At the end of Commerce Street and along the historic James River Waterfront sits a most unique hotel in Lynchburg, Virginia.

While the historic buildings that make up this hotel originated back in the late 1800s and early 1900s, it has only been hotel-hospitable to guests since 2007. Once upon a time, in this very spot, stood one of the largest shoe companies in the world.

The Craddock Terry Hotel, now a 44-room boutique hotel and event center, shares the same name of the world-renowned shoe empire that once produced thousands of pairs of shoes daily on its very site. 

The History

The hotel consists of two buildings. The four-story main building built in 1905 was once the Southland Annex to The Craddock Terry Shoe Company’s Southland Factory. The Annex was an extension of The Southland Factory and was built as a result of booming shoe demands and the factory’s need to increase production. The six-story building was once the neighboring William King Jr. Tobacco Warehouse. Built in 1896, this building was used for storing dried tobacco for The Imperial Tobacco Company.

The Craddock Terry Shoe Company began in 1888 by the trio of John W. Craddock, A.P. Craddock, and T. M. Terry.

Offering competitive prices with high-quality products, The Craddock Terry Shoe Company more than doubled its income in just six years.

The first World War gave the company national recognition in the shoe industry as Craddock Terry was contracted to produce 30,000 pairs of military shoes to the US Army at $2.99 per pair. This event marked the beginning of several contracts with the government throughout the years. The comfort of Craddock Terry footwear served many of our uniformed militaries throughout history. The wars proved profitable for the company, and its official bell insignia was known world-wide.

The Craddock Terry Shoe Company quickly became the 5th largest shoe company in the world. As a result, the company grew and expanded to 5 states and had an office located in the Empire State Building.

In its heyday, Craddock Terry was producing almost 100,000 pairs of shoes a day, and 2,500 pairs of women’s shoes were produced daily within what is now the hotel’s main building.

While showing a slight decline in the 1950s during a post-war economy, the business endured well into the 1970s. From 1896 to 1980, The Craddock Terry Shoe Company produced over 220 brands of footwear.

 With the low costs of foreign competitors coming into play, The Craddock Terry Shoe Company couldn’t compete. Soon after, it became a catalog-only operation before completely fading out in the 1990s.

Today, the site that was once the center of a bustling shoe production business is now home to one of the most unique luxury hotels of its kind, thanks to none-other-than Mr. John W. Craddock’s great-grandson, Hal.

Hal Craddock’s vision to revitalize the community of Lynchburg as well as pay homage to everything his great-grandfather and partners worked so hard to build is now displayed in the spectacular Craddock Terry Hotel and Event Center. Hal credits all the builders, investors, and the overall community for helping to make this project possible.

From the moment you step inside The Craddock Terry Hotel, you are taken back in time to its remarkable history.

While the establishment still fashions the nostalgic feel of the factory’s exposed beams, bricks, and granite walls of days gone by, it also combines the artistry of exquisite design and décor to produce a stunning shoe-themed hotel.  

The brightly lit lobby invites guests to sit and relax while enjoying the mountain views from its towering windows.

Historical artifacts on display highlight The Craddock Terry’s past. Items such as coins used in the shoe factory’s cafeteria to an original company safe immediately captivate guests introducing them into Craddock Terry’s incredible story.

But first, you are welcomed by two Wire Hair Fox Terriers, the hotel’s official greeters. Meet Buster Brown and Penny Loafer .

Two award-winning dining options are offered onsite at the hotel. Shoemakers American Grille was voted Best Seafood and Steaks by Virginia Living Magazine and earned a Certificate of Excellence by Trip Advisor. Waterstone Pizza won Best Pizzeria in Lynchburg by Virginia Living Magazine and also ranked as one of Trip Advisor’s Best Places to Dine in Lynchburg.

Located near the city’s Bluffwalk, a beautiful pedestrian walkway overlooking views of the James River, the Blue Ridge mountains as well as Blackwater Creek Trail, the hotel also offers bike rentals for visitors to explore Lynchburg and take in these spectacular sights.

With spacious accommodations and luxurious amenities such as in-room tablets, nightly turn-down service, and plush robes, towels and linens, the Craddock Terry goes above and beyond for their guests.

The Craddock Terry’s Event Center exhibits a distinguished atmosphere with 4,000 square feet available for any desired gathering.

Awarded Best Special Events Venue in Central Virginia, The Craddock Terry is ready to accommodate your next event, whether it’s an elegant wedding or your next corporate Christmas party.

And speaking of Christmas…

The season comes alive at The Craddock Terry Hotel! 

The hotel kicks off the holidays with the lighting of their twenty-foot Christmas tree, complimentary hot chocolate and a visit from Santa on Sunday December 1, 2019 starting at 5:00 pm.

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The Craddock Terry Hotel also offers holiday packages.

 “Storytime with Santa” December 6th & December 20^th. Treat the kids and family to a magical overnight experience with Santa that includes story time with cookies and milk, a hot cocoa bar, and in-room tree decorating.

New Year’s Eve offers your choice of the “Bubble Me Over Celebration Package” or the “Academy Bash Package” on December 31, 2019.  Ring in the New Year at The Craddock Terry!

And don’t let those winter blues get you down!  “Jazz up” your January at The Craddock Terry on January 18, 2020, with music by Tony Craddock Jr.!

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Providing the comforts of today’s modern conveniences and amenities while giving guests a glimpse of their legendary past, The Craddock Terry Hotel continues the same tradition of high-quality standards that were first introduced over 130 years ago.

Ranked #6 in Condé Nast Traveler’s Reader’s Choice Top 10 Hotels in the Mid-Atlantic

and

Voted Lynchburg Living’s Best Hotel and Best Banquet Venue