The Refuge Inn gives you a feeling of seclusion, yet our family owned Chincoteague Island, VA hotel lodging is close to everything. Clean, comfortable, and convenient, the Refuge Inn invites you to discover island elegance where there is as much or as little to do as your heart desires. There are several theories of how the ponies got to Assateague and adapted to the unique challenges that come with barrier island life.
The wild horses are a sight to behold, and definitely belong on your bucket list! We're also happy to host our own small herd of Chincoteague ponies at the Inn for our visitors to enjoy.
The wild horses are a sight to behold, and definitely belong on your bucket list! We're also happy to host our own small herd of Chincoteague ponies at the Inn for our visitors to enjoy.
Services
In early 1973, Donald and Martha Leonard installed the finishing touches in their grandest and most recent business venture - the state-of-the-art Refuge Motor Inn, nestled between loblolly pines just across the Assateague Channel from the Wildlife Refuge.
This 40-room place of rest and refuge was founded on Martha's southern hospitality that she cultivated in her hometown of Tuscaloosa, Alabama (Roll Tide!) and Don's love of the Chincoteague Ponies that he had cared for since childhood - setting aside this small slice of Chincoteague not only for travellers seeking a home away from home, but also a pasture for his beloved ponies to meet guests from far and wide.
This 40-room place of rest and refuge was founded on Martha's southern hospitality that she cultivated in her hometown of Tuscaloosa, Alabama (Roll Tide!) and Don's love of the Chincoteague Ponies that he had cared for since childhood - setting aside this small slice of Chincoteague not only for travellers seeking a home away from home, but also a pasture for his beloved ponies to meet guests from far and wide.
A step above motel lodging, our rooms are spacious and tastefully designed with your "home away from home" comfort in mind. The Refuge Inn offers a variety of accommodations suitable for families, business travel, or romantic getaways in Virginia.
Each room features a private patio or balcony, in-room coffee maker, refrigerator, private bath, flatscreen TVs, free high speed wireless internet access, phone, voicemail, in-room hair dryer, plush towels and sliding doors to fresh air.Special attention to little details and extra touches give you the feeling that checking into The Refuge Inn is like slipping into something memorably comfortable.
Each room features a private patio or balcony, in-room coffee maker, refrigerator, private bath, flatscreen TVs, free high speed wireless internet access, phone, voicemail, in-room hair dryer, plush towels and sliding doors to fresh air.Special attention to little details and extra touches give you the feeling that checking into The Refuge Inn is like slipping into something memorably comfortable.
Exceeding the average, our individually-decorated Queen rooms are comfortably furnished with two Queen beds. Each of our rooms are different, but they all include a table with two chairs, flatscreen TV, USB charging station, coffeemaker, mini fridge, hair dryer, and clock radio. Upstairs rooms have a private balcony, while downstairs rooms have a patio.
The Veranda Suite, Room #400, offers over 900 square feet of living space, including a spacious living/dining room with a smart TV, comfortable furnishings, pull out queen sofa bed, and dining table and chairs for 6 guests. The separate bedroom has a luxurious king bed with high thread count sheets, an armoire with a flat screen smart TV, a desk and chair, and a private deck.
Each room includes a complimentary continental breakfast, flatscreen TV, in-room hairdryer, small refrigerator, coffee maker, and even free high speed wifi access. Microwaves and vending machines are centrally located for all our guests to use. A computer with Microsoft Office, high-speed internet, and a free printer is located in our lobby.
Reviews (27)
Edward Markham
Dec 13, 2021
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Ted Kidd
Nov 23, 2021
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Denise at front desk was super nice, directing us to restaurant options and a walking tour. This was thrilled to be able to feed the pony's.
There's a pretty big supercharger Gap coming up from Virginia.
An hours worth of charging here while we eat means we can more comfortably check out Assateague Beach before going north.
12kw
There's a pretty big supercharger Gap coming up from Virginia.
An hours worth of charging here while we eat means we can more comfortably check out Assateague Beach before going north.
