A serene view of a marsh landscape from a wooden deck with two chairs and a straw hat.

ABOUT US

Learn About Our Chincoteague, Virginia Hotel

A man stands by a fence watching a herd of cattle in a pasture.

Our Story

In early 1973, Donald and Martha Leonard installed the finishing touches in their grandest and most recent business venture - the state-of-the-art Refuge Motor Inn, nestled between loblolly pines just across the Assateague Channel from the Wildlife Refuge. This 40-room place of rest and refuge on Chincoteague Island was founded on Martha's southern hospitality that she cultivated in her hometown of Tuscaloosa, Alabama (Roll Tide!) and Don's love of the Chincoteague ponies that he had cared for since childhood - setting aside this small slice of Chincoteague not only for travelers seeking a home away from home, but also a pasture for his beloved ponies to meet guests from far and wide.

Over the years, as Don and Martha’s children and grandchildren grew, so did the family of staff and guests at their small inn. As this extended family grew, so did the inn, eventually growing to the accommodations, totaling 70 rooms and 2 unique suites, that our guests enjoy today. As Don and Martha handed the reins of the inn and the herd of Chincoteague ponies to their children and grandchildren, generations of visitors to Chincoteague’s one-of-a-kind charm have returned as well.

OUR GRANDFATHER'S LEGACY

We hope you'll arrive as guests, leave as friends, and return as family.

Collage featuring a vintage motel brochure, a horse-drawn cart scene, and a family portrait from the 1970s.

More Of Our History

Don and Martha Leonard, along with their four children pictured here, opened the Refuge Motor Inn in 1973. This is the original brochure that was distributed before the hotel was finished enough to be photographed– you can still see where Martha’s written the nightly rates on it.

Don told Martha they’d live at the motel for two years and then hire someone to run it. Well, two years turned into seventeen– but in 1990, their son Arthur moved in, and they retired on Don’s beloved pony farm at the picturesque north end of the Island.

Three people posing together in a garden setting.

Donna, Arthur, and Jane took over the motel in 1990. Donna and Jane were instrumental in the downtown revitalization project, and Arthur was on the town council and was sworn into his second term as mayor in 2020.

Four children in formal attire stand together in front of a wooden counter.

Michael, Carla, Sandy, and Roden are pictured here at the front desk around 1980. They’re the oldest of the third generation of Leonards and spent many summer days at the inn with their beloved “Nana” Martha.

A green key tag labeled "P.O. BOX 378" with a key attached.

While the key tags have been retired since the early 2000's, we still use real metal keys. No magnetic cards here, folks.

A postcard featuring a building complex with parked cars and images of horses outside.

Here's the original postcard from the early 1970's before the hotel was expanded. Don and the architect and builder actually marked the trees that needed to be cut down to make room for the structure, and left the rest. Those baby pine trees are now giants.

A group of ten women posing together in front of a green background.

In 2019, the "two decade" club went out to dinner to celebrate 20+ years of friendship and dedication. Back row, l-r: Audrey, Mae, Cathy, Bonnie, Denise. Front row, l-r: Carolyn, Cissie, Dawn, Cynthia, Jane.

A group of twelve people posing together at a restaurant gathering.

We celebrated Carol Sue's retirement at the Village Restaurant. She was such a blessing to us in the decades she was part of the family. She greeted thousands of guests with her distinctive laugh and wonderful smile.

A large group of people poses outdoors for a photo among trees.

The family and staff celebrating the Refuge's 40th birthday in 2013. The potluck lunch with ice cream cake from the Island Creamery was a great time. We're looking forward to celebrating 50 years soon!

A man and four children sit on steps outside an open shop.

Michael Leonard, who shares his time between the Refuge and the Bike Depot next door, is continuing the family legacy of involving the next generation. His two girls and two boys are learning the family business and will hopefully carry on the legacy with their cousins.

Three smiling individuals wearing straw hats pose together at a reception desk.

Sharon, John, and Rebekah dressed to suit the occasion for pony penning check-in day.

A group of six women seated on the deck of a boat, enjoying a sunset at sea.

We try to do something for the whole staff every year. One year we took a sunset boat tour together! It was lovely and great to get together as a group.

A young boy joyfully rides a horse while being led by a man.

Hunter Leonard, third gen Refuge Inn employee, local tour boat captain and Saltwater Cowboy, treats his nephew Arthur to a ride around the parking lot after a roundup on Assateague.