Craig Healing Springs
Also known as: Craig Springs Conference Grounds
Why it's listed
Craig Healing Springs is a mountain spa complex in Craig County, Virginia, where visitors once drank mineral water and took curing baths. Yellow spring waters were noted in a 1796 deed, but the remote site was not developed until the Craig Healing Springs Company was incorporated in 1909. By 1920 the resort had largely taken its present form. Automobile travel brought new guests in the 1920s, and improvements in the mid-1930s included Oak Lodge, an enlarged Central building, cottages moved from the nearby Monte Vista resort, and a golf course. Most of the twenty-three surviving buildings are simple frame cottages and service buildings, including a row of commercial buildings with an original two-lane bowling alley. Changing vacation habits reduced its popularity after the 1940s. The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Virginia bought it in 1960 and has kept it as a conference center. It is valued as a modest spa complex and as a model of adaptive reuse.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is a well-preserved group of early 20th-century resort buildings representing the architecture of Virginia's more modest spas. It also notes its role in popular culture as a health resort that flourished with automobile travel between the world wars. Its continued care as a church conference center is cited as a notable example of adaptive reuse.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 82004551, listed July 21, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | VA 658, Craig Springs |
|---|---|
| County | Craig County |
| Listed | July 21, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82004551 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- (specific dates: ca. 1885, 1909-1920, ca. 1935) |
| Architectural style | Simple frame construction in a homogenous style, resembling a summer camp more than a large resort |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | In use since 1960 as a conference and retreat center; original grounds, buildings and many furnishings carefully maintained. The Craig Hotel and golf course are gone or unmaintained. |
| Acreage | 14 |
| Coordinates | 37.48524, -80.29227 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 82004551.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14712208
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.