. We stayed in the large suite and found it to be otherworldly peaceful and pleasant. We loved our stay and got a huge kick out of the unique accommodations. Everything was to our liking and we vow to return to Graham Ordinary when next we pass by.

Graham Ordinary is an absolute treasure. Tucked away in the Peaks of Otter, this place is an incredibly comfortable and stunningly beautiful place to pause from the hustle and bustle of life and just.. breathe. The rustic looking doors and through way to view the valley are just the start. The construction of the building itself is beautifully crafted and cared for by our/your hosts. From the bathroom sinks to the quaint sitting room and there to the smoothly comfortable bed rooms. Step outside onto the back deck for a great view and breathe in the mountain air.
My wife and I found the perfect spot for our wedding.
Our hosts couldn't have been more gracious, kind and caring for us in our time there.
11/10. We will most definitely be staying again.
Thank you again!

We could not recommend staying at Graham Ordinary Lodge enough! We came to get some r&r and to celebrate our anniversary. John was kind to call a restaurant that he recommended to see if they had availability and help my husband with a few other sweet surprises. The bedroom itself smells wonderfully like cedar wood. You can tell that this lodge was built with great intention, from the heated bathroom floor, incredible view of the sunrise from the king bed, and spacious shower. John was an incredible host. He predicted our needs before we even arrived, responded attentively to our questions, and made us feel at home. We really enjoyed the hiking nearby as well. We’ll definitely be back!