Dark and dusty, painted on the side of a small barn in West Virginia are the iconic lyrics “Country Roads Take Me Home,” silhouetted by the outline of the anthem’s namesake state. Raun Schrock, the artist for this mural, has many talents and wears many hats – husband, father, private school principal, teacher, IT guy, youth leader, and for the last two years – carpenter by night. Schrock, from Georgia, whose wife is Dorcas Whetzel of Cullers Run, holds a soulful appreciation for old barns and local history. He got the idea to turn the Dove hay barn, a stone’s throw up Cullers Run from Crab Run, into a lovely Airbnb destination. “Before” pictures reveal grey weathered wood siding with Virginia Creeper draped across the sides and a faded basketball hoop mounted on the front sliding barn door that time dulled to a muted red. Now, the exterior is crisply contrasted in black and white with captivating architectural and design handiwork to discover at every turn inside, all steeped in local history and sourcing.
Hoy Dove Jr. was a school superintendent and principal when Dorcas’s father Garnett was in school. His family owned the property of the Hayloft, where they had a house, mill, and a general store. He built the barn in the 1940s or 50s. Many changes have come to the place since then – the land was divided into three plots, and the old store is also an Airbnb today. Raun is pleased that all visible lumber used in his restoration project, except the hemlock floor that was recovered and milled from a barn in the Shenandoah Valley, is from the Dove farm.
Raun says, “I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do with it, but it was such a stable barn. It was built well and felt too nice to use for storage.” His original plan was to simply transform the upper level into an Airbnb with a cozy loft, kitchen, bedroom, and bathroom, but as he told about the project, friends encouraged him to use the entire structure. What was anticipated to be a quick undertaking beginning in the spring of 2022 wasn’t complete until almost exactly two years later, but the finished work has been worth the effort and wait.
About the property, Dorcas loves the thought “if these walls could talk.” She thinks of how much hard labor was poured into every facet of living in the remote communities where people “did for themselves,” all by hand. By this method, they garnered stone from rivers for rock walls and trees became lumber. Raun explains, “What we’ve tried to do here is keep as much of the old barn alive as we can and still be comfortable.” What was the red sliding door now filters mountainside sunlight through large double windows into a dining corner and open concept kitchen and living area. A ladder that Raun’s dad helped build, when visiting from Georgia, leads to a loft with two full beds – every kid’s dream spot to sleep. Ambient light showcases rough beams that Raun painstakingly repurposed from a former chicken house out back. Raun’s skills were tested when he decided to build a tile shower for the main level bath. He chuckles, “It was my first work with tile; it was fun.” The crowning feature on the main floor – also an afterthought along the way – is a true-to-life mural above the staircase in stunning hues of dark blue and hazy grey depicting the mountain range overlooking Moorefield from Corridor H.
The Hayloft has an Instagram account that documents each step of the project. The whole family worked together at finishing the remodeling with drywall and paint. The Schrocks will continue to share updates on the Airbnb; follow along @thehayloft_wv. A recent post shows a newly installed outdoor hot tub. Stairs to the lower level appeared in the fall of last year to the area where stock once fed. Concrete and faux wood laminate laid in a herringbone pattern replaced the mud floor. Original oak timbers of the main level barn flooring are exposed for the basement ceiling. If left to Raun, the trough would have been closed off, but Dorcas recognized the nostalgic value and wisely insisted, “No, we need to feature this trough somehow.” Bark on the trunks of pine trees markedly frames the recessed entrance to a dual-purpose reading nook and bed. It’s like entering between the trees and is as charming as the back of the wardrobe in a C.S. Lewis work. Bookshelves are built in beneath and beside the incredibly hygge spot, encased in richly colored knotty pine paneling.
Raun’s careful attention to detail and habit of sparing nothing to provide the best amenities includes the restored antique clawfoot tub that he purchased and refinished and placed in the basement bathroom. The backdrop for the tub continues the herringbone pattern in oak and pine from this barn, as well as leftover hemlock – a blend of aged restored lumber. Dorcas designed the interior with the tasteful eclectic style of eastern West Virginia culture, purposefully incorporating the work of local artisans, including her sister in-law’s photographs. Lana Whetzel teaches photography at the same school where Raun and Dorcas are dedicated faculty.
Just listed this spring, the Hayloft booked up quickly and rose straight to the top, already being awarded “Guest favorite – one of the most loved homes on Airbnb,” with a string of 5-star reviews from people who appreciate the uniqueness, warm hospitality and the setting, and animals around the property. If you would like to see this delightful place, the Schrock family invites you to take the country roads to their open house that coincides with a local art show on the weekend of July 6. Stop in any time on that first Saturday of the month between 9 am and 9 pm to celebrate preservation of local history, discover the charm of a well-crafted barn stay, and most importantly, make good friends among the West Virginia hills.