12kw
Bethel Guardian
Nov 22, 2021
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This is the sort of family friendly hotel that merits a yearly visit. The rooms are clean and spacious. The lady who checked us in and out made our stay at Chincoteague. She checked us in early at her suggestion, not our request. She provided us a map and information to guide our visit. The hotel provided a nice breakfast. There were actual Assateague ponies on the campus (which is great since the State Park ponies roam free and there is no guarantee you will see them and certainly not close up)
Thomas Fellows
Nov 15, 2021
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A unique hotel in a valuable location. You simply cannot get any closer to the reserve. There were a few issues. Critically, they have a bug issue. Not bedbugs (oh my!) but gnats… a lot of them. This sort of thing is to be expected around horses which they keep on the property. The horses were lovely and the key reason for staying at the hotel. So it’s a trade off. Horses and bigs are synonymous. But we were large able to defeat the dreaded gnats and enjoy the many quirky benefits of the hotel. Quirky pluses being: cute old ladies at the front desk, horses to feed and pet on premises, a bizarre
Rowan Elowe
Oct 19, 2021
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We stayed here in October 2021, and were really impressed with the professionalism, comfort, amenities, and location.
This place has generously sized rooms, a very nice complimentary breakfast room service, and a stellar pool our 4-year old loved. (The pool was also only partially covered, which allowed fresh air to come in and overall, it was clear the inn took covid-related matters very seriously). It is right next to the entrance to Chincoteague, and walking distance from several restaurants. The reservation team even accommodated our 1-night cancellation due to car trouble; we wish we could
This place has generously sized rooms, a very nice complimentary breakfast room service, and a stellar pool our 4-year old loved. (The pool was also only partially covered, which allowed fresh air to come in and overall, it was clear the inn took covid-related matters very seriously). It is right next to the entrance to Chincoteague, and walking distance from several restaurants. The reservation team even accommodated our 1-night cancellation due to car trouble; we wish we could
M. Kane
Oct 02, 2021
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Only here for one night, but everything was great.
Very friendly staff at checking. COVID. protocols are adhered to. Gave some good local insight on places to eat.
Room was very clean; bed were very comfortable. Cute little bistro table in room. And one on our patio where we ate our continental brekkie.
Fed the ponies in the corral some corn ($0.25). 😊😊. And bought a couple of postcards.
Very friendly staff at checking. COVID. protocols are adhered to. Gave some good local insight on places to eat.
Room was very clean; bed were very comfortable. Cute little bistro table in room. And one on our patio where we ate our continental brekkie.
Fed the ponies in the corral some corn ($0.25). 😊😊. And bought a couple of postcards.
Dammy O.
Oct 01, 2021
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What a wonderful place to stay in Chincoteague! This was our first visit to the island and the Refuge Inn was the prefect place to stay. It's a great location that's close to the main st, but also close to the beach, the bike rentals next door was super convenient and all the staff were friendly and helpful. Rooms were clean, and breakfast every morning was a nice bonus! We will definitely stay there again when we return.
Rose R.
Sep 09, 2021
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This is really a quaint Inn that is in a perfect location. It's right next to the bike rental shop, water park, and walking distance to many of the restaurants/food trucks and mini golf places on Maddox. You are also very close to the Chincoteague refuge and beach/Assateague Island. They have a nice picnic area shaded in the pine trees and a nice pool/hot tub. The fresh coffee in the morning was good. During COVID-19 they did have to modify the breakfast options which are delivered to your room bagged. It gets a little old after two days but you can tell they really are making an effort
Debbie Y.
Sep 05, 2021
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The absolute best place to stay in Chincoteague. Clean, quiet, plenty of towels and pillows.
Friendly helpful staff! They go above and beyond for the guest. I was having leg cramps after biking all day and my husband went to the front desk to see if they had bananas, they did and gave him 2 for me! It worked!
We stayed 3 nights and wished we stayed longer. It's my birthday trip. Definitely will next year! They have the best pool I've ever seen at a hotel.
Washers and dryers at a reasonable price, beats packing dirty clothes!
