Massanetta Springs Historic District
Also known as: VDHR file no. 082-0509
Why it's listed
Massanetta Springs is a district of about seventy acres along Massanetta Springs Road and Congers Creek, southeast of Harrisonburg, Virginia. Its centerpiece is a large four-story hotel of 1910, with a mansard-roofed center block and Queen Anne-style brick wings, built by banker James Robert Lupton after he bought the springs in 1909. Nearby are a stone-pillared springhouse and a wooded grove holding the Hudson Memorial Auditorium, an open-air tabernacle begun in 1922, along with a cobblestone Rustic pavilion and a small chapel. On a ridge to the west stands Camp Massanetta, more than two dozen small lodges, bathhouses and cabins erected in 1955-56. The place began as a mineral water resort, with bottled spring water marketed nationwide in the 1880s. After Hampden-Sydney College bought it in 1919, it passed to Presbyterian ownership as a Bible conference center, an association that continues today. Thirty-five resources contribute to the district and ten do not.
Significance in brief: The district traces a former mineral springs resort that became a Presbyterian Bible conference center and camp. The form documents the 1910 hotel built by banker James Robert Lupton, the 1919 sale to Hampden-Sydney College, and later church use. Its buildings and landscape features show the change from resort to religious retreat and camp. The excerpt does not include the full statement of criteria or areas of significance.
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 05000477, listed May 26, 2005. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 712 Massanetta Springs rd., Harrisonburg |
|---|---|
| County | Rockingham County |
| Listed | May 26, 2005 |
| Reference number | 05000477 |
| Resource type | District |
| Architectural style | Second Empire, Queen Anne, Late Gothic Revival, Rustic, Modern Movement |
| Areas of significance | Religion, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a hotel, camp, religious facility and sports facility. The form notes increasing water damage in the upper floors of the Hotel. |
| Acreage | 70 |
| Coordinates | 38.40322, -78.83921 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 05000477.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6784521
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.