If you’ve driven through downtown Lexington recently, you might have been looking for the Robert E Lee Hotel VA. You wouldn't be the first person to get a little confused.
It’s gone. Sorta.
The building is still there, of course. It’s that massive, imposing six-story brick structure that’s dominated the corner of South Main Street and Washington Street since the roaring twenties. But if you're looking for the name on the sign, you’re about four years too late. It’s now the The Gin Hotel, part of the Ascend Hotel Collection.
History in Virginia is... well, it’s thick. You can feel it in the air in Lexington, a town that basically serves as a living shrine to the Confederacy and the post-Civil War era. For decades, the Robert E Lee Hotel was the center of that identity. Built in 1926, it was designed to be the "Grand Dame" of the Shenandoah Valley. It was where the wealthy stayed when visiting Washington and Lee University or VMI.
But things changed. Fast.
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Why the Robert E Lee Hotel VA changed its name
The rebranding wasn't some quiet corporate decision made in a vacuum. It happened in 2020. You remember 2020—it was a year of reckoning for monuments, names, and legacies across the American South.
Lexington was at the heart of it.
The hotel's owners, Ugo Itzkovitch and his family (who bought the place back in 2014), faced a lot of pressure. But honestly, it wasn't just about politics. It was about business. When your town's main economic engine is a pair of universities, and those universities are grappling with their own ties to the past, a hotel named after a Confederate general starts to feel like a relic.
They settled on "The Gin Hotel." It’s a nod to the building's history, believe it or not. Back in the day, the site housed a cotton gin. It’s punchy. It’s modern. It’s a bit more "boutique" and a lot less "Civil War."
Some locals hated it. They saw it as erasing history. Others felt it was about thirty years overdue. That’s the thing about Virginia; every brick has an opinion attached to it.
The 1926 charm meets 2026 reality
Walking into the lobby today is a weird experience if you knew the old place. They kept the bones. You can't just "renovate" away 1920s architecture. The high ceilings, the intricate crown molding, and those massive windows are all still there.
It’s got that Beaux-Arts vibe.
The rooms are a different story. When it was the Robert E Lee Hotel VA, it was leaning hard into the "historic" aesthetic—which is often code for "the carpets are a bit musty and the floral wallpaper is peeling."
The 2014 renovation (the one that cost millions) really saved the structure. It updated the plumbing and the HVAC, which, let’s be real, is more important than whose name is on the front door when it’s 95 degrees in August. Today, the rooms are surprisingly sleek. Think neutral tones, high-end linens, and views of the Blue Ridge Mountains that’ll make you forget you’re staying in a place that’s almost a century old.
The ROXY connection
One of the coolest things about the hotel—regardless of what you call it—is the restaurant. The Roxy.
It’s named after the old Roxy Theatre that used to be nearby. It’s got this Italian-American menu that hits the spot after a day of hiking the Natural Bridge or walking the bricks of W&L.
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- The food: It’s actually good. Not just "hotel good."
- The vibe: Local. You’ll see professors and cadets grabbing dinner next to tourists.
- The bar: They make a mean cocktail. And yes, they have gin. Obviously.
What people get wrong about the history
There’s a common misconception that Robert E. Lee actually stayed here.
He didn't.
He died in 1870. The hotel opened in 1926. Do the math.
The name was a tribute, part of the "Lost Cause" era of the early 20th century when southern towns were trying to boost tourism by leaning into Confederate nostalgia. The hotel was built during a boom time for Lexington. The town wanted to prove it could compete with the big cities, offering a "modern" luxury experience for travelers coming off the newly developed highways.
Is it still worth a visit?
If you're a history buff, yeah. Absolutely.
Even without the name, the building is a textbook example of early 20th-century hotel design. It represents a specific moment in Virginia’s timeline.
But you have to be okay with the "new" Lexington. The town is changing. It’s becoming more of a culinary and arts destination. The hotel reflects that. It’s less of a museum now and more of a functional, stylish place to stay.
Practical insights for your trip
If you’re planning to stay at the former Robert E Lee Hotel VA, here’s the lowdown:
1. Parking is a nightmare.
Lexington wasn't built for cars. The hotel has some options, but be prepared to walk a bit or fight for a spot on Main Street.
2. Request a mountain view.
The rooms facing the back or the mountains are significantly better than the ones facing the street, which can get noisy on weekends when the college kids are out.
3. Check the university calendar.
If it’s Parents' Weekend at VMI or W&L, or graduation, forget about it. Prices triple, and the place is packed. Book six months out for those dates.
4. Explore the surrounding blocks.
You’re right in the middle of everything. The Lee Chapel (now University Chapel) is a short walk away. The Stonewall Jackson House (now the Lexington Historic House) is nearby too.
The final word on the transition
It’s easy to get caught up in the name change drama, but the reality is that the Robert E Lee Hotel VA survived because it adapted. Many historic hotels in small-town Virginia just... crumbled. They became apartments or, worse, parking lots.
The Gin Hotel kept the architecture alive. It kept the jobs in downtown Lexington. It kept a massive piece of the skyline intact.
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Whether you miss the old name or prefer the new one, the building remains the best place to get a sense of what Lexington was—and what it’s trying to become.
Actionable Next Steps
- Book directly: If you’re looking for the best rates, check the Choice Hotels / Ascend Collection website rather than third-party aggregators; they often have member-only discounts for this specific property.
- Verify the name: When using GPS, search for "The Gin Hotel" at 30 S Main St, Lexington, VA. Using the old name might lead you to outdated listings or broken links.
- Visit the 2nd floor: There are some great historical photos of the construction in the 1920s that give you a "then vs. now" perspective that is worth five minutes of your time.