Virginian Hotel Ready to Show Off Renovations

MAY 5, 2025 |

Photo – Jet Hospitality owners behind the bar with employees at the Virginian Hotel in Medicine Bow – by Matt Copeland Bigfoot99

The current owners of the Virginian Hotel invite guests to revisit the historic inn and explore its recent upgrades.

Last April, Aaron Mumford and Jesse Baker of Jet Hospitality purchased the historic Virginian Hotel in Medicine Bow. Founded in 2017, Jett Hospitality specializes in alternative lodging experiences, including glamping, tiny homes, RV sites, and boutique hotels.

Speaking to Bigfoot99 at the time of the purchase, Baker explained that he discovered that the Virginian Hotel was for sale and investigated the local market. After learning that the area was primed for growth, Baker said he and Mumford contacted the owners, Vickie and Vernon Scott, to buy the property.

After its completion in 1911, the Virginian was the largest hotel between Denver, Colorado and Salt Lake City, Utah. The hotel was named after the Owen Wister book that immortalized the small town of Medicine Bow in what is considered the first Western-themed novel.

The hotel features an Owen Wister Suite, containing the desk used by the author to write his famous book.

For the past four generations, the Scott family owned the historic hotel. However, after meeting the Jet Hospitality team, Vickie and Vernon Scott happily passed the torch to the Virginian’s new owners.

On Friday, April 25^th, local and county officials were invited to the historic inn for a special tour. Aaron Mumford explained that since last April, Jet Hospitality has made significant investments to restore the Virginian Hotel to its former glory.

Jet Hospitality has started removing the old carpeting from the guest rooms and restoring the underlying original hardwood floors. Mumford said the property includes the historic hotel, an old bank building, and a 20-room motel, all of which required extensive renovations.

Jet Hospitality has also replaced all the old bedding and pillows with modern linens. The hotel owners are seeking a local quilt maker to create new, period-correct bedding.

Mumford said he is considering extending the hotel’s wireless internet connection to the upper floors, noting that many travelers prefer rooms with more modern amenities. However, Mumford said he would rather preserve the rooms’ 114-year-old character.

Mumford said he and his business partner, Jesse Baker, debated whether to restore the sinks in each room of the historic hotel. Ultimately, they agreed that the sinks are an authentic part of the Virginian Hotel and should be preserved. After four months of hard work, Mumford said the sinks are now fully functional.

Mumford said he and Baker would like to turn the building’s unfinished top floor into a presidential suite, but a lack of money has put the project on hold.

Before Jet Hospitality purchased the property, Mumford said the Scotts were intending to sell it to a Louisiana investor. However, the person intended to fully renovate the historic building, a change Mumford said would negatively impact the community. The Jet Hospitality owner encouraged more people to visit the Virginian Hotel and experience its authenticity.

Mumford said the Virginian has survived because of support from the community, and Jet Hospitality plans to restore the historic hotel to its rightful place as the heart of Medicine Bow.