Spring has fully arrived in the Shenandoah Valley. The spring bulbs are adding color to our gardens, birds are chirping, and the warmer days invite us to take a walk around our property and see all that this beautiful area has to offer.
Along with the season’s change, we must tell about how our life will be changing…
About ten years ago, we decided we wanted to own a bed and breakfast. Before leaving our corporate jobs as Technology professionals at PNC Bank in Pittsburgh, we did our “homework” to understand what it would take to run a B&B and own a small business. In that process, we discovered the Shenandoah Valley area of Virginia. This area has a similar climate to our home, Pittsburgh PA, and is close to mountains and wineries. We purchased the Steeles Tavern property in December 2011. This beautiful 50-acre property tucked in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains just stole our hearts.
We named one of our common guest rooms the “Social Room” to create a place where our guests could gather together to chat with us, meet other guests, relax, and socialize. And that’s exactly what happened! We met so many wonderful people. Some folks had a chance to visit us only once, but for those who visited us often, you feel like family to us.
Now, almost eight years later, we are ending our innkeeping journey and we will miss all of you.
We are moving back to our home near Pittsburgh, PA – close to our kids and grandkids. Our immediate plans are to be full-time “Pappy” and “Nanna” to Mia (age 5) and one-year-old Elliott.
Bacchus will need to get acquainted with a busier environment. He won’t have the expansive grounds to explore and run around. His big change will be to go for walks on a leash and on a sidewalk – that means we will get that exercise too. There is a nice park close to our new home where maybe he will meet other dog friends.
I love this quote that seems so appropriate to this moment: “If you are brave enough to say goodbye then life will reward you with a new hello.” — Paulo Coehlo/Walt Disney
As we say goodbye, we want you to say hello to the new owners of Steeles Tavern Manor, Trey and Dana Tumminello.
Trey and Dana Tumminello have called Virginia their home since the mid 1970s. As kids, they moved to the Tidewater area with their military families and never really left. They met in high school, got married after college, raised two wonderful children, and traveled the world while Trey was in the Army. Returning to Virginia after the Army, Trey pursued a career in medical device sales while Dana worked for a small private school. They are excited about their new “pre-retirement” career as innkeepers. Trey is an avid remodeler/Do-It-Yourselfer and Dana is a licensed massage therapist who loves to cook. They hope to incorporate their skills into their new life at Steeles Tavern Manor while continuing to provide the same great service everyone has come to expect.
We are so happy you chose us for your getaway vacations throughout the years! We enjoyed getting to know each and every one of you. And you never know but that our paths may cross again someday.
Warmly,
Melissa, Ray, and Bacchus
