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Our Story
Long before it became a place where tables were filled with laughter and plates were passed family-style, The Homeplace was exactly that—a home.
Built in 1907 by the John Morgan family, the farmhouse sat on over 600 acres of rolling Virginia farmland. Generations worked the land—raising purebred horses, tending beef cattle, and later operating a dairy farm. It was a place rooted in hard work, simplicity, and the quiet beauty of the Catawba Valley.
For a time, the house stood still and silent—waiting.
In 1978, that silence ended when Harold C. Wingate purchased 63 acres of the original property, including the farmhouse and dairy barn. With vision and determination, he began restoring the home in 1981—not just to preserve it, but to reimagine it.
On September 17, 1982, that vision came to life.
The Homeplace Restaurant opened its doors, welcoming guests not as customers, but as family. What began as a leap of faith quickly became something more—a destination. Travelers, locals, and even Appalachian Trail hikers made their way to the farmhouse, drawn by the promise of home-style cooking, warm hospitality, and the feeling that they belonged there.
For nearly four decades, the Wingate family built more than a restaurant—they built a tradition. Meals were served around shared tables, stories were exchanged between strangers, and generations of families marked life’s moments within those walls.
Then, on October 18, 2020, The Homeplace closed its doors. The tables went quiet once again, leaving behind a legacy of memories cherished by all who had gathered there.
But some places are too special to remain silent forever.
On October 10, 2025, the Henegar family became the next stewards of The Homeplace. With a deep respect for its history and a heart for its future, they set out to revive what had always made this place extraordinary—not just the food, but the feeling. Their vision was simple: reopen The Homeplace as if it had never left, honoring its roots while creating new memories for generations to come.
On April 22nd, 2026, the doors opened once more.
Today, The Homeplace continues the legacy that began over a century ago—a place where land, family, and tradition come together. Where meals are still meant to be shared. Where strangers become friends. And where, no matter where you come from, you’re always welcomed home.
