Our History
Our story goes well beyond the name.
The KG Motel gets its name from two iconic Lexington school mascots: the Virginia Military Institute’s Keydet and Washington & Lee University’s General.
Norma and Kenneth DeWitt “Buster” Moore, Sr. built and opened the original Keydet-General Motel and Restaurant in 1962, hosting families, alumni, scandalous Hollywood casting directors, and countless dynamite events for Rockbridge residents. For more than six decades, the motel has watched over Lexington from its hilltop perch.
In 2026, Madi Ford and Michael Meers took the reins, bringing a love of the area (and plenty of experience restoring old places) with them. Michael, who lives just down the road, is a 1990 Washington & Lee graduate and his daughter is part of the Class of 2030. Madi is equally rooted in Virginia and, when she is not at the KG, you’ll likely find her at the barn with her horses.
Together, they saw something worth bringing back. Their vision for the KG is part preservation, part fresh start: honor what made this place special, give it new life, and create a stay that showcases Rockbridge County. Vintage design, university history and a commitment to sourcing from and supporting local businesses—from mattresses to the morning coffee—all come together under one roof.
Lexington has always had a way of making people feel at home—and giving them plenty of reasons to stick around. We figured a motel should do the same.
Whether you’re here for reunion weekend, competing at the Virginia Horse Center, dropping off a student, exploring the Shenandoah Valley, or just passing through, we hope you make KG Motel part of your experience!
Proudly Rooted in Virginia
KG Motel celebrates the people and makers who call Virginia home
Each groovy detail at KG Motel was carefully crafted by makers from across the country: the handmade light fixtures, atomic accents, and brilliantly restored vintage furniture—we considered every detail to make your stay is outta sight. All of our guest room furniture was made right in Roanoke, and we sourced all of our mattresses from a fourth-generation family business in Norfolk.
You’ll find the work of local artisans everywhere on the property, including in our KG Pantry, which is stocked with some of Virginia’s best offerings from local farms and wineries.