Why We Built the Corton Lodge
Somewhere along the Elk River in West Virginia, tucked behind a row of trees and standing tall with a century of stories in its bones, a small 1913 church waited patiently for new life. When we first stepped onto the property, the bell still hung in the steeple. The floors creaked beneath our feet like a whispered invitation from the past. And right then, we knew—we weren’t just renovating a building. We were resurrecting a story.
Corton Lodge was born out of a dream. Not just mine, but one shared with friends, family, and an entire community that believes in beauty, restoration, and the power of place. So why did we do it? Why put the time, sweat, and soul into transforming an old church into a lodge?
Here’s why:
1. To Honor the Past
This church had stood for over 110 years. It had been a place of worship, gathering, mourning, and celebration. We didn’t want to erase that history—we wanted to preserve it. The original woodwork still surrounds the steeple entrance. The bell still rings. The hardwood floors, now restored, hold every footprint of those who came before. We built the Corton Lodge to tell the story of what once was, and to invite others into that story.
2. To Invite Others Into West Virginia’s Beauty
I grew up in these hills. I know the peace you can only find when the river is running beside you and the trees are rustling in the breeze. Too many people pass by West Virginia without understanding how special it really is. Corton Lodge was built to be a welcoming place for travelers to stop, stay, and feel the serenity of this land. We want our guests to hike the trails, fish in the Elk River, paddle a kayak, or just sit by the fire and breathe deeply.
3. To Create Something with Our Own Hands
This wasn’t a project managed from a distance. We were in the dirt. We milled the wood ourselves. We repurposed beams and ladders from the old church stage. We built furniture from Appalachian hardwoods. I even laser-etched custom tiles for the suites. We didn’t just want to build a lodge—we wanted to craft something honest and lasting. Every corner of Corton Lodge tells a story, and a lot of those stories came from our own hands.
4. To Build Community
From the start, Corton Lodge wasn’t just about creating a place to stay. It was about reconnecting. Old friends came back into my life during this project. New friends became family. Locals came by to lend tools, advice, or just a word of encouragement. People we hadn’t seen in years stopped in to check on the progress. We built this lodge, yes—but just as much, it built us.
5. To Offer Peace in a Busy World
Life isn’t always easy. I live with Parkinson’s. Some days are a little slower, a little harder. But in this place, something feels steady. Sacred, even. Corton Lodge is quiet, thoughtful, simple. It’s a place where people can get away from the noise, reconnect with themselves, or with each other. We built it for families. For couples. For wanderers and wonderers. For anyone who needs a place to just… be.
This is more than a lodge. It’s a dream built into wood and stone. A love letter to a small town. A bridge between the past and the future.
We hope you’ll come experience it for yourself. Because once you walk through those old church doors, you’ll understand why we built the Corton Lodge.
—Ryan
