Historic Luray Attraction to Become Residential Treatment Facility
Restaurant to remain open weekends-only through January, 2025
LURAY, Va. – The Page County Board of Supervisors (BOS) has greenlighted plans to turn a local "landmark" into a residential treatment facility.
During the November 18, 2024 BOS meeting, supervisors conducted a public hearing on a special use permit request by Brookside Restaurant and Gift Shop, Inc., with its occupant listed as Cox Property Management, LLC, to operate a "recovery treatment center similar to clinically managed low-intensity care."
Present at the meeting were supervisors Keith Guzy (District 1), Allen Louderback (District 2), Jeff Vaughn (District 5) and Chairman Keith Weakley. Supervisor Ryan Cubbage (District 3) joined the meeting by phone.
The property discussed is located at 2978 U.S. Highway 211 East, less than five miles from the Thornton Gap entrance to Shenandoah National Park. It includes:
Tax map number 44-(A)-49 (zoned C-1), currently containing 4.275 acres, improved with a restaurant, retail and motel (cabins), with 50+ parking spaces; and
Tax map number 44-(A)-49A (zoned C-1), currently containing 0.202 acres, improved with a single-family dwelling
According to a letter from the applicants' attorney:
"The residential facility contemplated could support 41 residents per day, a staff of 10 persons, and one professional counselor, and food preparation for 41 persons per day along with the ability to provide for six persons per month for visitation ..."
A special use permit is required in Page County's Commercial Zoning District for "hospitals and residential care facilities to include group homes, halfway houses, adult daycare facilities, and assisted living facilities," according to the Page County Zoning Ordinance.
The treatment center will keep the existing commercial kitchen as is, to be used by residents to prepare their meals. The current gift shop will be used for offices and a common area space for clients. Existing cottages will be used for client residences, the storage and work building for support activities; and the single-family dwelling will be used as another client residence.
The BOS hearing drew 17 speakers. Supervisors approved the special use permit request 3-to-2, with Supervisors Guzy and Louderback dissenting.
Brookside Restaurant, known for it’s down-home cooking and outdoor peacock enclosure, has been a favorite of tourists and Page County residents for more than 80 years.
Cabins on the property date back to pre-1920, but have been renovated or completely rebuilt from 1990-1999. Land records show the cabins were rented as roadside accommodations as early as 1922.
Bob and CeCe Castle, only the fourth owners of Brookside since 1933, have operated the restaurant and cabins for more than 35 years.
According to Brookside employees, the property will remain open and operational weekends-only through January, 2025.
January 19, 2025 EDIT: Brookside will remain open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through February 16, 2025.