An Entertainment Hotspot
Learn more about the resort hotel that helped make West Point a thriving destination for people throughout the region seeking fun and relaxation.
With majestic views of the Mattaponi, Pamunkey, and York Rivers, the Terminal Hotel was once a striking West Point landmark. It was a massive five-story Victorian building with pointed towers on each corner, 200 guest rooms and hundreds of windows. It was 40’ x 126’ with a 38’ x 100’ wing and cost $28,000 to build in 1887.
It was called the Terminal Hotel because it was a part of the Richmond and West Point Terminal Railway and Warehouse Company. William Clyde, who owned, operated, and controlled much of the shipping in West Point, was the first president of this company in March of 1880.
In 1887, James Dooley, who was a railroad executive in Richmond, became President of The Terminal Company along with a sister company called The Richmond and West Point Land, Navigation and Improvement Company. These were the companies that had the hotel built. Dooley was a key figure along with William Clyde, Thomas Logan, and James Bryan. Dooley is primarily remembered for the home he built in Richmond called Maymont.
The hotel became insolvent in 1892 and was put up for auction. James Dooley was the high bidder at $9,000 and took over ownership of the hotel. He also had bought other property in West Point. He hired various hotel managers and the the Terminal was very successful for the next 20 years with daily trains arriving from Richmond and ships arriving from Baltimore, both filled with people looking for sun, water, and good food. Also, during that time prior to Prohibition, West Point was one of just a few Virginia resort areas that served alcohol.
One of the most successful managers that Dooley hired was George E. Guvernator and his wife who took over the management in 1906. They also managed the nearby Beach Park Hotel.
The Terminal Hotel survived the big West Point fire of 1903 that destroyed much of the downtown area. It also survived a fire in 1910 that destroyed the Beach Park Hotel. However, it was not able to survive the outlawing of alcohol sales in West Point in 1914. At that time, The Terminal Hotel became a boarding house.
On July 2, 1926, The Terminal Hotel was destroyed by a fire that started in the basement. It is believed that the fire was caused by the explosion of a still. A sad ending to one of the crown jewels of West Point history.
