Black Horse Tavern-Bellvue Hotel and Office
Also known as: 80-410; 80-409; 80-408
Why it's listed
Along Old Mountain Road in northeast Roanoke County, at the base of Read Mountain, three early buildings survive beside the route of the old Carolina Road. The oldest is the Black Horse Tavern, a one-story log building from about 1782 covered in German siding, established by Thomas Madison on land once part of the Stone House Tract. About 150 yards away stands the brick Bellvue Hotel, built in 1854 by William and James Kyle as an upgrade to the tavern, with a Greek Revival design. Nearby is a small brick office from about 1840 with a pedimented, columned front, an unusual form for an outbuilding. Both the tavern and hotel lodged travelers on the Great Wagon Road between Pennsylvania and North Carolina. In the 1930s the hotel and office became Bellevue School, which boarded handicapped children until 1976. The property was listed for its role in commerce, transportation, architecture and education between 1782 and 1951.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the complex is a rare surviving group of late-18th to mid-19th century tavern and hotel buildings on the Carolina Road, part of the Great Wagon Road, and that the tavern is possibly the earliest surviving tavern in Roanoke County. It also cites the unusual Greek Revival brick office and the property's later use as a private school for handicapped children. It is significant under Criteria A and C at the local level.
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 01001521, listed January 24, 2002. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 7223-7229 Old Mountain Rd., Roanoke |
|---|---|
| County | Roanoke (city and county) |
| Listed | January 24, 2002 |
| Reference number | 01001521 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1782-1951 |
| Architect / builder | Bellvue Hotel built by William and James Kyle; Black Horse Tavern established by Thomas Madison |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Transportation, Architecture, Education |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Bellvue was restored as a private residence after the school closed in 1976 and continues in that use; the form's current function lists the commercial portion as vacant (not in use) alongside single dwelling use. |
| Acreage | 4.2 |
| Coordinates | 37.34610, -79.91480 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 01001521.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q15199565
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.