Virginia wine country Bed and Breakfast Innkeepers at Inn at Meander Plantation, Orange VA

A Shaded Porch at the Inn at Meander Plantation, a Virginia wine country lodging offering the perfect Washington DC getaway to the country. Located near Virginia wineries and Montpelier, the bucolic setting and gourmet Virginia cuisine will revitalize you.

Owners Suzanne Thomas & Suzie Blanchard offer Virginia hospitality at their central Virginina B&B located in the heart of Virginia wine country near Montpelier

The essence of Virginia wine country hospitality is provided by owners Suzie Blanchard and Suzanne Thomas and their dedicated staff.

Suzie Blanchard
Suzie’s passion for and career in historic preservation was a driving force in selecting and establishing this historic central Virginia country inn. Previously the Historic Preservation Officer for the Chicago suburb of Wilmette, she conceived and directed a project of the Junior League of Chicago’s North Shore to produce an award-winning coffeetable book, “An Architectural Album: Chicago’s North Shore.” Also an accomplished chef and food writer, Suzie did all the cooking for the Inn’s first 10 years, setting the continuing standard of culinary excellence. She is Director of the Meander Virginia Wine Country Inn Cooking School, which she began in 2001. Suzie is a native of Georgia, mother of three grown children and, finally, a grandmother of two! She is a past president of the Bed and Breakfast Association of Virginia and currently serves on the Board of Directors for The Art Center in Orange and the James Madison Museum.

Suzanne Thomas
Suzanne fell in love with bed-and-breakfasts right out of college and, after 25 years of working for newspapers, decided it was time to start her own. Having worked on both editorial and business sides of papers in Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi, her last job was as publisher of 18 weeklies in the Chicago suburbs. She has been the editor of a book of her grandmother’s memoirs, which was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize, and “An Architectural Album,” which is how she and Suzie met. Suzanne has lived in Virginia and guided the operations of the Inn since opening in 2001, but she is … and always will be … a Texan! She is treasurer of the local Inns at Montpelier association.

Jenae Richardson
Assistant Innkeeper Jenae Richardson is a dynamic and talented young woman who began her career at Meander as a teenager. Capable and competent, she is familiar with all facets of the Inn, but specifically coordinates our food service and staff. A native of Orange, she attended Longwood College and Piedmont College.

Honey the Golden Dog Relaxes on the Porch

Innkeeping Animals
The family pets are integral parts of life at The Inn at Meander Plantation. All are “guest-friendly,” but are not allowed in the guestrooms for guest comfort.

Honey, our beloved dog pictured at right, protected and loved Meander, us and our guests for 15 wonderful years. She was, and always will be, “the best dog in the world.” Her spirit lingers and welcomes our dog guests.

William is an orange tabby cat. He was supposed to be a barn cat but decided that he was “to the manor born.” Although very aloof, he loves to be told he is “pretty.”

Dacquoise is a long-haired, buff-colored cat with white bib and paws. Rescued from the dumpster at the Orange 7-11 Store, he is quite curious and social but usually stays just beyond reach. A Norwegian Forest Cat, he loves to play in snow and water!