In the beginning of the 19th century, Luray was a town for leisure, built on the foundation of the Luray Norfolk and Western Passenger Station, which carried the Shenandoah Valley Railroad. Tourists poured in to take in the caverns that were discovered in 1878, the nearby 60,000 acres of mountains of the Shenandoah and the numerous restaurants, theaters, opera houses and resorts that grew along with the town.
Today this small town still brings in many visitors, estimated at over half a million each year, who traverse the underground caverns and trek the many trails of the national park. But the town itself is an area of culture, housing a main street with restaurants and boutiques, a performing arts theater, art gallery and museum.
Community Atmosphere
Living in Luray since 1976, real estate agent, broker and owner of Bill Dudley and Associates Real Estate Bill Dudley calls the community of Luray a welcoming mix of residents and secondary homeowners, specifically from the Northern Virginia and D.C. area. “Retirees come out and buy some of the nicer properties ($250,000-plus properties) [and] then get involved in the community and have an extremely positive impact on the community,” Dudley says, specifically referring to the Hawksbill Greenway, a 3.2-mile linear park that runs through downtown and opened in 2009 after retirees with a background in writing grants got the project off the ground. “The atmosphere is welcoming with a mix of folks,” adds Dudley. Also referring to the strong agricultural community, Dudley says there is a lot of open space with almost a third of the land in Page County being protected due to the Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah National Park and the George Washington National Forest.
Related: Making a home away from home in Luray
The town itself holds many independently owned businesses, and in the past five years Luray has made significant strides in coming out of the downturn after the recession. And to keep downtown thriving, the Luray Downtown Initiative was started to revitalize the area and garner unique shops, restaurants and entertainment all while spotlighting the natural surroundings. Walking through downtown today, one can see the nonprofit’s mission in action.
What to Do
Luray Caverns
The caverns are the largest series of caverns in the East with stalactites and stalagmites displaying nature’s beautiful decor like cathedral-sized rooms, pools, stone columns, the colors and textures of calcite throughout and the Stalacpipe Organ, the world’s largest musical instrument.
Shenandoah National Park and Skyline Drive
Known for its vistas and foliage, Shenandoah National Park and Skyline Drive offer up the real-time images of what makes Virginia a beautiful place to live. The drive is 105 miles of historic, natural beauty, and the park is 311 square miles of trails and cascading waterfalls.
Luray Valley Museum
As part of the Luray Caverns admission price, you get a peek into history through a collection of buildings that brings you back to a 19th-century farming community, and depictions of art, clothing and toys in the main museum building take you through a tour of the mid-1700s to the early 1920s. There is also the barracks used by Union and Confederate soldiers during the Civil War and the Hamburg Regular School, one of the oldest surviving African-American one-room schoolhouses in Virginia.
The Car and Carriage Caravan Museum
As part of the entrance fee to Luray Caverns, patrons can be educated on the history of transportation. With over 140 items ranging from cars to carriages, this museum offers a close-up look at the past’s famous wheels: Cadillac’s Double Tulip Touring Car, 1912 Metz Roadster, 1914 Ford Model T Milk Wagon, 1932 Rolls Royce Shooting Brake and Rudolph Valentine’s 1925 Silver Ghost Town Car.
Ropes Course at Luray Caverns
Just outside the entrance to Luray Caverns is a two-level ropes course where children and adults can test their limits on how high they can climb.
Warehouse Art Gallery
Taking up an old warehouse space the Warehouse Art Gallery offers of 10,000 square feet of paintings, sculptures, glass, pottery, photography and more from local artists and also acts as a gathering center for these artisans and locals to draw inspiration and be entertained.
Garden Maze at Luray Caverns
An acre of gardens is breathtaking to look at, but make it into a maze with 8-foot high walls and adventure begins.
Performing Arts Luray
A performance house right on the main drag, PAL offers space for dance, music and theater performances throughout the year, both for visiting artists and the resident community theater group, PAL Players, and local choir, Main Street Singers, and showcases local artists’ displays.
Trackside Theater
This community theater houses productions from the Blue Ridge Youth Theater and the resident community theater troupe, Roundhouse Players.
Luray Zoo
Privately owned by Mark and Christine Kilby, the Luray Zoo is a rescue zoo housing retired zoo animals, unwanted pets and confiscated animals.
Dining, Drinking & Desserts
Gathering Grounds Patisserie & Café
24 E. Main St.
Cozy quarters and friendly faces are what most of us want in a coffee shop. Gathering Grounds fits the bill for Luray residents. Opened in 2011, the cafe serves up fresh-baked pastries from family recipes, and items rotate on a daily basis. But they also offer more sustenance through their breakfast, lunch and dinner menus.
West Main Street Market
123 W. Main St.
This full-service delicatessen and sandwich shop is a must when in Luray. Offering sandwiches, soups and salads along with specialty meats, cheeses and side dishes, it is a spot locals frequent and a place that will treat your taste buds.
Flotzie’s Soft Serve
1034 US-211 W.; 540-742-2531
This seasonal shop is a gathering place for a sweet treat in a range of options: cones and cups, sundaes, floats, banana splits, frappes, shakes, cheesecake, sno balls, sno cremes, slushies, parfaits and, of course, flotzie’s that come in 20 different flavors.
Circa ’31 at the Mimslyn Inn / The Speakeasy
401 W. Main St.
Located inside the acclaimed Mimslyn Inn, Circa ’31 focuses on Southern cuisine for breakfast, lunch, weekend wine dinners and Sunday brunch. The Speakeasy located in the inn gives a nod to Prohibition-themed drinks while serving up comfort food and some live music.
Brookside Restaurant
2978 US-211
For over 80 years Brookside Restaurant has welcomed residents and visitors to Luray. Serving down-home meals and homemade breads and desserts, it holds a buffet and menu offerings with over 30 options to choose from. And, in traditional cozy eatery style, you can also shop local gifts at the next-door art gallery and gift shop.
Shopping
Hawksbill Trading Company
139 Virginia Ave.
This is Luray’s business incubator where one can shop many local artisans in one spot. From produce and baked goods to home decor and accessories, local entrepreneurs can set up shop in an inviting space that also holds classes and events to engage the community.
Appalachian Outdoors Adventures
2 W. Main St.
Stock up on all the outdoor gear you’ll need for hiking the trails. Don’t know what you should purchase? The knowledgeable staff will guide you through. The store carries a range of brand-name items like Patagonia, Kuhl Clothing and Merrell, The North Face and more, plus Ruffwear for your four-legged companions.
Mama’s Treasures
22 E. Main St.; 540-743-1352
This gift shop carries a range of items like holiday decor, gifts, jewelry and clothing along with some vintage pieces.
Shenandoah Moon
58 W. Main St.
This store carries items that are fair trade, locally made and unique. You can find knits of all kinds, socks, jewelry, bags and more. Plus, they hold private parties and classes in their backroom classroom.
Bank Street Books
201 W. Main St.
Since 1998 Bank Street Books has stayed open selling fine used books in the genres of science fiction, fantasy and mystery. But they offer more than just that. Along with a range of fiction and nonfiction, they also have a children’s room to keep the youngsters interested so they can become future customers.
Cathie Miranda Potterylady
317 E. Main St.
On the main floor of the space she calls home, artist Cathie Miranda sells her pottery pieces as well as works by other potters in the area. She also commissions pieces and teaches pottery classes.