Sitting on our balcony watching the ponies and drinking my
Friendly helpful staff! They go above and beyond for the guest. I was having leg cramps after biking all day and my husband went to the front desk to see if they had bananas, they did and gave him 2 for me! It worked!
We stayed 3 nights and wished we stayed longer. It's my birthday trip. Definitely will next year! They have the best pool I've ever seen at a hotel.
Washers and dryers at a reasonable price, beats packing dirty clothes!
Sitting on our balcony watching the ponies and drinking my
Monica Silas
Aug 28, 2021
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We had a lovely stay. Everyone was friendly, welcoming, and helpful. We had 3 rooms each immaculate. We had concerns about traveling during Covid but it was obvious from the time we arrived that they cared about our safety. The location was great. If you are expecting a shiny brand new hotel this is not for you. If you you want a homey, friendly, very clean, reasonably priced, perhaps a little bit dated place this is for you. Well before we left we decided that we would return.
Brandon S.
Aug 14, 2021
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Great staff and location. We enjoyed our stay and the accommodations. The metal keys are interesting and a blast from the past. Staff always had a good answer to our questions and very friendly. Super close to the refuge and amazing Assateague beach. Point deduction is for lack of comfortable seating in our room. The table and chairs provided didn't match and the chairs were counter height on a normal height table. Very clean rooms and otherwise well appointed.
Betsy L.
Jul 28, 2021
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Such a special place! Pool and hot tub relaxed us every day. Breakfast delivered to our door (even though probably just a COVID safety adaptation) was such a luxury. From our balcony we could watch the ponies, kids feeding ponies and lovely salt marshes, beyond the parking lot. The location is amazing; to bike or drive (or even walk) into the beautiful national park takes just a couple minutes; restaurants and stores are all with 15 minutes drive. Friendly helpful staff. Our biggest discontent was the lack of common space to hang out in; "resort" implies grounds with Adirondack chairs
Kelli M.
Jul 08, 2021
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I love this hotel!!! We had 4 rooms altogether for our family vacationing together since my mom lives on the island and they made sure we were all in the same hall while still accommodating which each separate guest needed for their rooms. This hotel is very family friendly. This is definitely more my speed than a Hilton or the Days Inn that our family stayed at the year before. My husband and I both said we would definitely stay there again. The kids loved that the pool went to 12 feet and there was a hot tub. We never took advantage of the sun deck or the fitness room they have but hope to if
Keira P.
May 25, 2021
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Lovely inn. Quaint hotel right on the way into the Refuge. Lovely lookout spot on the roof as well as in the marshes. The 3 ponies in the very large, comfortable paddock are VERY CUTE! You can purchase grain for them in the lobby. Great proximity to the bike rental store as well as McDonalds. The rooms were very clean, beds comfy and the breakfast was super. Check-in is easy. The hallways smell like a vacation - clean and timbery. Our room had a view of the ponies. The indoor pool is really nice. This inn is almost too good to be true. I will be back for sure!! Thank you!
Harry T.
May 24, 2021
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Dee W.
May 14, 2021
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Overall a nice place but more effort could have been made, even amid Covid.
Due to covid, the motel was providing a bagged breakfast in lieu of the continental breakfast that is to be offered in the lobby.
It was almost embarrassing to see what was provided, especially since people are paying for a hot breakfast and they take it away from you without telling you until you get there.
We were supposed to have a deluxe Queen room and all the furniture was mismatched and appeared old.
The front desk people could not have been nicer. It was quiet at night and the horses they have on site were a great
Due to covid, the motel was providing a bagged breakfast in lieu of the continental breakfast that is to be offered in the lobby.
It was almost embarrassing to see what was provided, especially since people are paying for a hot breakfast and they take it away from you without telling you until you get there.
We were supposed to have a deluxe Queen room and all the furniture was mismatched and appeared old.
The front desk people could not have been nicer. It was quiet at night and the horses they have on site were a great
Brian G.
Apr 06, 2021
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Beth S.
Jan 31, 2021
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Lorrie C.
