Refuge Inn
The Refuge Inn sits a quarter mile from the gate of the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, close enough to walk or bike in before breakfast. The Assateague beach is about four miles from our front door. Three generations of the Leonard family have run the place since 1973. We have 70 rooms and 2 suites among the loblolly pines, all with a private deck, balcony or patio.
Our family's herd of Chincoteague ponies grazes in the pasture here year-round, and they're always glad to visit with guests and islanders alike.
The pool is enclosed and heated from October through May, so it's an indoor pool in winter and an outdoor one in summer, open daily from 8am to 9pm. Guests also have a whirlpool, sauna, exercise room, sun deck, two observation decks, guest laundry, a gift shop, hibachis and picnic areas, along with Tesla and universal EV chargers. Breakfast comes to your room at 7, 8 or 9 in the morning, and if you're heading out earlier than that, tell the desk the night before and we'll pack it for you.
Birders do well here. A BirdWeather listening station on the grounds identifies birdsong around the clock, and we publish what it picks up on our website. In waterfowl season we put hunting parties in ground-floor rooms, and we have a cleaning station, a plucking machine, and breakfast packed the night before.
The Inn is open year-round. Rooms 135 and 136 are wheelchair accessible on the ground floor; the building is two floors with no elevator. We're unable to accommodate pets, though service animals are always welcome. Our meeting room seats 30 to 40 for small conferences and celebrations, and bicycle rentals are next door at the Bike Depot.
We hope you'll come as guests, leave as friends, and return as family.
Read about the Leonard family and their ponies
For hotel updates, island happenings, untold tales, and more than a few pony pictures, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, or visit our blog.
For a complete list of island events and activities, CLICK HERE.
