Community 'Inn-gagement'

A chance to take part in a rock-painting party drew a crowd to the Virginia Cliffe Inn March 9, for what the Inn's owner hopes will be the first of many family-oriented activities to engage the community.

As adults and children gathered under a tent behind the Glen Allen inn to decorate stones with inspirational slogans, cheery messages and colorful pictures, Janice Clifton reveled in the chatter and smiles and explained that her co-workers came up with the idea.

Located on a historic property that held a 19th-century farmhouse, the inn was constructed by Clifton's father, using materials from the original building. Guests who stay at the inn, Clifton said, will have cards in their room featuring 15 or 20 questions relating to the Inn and to area history. By wandering the six-acre grounds, guests can find answers to the questions by picking up stones painted with numbers that correspond to the questions.

"We wanted to have other painted rocks so we could intermingle the painted-number rocks," Clifton said. "It seemed like a great idea to host a party to have the community come help us paint rocks."

Rocking the grounds

The free event was publicized on social media, and quickly filled as word got around. Participants were given the option to paint stones supplied by the inn and to decorate them for use on the grounds, or to bring their own stones if they wanted to take home the finished product.

Eight-year-old Reagan Munsey was among the painters who brought her own rocks, and busied herself personalizing each one for her teachers and family members.

But by the end of the evening, the inn also had a new pile of gaily-painted rocks to scatter across the grounds – as well as a jar filled with donations from parents grateful for the free supplies and family fun.

The boost in their stock of painted stones will allow the inn's team members not only to enhance the history Q & A game for lodging guests, but also to expand their scavenger hunt themes.
Clifton hopes, in addition, to give future bed-and-breakfast guests an opportunity to decorate stones.

"We will have an area set up where they can paint a rock – hopefully, adding their hometown and date they visited us, and leaving at the inn for our collection."

Party and pop-up plans

Because she wants to make community outreach events a regular feature of the inn's calendar, Clifton solicited the crowd at the March 9 event for ideas for other gatherings.

"I did get a suggestion on hosting more rock painting parties," she said. "I also got a suggestion to host a dance class, like line dancing."

Her team, she added, considered holding a community Easter egg hunt, but decided to postpone it until next year. "We have two weddings that weekend, and we really want more time to make it a huge success."

In addition to its usual agenda of weddings, meetings, and celebrations, the inn will hold Mother's Day teas on the first two Sundays in May, and will host a community yard sale the weekend after July Fourth.

Among other ideas for future events are a community block party, a fall chili cook-off, a corn hole tournament, and monthly pop-up restaurants.

"I love my inn and my community," said Clifton, who grew up on the grounds and is excited for the events to come – not to mention delighted with the success of the kick-off activity.

"Everyone that came commented that they had a wonderful time and would love for us to do it again."