Sep 11, 2020
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Last minute decision to stay here. The website said only queens available, but decided to call and they had a king available. Not sure how that works.... The front desk staff was very friendly and recommended a couple places to eat. One of which we went to, Ropewalk, and would say it was a great recommendation. The room was extremely neat and clean. The only reason I give it a four star is because the bed was very firm and I didn't sleep well. And sleep is pretty important when it comes to a hotel. However, my husband liked the firm mattress, so honesty, it's all a matter of preference
Will L.
Sep 05, 2020
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Nice location and property. Quite lovelyMy issue is that the room is musty. There's a dehumidifier in the room, so the property has tried to remedy the situation, but it's a challenge for me to sleep in a basement-smelling room.
EDIT: notified the front desk. They sent someone right away. A quick cleanup and the room smells MUCH better. Review changed from 3 to 5 stars.
EDIT: notified the front desk. They sent someone right away. A quick cleanup and the room smells MUCH better. Review changed from 3 to 5 stars.
Keri M.
Sep 29, 2019
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This was an awesome experience! The owner rescued some wild horses and has some of the in a fenced in area for letting right beside the hotel. My husband, kids and I thoroughly enjoyed it! The hotel staff was super sweet and helpful and the breakfast was great, too! The rooms was very nicely done and the lookout area above the top floor is a nice addition. The pool is nice, too!
Roger C.
Sep 18, 2019
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Sandra A.
Aug 24, 2019
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My stay here with family just recently was very nice. This place is well located near the road that leads to the beach. It is well maintained and clean. The front desk staff is helpful and courteous. The rooms are clean and comfortable. These accommodations did not leave me wanting anything. The pool is very lovely with tropical plants and the surrounding wooded area. There are bikes for rent next door and shopping across the street. This hotel is very much like Chincoteague Island in general; quaint, quiet, relaxing and family oriented. We will return soon. I recommend this for anyone looking
LeAnn S.
Nov 23, 2017
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Quaint little motel very convenient to the Wildlife refuge. Nice and clean and comfy but not over the top. The room has a college fridge but no microwave and old style coffee maker. I definitely would stay here again the price was good and I felt safe ( staying there alone).
I gave them 4 stars because the beds were not the most comfortable.
I gave them 4 stars because the beds were not the most comfortable.
Kathryn M.
May 07, 2017
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I don't have one thing negative to say about this place! I had a wonderful experience here from the very beginning of booking online to checkout Sunday morning. It's located on the island in the middle of all the stores and restaurants. There's plenty of parking, horses on site as promised, check in was fast and the ladies up front were very friendly. Our room was clean, very nicely decorated and (in my opinion the most important factor) the bed was very comfortable. They had a good size heated pool open until 10pm and a hot tub. This was great for our little one. I couldn
Lindsey L.
Apr 16, 2016
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Honestly there is nothing negative about this review. Not even 1 hair in the tub, no crumbs in the floor not even a speck of dust on the counter. This room was the cleanest room I have ever been in.
They also have military discount so make sure you ask for it if you're military. They had 4 towels & 4 wash rags in the bathroom. Plenty of drying off mechanisms for a room for 2 people. Good quality towels too.
The king size bed was so comfortable. Not too soft not too hard. The carpet was fluffy, soft & very clean.
We also had a little breakfast table & chairs in the room and
They also have military discount so make sure you ask for it if you're military. They had 4 towels & 4 wash rags in the bathroom. Plenty of drying off mechanisms for a room for 2 people. Good quality towels too.
The king size bed was so comfortable. Not too soft not too hard. The carpet was fluffy, soft & very clean.
We also had a little breakfast table & chairs in the room and
Jesse C.
Sep 29, 2015
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Every time we visit the island. We always stay here. It's not the fanciest place for lodging, but it's clean, the employees are very friendly, and the morning breakfast is good also.
I have always enjoyed my stays here. If you need to rent a bike, the hotel has a bike shop right next door. They will set you all up with everything and you'll be on your way :).
If you need a good place to stay,'this is your place :)
I have always enjoyed my stays here. If you need to rent a bike, the hotel has a bike shop right next door. They will set you all up with everything and you'll be on your way :).
If you need a good place to stay,'this is your place :)
