This week on Positively West Virginia, Amy McLaughlin shared her story of returning home to share her passion for the mountain state through the southern hospitality we all know and love.
Deep in the heart of Fayetteville, West Virginia, you can find a gorgeous sandstone structure that you might just miss if you blink. This building is now the home of Lafayette Flats, a boutique vacation rental filled with Appalachian art and culture. Each piece of this immaculate space is hand-curated by Amy herself to give the guest a full West Virginia life experience.
These four vacation rentals are filled selectively with West Virginia art and literature. Amy said, “I support and partner with WV artists any chance I get.” Amy shows this through her yearly curation of new West Virginia art and winter artist residencies hosted at Lafayette Flats. After several humbling displays of visual art and literature, Amy encourages every rental property owner to follow suit and begin a residency program.
Lafayette Flats was sparked by Amy and her husband’s passion for West Virginia. The couple spent many weekends in Fayetteville enjoying the quaint life and abundant outdoor adventure that the area offers but just couldn’t get enough. They noticed that the area didn’t have that perfect little spot for a couple to get away and enjoy the town, so they created it.
After several years of being the regional manager of 52 stores across the midwest, Amy decided it was time to come back home and really plan her dream to open Lafayette Flats. She came home to a job with Habitat for Humanity’s Restore. She helped them grow the operation for 11 years before diving headfirst into their future rental property’s massive renovation.
A few oversteps of the budget and a whole lot of TLC later, Amy and her husband proudly run a 5-star vacation rental that brings people from all over the world to enjoy the charm that Fayetteville can’t help but share. Each guest feels right at home in the gorgeous spaces, surrounded by the New River Gorge and its natural beauty that sinks deep into the heart of everyone who visits.
Amy’s vision for Lafayette Flats is to continue growing, but only along with the town. She’s already helping this along by solely contracting local small businesses to assist in operations, curating and displaying West Virginia art and literature and providing walkable access to all the fantastic amenities that Fayetteville proudly offers.
If you are in search of the perfect getaway, Lafayette Flats is the place for you. No worry can withstand Fayetteville’s relaxed, kind atmosphere or the wild and wonderful beauty of the New River Gorge, our nation’s newest national park. It might be your first time visiting, but Amy is willing to bet it won’t be your last.
Listen to the full podcast here: https://positivelywv.com/podcast/episode-150-amy-mclaughlin-lafayette-flats-boutique-vacation-rentals/
PWV QUICK BITS | AMY McLAUGHLIN
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