About The Inn

Common sitting room with fireplace and coffee table

The Main House

The main house is the setting for The Ashby Inn Restaurant along with six beautifully appointed guest rooms with private baths. The main floor has a cozy Library and several dining room options.

The stylish enclosed side porch is where guests gather for a country breakfast. The Ashby Inn also has a charming covered patio overlooking the Ashby grounds.

Lafayette room in the School House with a fireplace and seating area

The School House

The adjacent School House was built in 1893 and served as a school until 1938. It then became a private residence until 1984 when it was converted into four luxury suites.

The School House rooms offer beautiful views of the surrounding property and scenery. Each suite has a wood-burning fireplace and patio or balcony for relaxing and enjoying the serene, secluded experience of The Ashby Inn.

Inn History

Exterior of Ashby Inn Main Building

The Ashby Inn & Restaurant was originally built as a four-room private residence by local blacksmith Manley Pierce in 1829, with additions added during the Civil War. The town of Paris, Virginia served as a critical crossroad for those traveling between Winchester, Virginia and the District of Columbia throughout history and predates America’s founding.

The town was named for American Revolutionary War hero, the Marquis de Lafayette, who visited the village. General George Washington knew the tavern here, noting it in his diary as early as his surveying days in the mid-1700s. Confederate generals, Stonewall Jackson and Joseph E. Johnston slept on the original front porch of the Ashby Inn on their way to the First Battle of Manassas on the night of June 17, 1861. Col. John Singleton Mosby stayed in town during the war and Union general Ulysses S. Grant and his troops bivouacked in the Grove of White Oaks behind the tavern.

Exterior of the registration office

The building that is now the Registration Office and Gift Shop was built in 1850 by William Rogers and served as the town’s General Store until the mid-1940s. The store reopened as the Paris Apothecary from 2017-2021. Most of the space had been virtually untouched since its closing until recent, boasting adverts for Royal Crown Cola still visible on the windows to this day. In 1855, the Methodist Church bought the house for a rectory, which it remained for many years.

Circa 1940, Norman and Marie Ashby purchased the rectory and maintained it as their private residence until Norman died in 1980. John and Roma Sherman then bought the property in 1984 and opened what is now The Ashby Inn & Restaurant. The adjacent School House was built in 1893 and served as a school until 1938. It then became a private residence until 1984 when it was converted into four suites. In 2005, the Sherman’s sold The Ashby Inn & Restaurant to Charles and Jackie Leopold.

Ashby Chapel

Exterior of Ashby Chapel on with a blue sky

H.S. Hanes, a local builder and undertaker, built the Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church in 1895. Reverend Shipley performed the first wedding in the church in 1899 for Samuel Weir and Grace Green. The structure has two entrance doors, exquisite nave, chancel, curved pews, and stained glass windows. The stained glass windows were donated in memory of H.S. Hanes, W.W. Rogers, Alice Kendall, and The Kings Daughters of Paris. Charles Shipley, the first minister who also made a sizable contribution to the building fund, donated the pulpit Bible.

The red-roofed bell tower can be seen for miles, and its architecture sets the tone for the village of Paris, Virginia. It remained a church until 2011. The Leopolds purchased this property, known as the Ashby Chapel, in 2015 and now use it for private events and weddings.

Map & Directions


The Ashby Inn is situated in Paris, Virginia, which is located at the intersection of Routes 17 and 50, midway between Middleburg and Winchester.

Aerial photo of the Ashby Inn and surrounding hills

Traveling from Washington, D.C. via Highway 66.

  • Take exit 23 (marked Delaplane/Paris/Rte 17)
  • Continue 7.5 miles North on Route 17
  • Left on Route 701 Gap Run Road, which runs into the village
  • The Ashby parking lot is on the left

Traveling from Winchester via Route 50.

  • Head east until the base of Paris Mountain (just before the traffic light for Route 17)
  • Turn right on Federal Street in the village of Paris
  • The Ashby is a short distance on the left

Traveling from Middleburg via Route 50.

  • Head west, passing through the traffic light for Route 17
  • Take the next left onto Federal Street in the Village of Paris
  • The Ashby is a short distance on the left.

Our Sister Properties

Dedicated to excellence, L & L Hospitality Group operates five, one-of-a-kind properties, each with its own distinctive personality. All of our Inns are committed to providing guests with an exceptionally memorable experience, whether it be a casual golf outing, a refreshing beach weekend, a historic bed and breakfast indulgence, or a four-star dining experience.

Inn at Evergreen

This 11-bedroom Northern Virginia inn, that was once a Civil War Era mansion, offers the perfect blend of modern amenities, historic charm and a first-class getaway. Conveniently located in Haymarket, VA, the Inn serves as the centerpiece to Evergreen Country Club. Whether you want a romantic getaway in the pristine rolling hills of Northern Virginia, a fantastic golfing experience, to just enjoy nature, sit by the pool, or hit some tennis balls, the Inn at Evergreen will deliver on its promise of an idyllic escape.

The Richard Johnston Inn

The Richard Johnston Inn is located in Historic Fredericksburg, VA. The award-winning Inn offers seven beautifully appointed and luxurious guest rooms and two suites and caters to small, intimate weddings and other special events in their courtyard and parlors. Our air-conditioned guest rooms have private bathrooms and complimentary toiletries. A delicious breakfast is included with your stay and served daily in our beautiful dining room.

Windemere Inn by the Sea

Our oceanfront Windemere Inn by the Sea is located in Indialantic, FL Beach Paradise. This coastal retreat offers twelve individually designed guest rooms. The Main House has five guest rooms, Cottage Suite has four guest rooms and Carriage House Suite has two guest rooms which accommodate children and pets. A full complimentary breakfast is provided daily from 8 a.m to 9 a.m. with early coffee provided by 7 a.m. for those who want to take a morning beach stroll.

1890 Caroline House

The 1890 Caroline House is conveniently located in the heart of Historic Fredericksburg, Virginia just a block from the train station servicing Amtrak and VRE to Washington and Richmond. Experience a taste of history in Olde Towne or visit the local historic battlefields and then relax in their parlor or one of the beautiful guest rooms, all of which include a jetted tub. A perfect getaway for a vacation, business retreat, small group meetings, friends gathering, or an intimate wedding.