We are a modern bed and breakfast located in the Historic Southwest Neighborhood of Roanoke, VA located just minutes from the downtown Market Center, the Blue Ridge Parkway, and the Mill Mountain Star. We are proud to be VIRGINIA GREEN, an Eco-friendly urban inn dedicated to leaving the smallest footprint within our control and to leaving things better than we found them. The gutter system is designed to feed our gardens and landscaping directly. Our off-street parking lot is crushed stone and our patio is recycled fireplace bricks. It is gratifying to support Sustainable Tourism.

Greetings from the Black Lantern Inn! We’re Doug and Cindy, your innkeepers as of spring 2025. We’ve been staying in bed and breakfasts since we were first married – several decades ago – and have dreamed of owning and operating one for just as long. Native Midwesterners, we first visited the Roanoke area in summer 2014 to explore potentially moving here when Doug, a healthcare executive, received a job offer in the area. The Blue Ridge stole our hearts and move, we did, to Smith Mountain Lake, and in doing so expanded our hosting skills from weekend visits to welcoming whole families for weeks at a time, providing three meals a day and entertainment both on the lake and in Roanoke and the surrounding areas. More than 10 years later, we’re pinching ourselves over the opportunity to share our love for this area with you, our BLI guests. While Cindy is a former journalist and communications writer and Doug’s in healthcare administration, our hearts are in enhancing our guests’ travel experiences in our beloved Star City. When inn work is done, we’re out hiking, running, exploring the cultural scene, dining out downtown or just simply walking our beloved Old Southwest neighborhood, soaking up its history and chatting with our neighbors. We can’t wait to meet you and offer you the chance to help us shape the future of the Black Lantern Inn. We’re listening to you and your needs and hope to help your travel to the Roanoke area become everything you needed, imagined and more. See you at breakfast! Cindy and Doug

Escape to the Blue Ridge Mountains! Roanoke is full of surprises. Music, museums, festivals, locally owned shops, restaurants and our Farmers Market. Hike, bike, or visit craft breweries and wineries. We're an easy 1 mile walk from downtown, and just minutes from the Greenway.