Virginia is naturally beautiful, as it has been for thousands of years. The land making up this state boasts lush national forests, deep caverns, long flowing rivers, sprawling mountain ranges, beautiful coastal shorelines and countless natural wonders, like the Hot Springs of the Allegheny Mountains.

Hot springs are geothermally heated groundwater with a high content of dissolved minerals helpful with skin infections, digestive issues, arthritis, muscle aches, and other mild pain relief. Not to mention how nice it is to simply soak in a natural hot spring. Native Americans first discovered the two major hot springs flowing from the Allegheny Mountains dating back nine thousand years ago. They recognized the medicinal and soothing effects of the healing mineral waters, which to this day, offer a multitude of therapeutic benefits and have been a premier destination since their discovery.

The Omni Homestead Resort: 250 Years of History

The springs run through the 2,300-acre Omni Homestead Resort, founded in 1766. Originally built around the hot springs, the ever-expanding resort saw 23 U.S. Presidents to include George Washington, and Thomas Edison. Thomas Jefferson visited the hot springs due to his rheumatoid arthritis in 1818 using them three times a day over a three-week period with extremely high praise. More than 250 years later, The Omni Homestead Resort has evolved into a massive luxury resort featuring two historic golf courses, hiking trails, horseback riding, pools and restaurants allowing their guests to enjoy beautiful Virginia, just as our ancestors did.

A $3 Million Restoration of the Historic Jefferson Pools

However, 250 years is a long time for buildings to stand strong and tall. Building automation, dated technology, and needs for structural reinforcement brought the historic hotel to address some inevitable restoration projects. The Omni Homestead renovated their historic Jefferson Pools, now called the Warm Spring Pools, while preserving much of the building’s original features. The $3-million project repaired the foundation of the two original bath houses, reception house, upgraded the restrooms, and much of the structure for the buildings.

“It’s a nationally historic registered landmark and it came time they needed to complete a renovation,” says Ben Wilkinson, Southern Air Vice President of Business Development. “It’s an impressive facility because of the history. People have used it for a healing spring and warm spring for a long, long time. Southern Air was proud to be part of this renovation.”

Southern Air’s Scope: Mechanical, Plumbing, and HVAC

General Contractor Lionberger Construction awarded Southern Air with the mechanical plumbing and HVAC contracts for the renovations in the three buildings. Plumbing and sheet metal crews from our Roanoke branch handled most of the demolition and the new installations. Southern Air renovated all the support facilities for the pool houses, the changing rooms, updated bathrooms with new fixtures and installed a new HVAC system inside the reception house. We brought in a new water service to the buildings and installed new water heaters.

The Challenge of Working Inside a Nationally Registered Historic Landmark

The biggest challenge came from the difficulty of installing a new system in a historically preserved building. Historical renovation work comes with restrictions not usually faced when it comes to cutting holes in walls or floors. Southern Air mechanics couldn’t operate in many areas simply because they couldn’t alter the existing building in any way. They had to be extremely careful and creative with their demolition and installation. Preserving and reinforcing historical aspects while providing modern and structural upgrades requires true professionalism, planning and execution.

The Team Behind the Work

Southern Air sent a great team to the Homestead. On the plumbing side, project manager Chris Boone worked with plumbing mechanics Troy Garrison, Matt Greaver, Scott Wyman, and Shawn Douglas. The HVAC work was completed by sheet metal foremen Josh Farmer and Dennis Zuniga with start-ups taken care of by commissioning technicians, Jon Wilks and Aaron Yonn. Each of them can now proudly say they have improved a historical landmark facility where Thomas Jefferson rested his weary bones more than 200 years ago. Top that in your ‘What did you do at work today’ discussion!

“It can be difficult working around a national landmark, preserving structure and its original appearance,” says Matt Jackson, Southern Air Mechanical Operations Manager. “Construction sites and workers can be a little rough and with a project this delicate, we had to make sure to assemble a great team to carefully carry out the project. They did an outstanding job.”

A $120 Million Makeover and a Standing Invitation

The Omni Homestead plans to complete the renovation of the bath houses as part of their $120 million makeover of the entire resort. Keeping true to the thoughts of Thomas Jefferson, the Omni Homestead will continue to be a premier luxury resort and destination everyone should experience for themselves.

You’ll get your chance to enjoy the same Omni Homestead Resort and natural hot spring bath houses as early next year. The difference is when you visit, it will be nicer than it was the last time Thomas Jefferson was there!

Southern Air thanks the hard work of our estimating, mechanical plumbing, HVAC and commissioning team members for their professional work for a customer so integrated in American history.

Interested in joining a team that works on projects like this? See our open positions.

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