Rockledge Inn, Roanoke Landmark, Remembered 50 Years After Fire
A WDBJ7 Archive report looks back at the Rockledge Inn, a Roanoke landmark that burned down 50 years ago this week, in October 1976. Originally opened in 1892, the building had been remodeled in the early 1960s to host the…
Roanoke Lynchburg, VA, October 11, 2026 — The Rockledge Inn, a significant landmark in Roanoke, is being remembered 50 years after its destruction by fire. The blaze occurred in October 1976, marking a half-century since the historic building was lost.
Originally established in 1892, the Rockledge Inn had a long history in the Roanoke community. The building underwent a significant transformation in the early 1960s when it was remodeled to serve as the home for the Mill Mountain Playhouse.
The structure continued to operate in this capacity until the fire that consumed it in October 1976. The details surrounding the cause and the full extent of the damage from the fire were not specified in the WDBJ7 Archive report. The report serves as a historical look back at a building that was a fixture in Roanoke for many decades, evolving from its original purpose to become a cultural venue before its untimely end.
The loss of the Rockledge Inn represents the disappearance of a piece of Roanoke’s architectural and cultural past. The building’s longevity, spanning from the late 19th century through much of the 20th century, highlights its enduring presence in the city’s landscape.
Story summarized from the original created by Joe Dashiell on www.wdbj7.com, see more information here.
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