Historic Rockwood Manor sees change in ownership
After decades of hosting hundreds of visitors to Rockwood Manor, Frank and Rochelle Drummond are retiring to pursue other interests. But before retiring, the Drummonds wanted to ensure that the home would pass to someone with a similar vision and commitment to the historic and community value of the property. The family they chose to continue the Rockwood Manor legacy is Stephen and Leona Thomas, from Chattanooga, TN. The Thomas’ have two children, Patton, age five and Ruth, age three. (Left to right)Stephen and Leona Thomas with children, Ruth and Patton; Rockwood staff Christy Boerstler and Beth Gordon and Frank Drummond.
By DANIELLE REID
Patriot Publishing
After decades of hosting hundreds of visitors to Rockwood Manor, Frank and Rochelle Drummond are retiring to pursue other interests. But before retiring, the Drummonds wanted to ensure that the home would pass to someone with a similar vision and commitment to the historic and community value of the property.
The family they chose to continue the Rockwood Manor legacy is that of Stephen and Leona Thomas, from Chattanooga, TN.
The Thomases have two children, Patton, age five and Ruth, age three.
It doesn’t take long, during a conversation with Frank Drummond to discover that he is related to many of the founding families in the New River Valley. Familiar family names such as Draper, Ingles, Harman, Patton, Preston, Rogers and Bell among others.
Drummond’s historic records verify how these early families fought wars against the French, helped to preserve liberty in the American Revolutionary War and participated in the Civil War.
From Swoope, in the heart of Augusta County, VA, they followed early explorers and settlers to the New River Valley. They married into other founding families to continue the creation of the states of Tennessee and Kentucky as “the over mountain men” – Patriot Militia and Frontiersmen.
Drummond’s great-great-grandparents, Francis and Sara Bell, built the historic Rockwood Manor in Dublin in the 1876. Although the property had been in the family for generations, it went up for sale in 2004. Drummond, his mother Sara, and his wife, Rochelle, bought the property to keep it in the family. They restored the property and established it as a 10,000 square-foot Bed & Breakfast nestled on 68 secluded acres in the heart of the NRV.
This year, Rockwood Manor is celebrating its 150th birthday, as our nation celebrates 250 years of independence.
After decades of hosting hundreds of visitors to Rockwood Manor, the Drummonds are retiring to pursue other interests. Anyone who has had a bed & breakfast business understands the continuous and intense daily involvement that it requires.
As Drummond explains, “We wanted to retire and actually have a life.”
But before retiring, the couple wanted to ensure that the home would pass to someone with a similar vision and commitment to the historic and community value of the property.
“The Rockwood legacy continues as its ownership changes hands to a lovely family from Tennessee,” explained Drummond. The official date of the exchange was May 22, 2026.
“The purchase of Rockwood Manor was the most graceful and generous real estate action in my career,” stated Stephen. He works mainly with property acquisitions while his wife, Leona, is the realtor and works in the management of the properties and the tenants.
The couple have several properties in their system, but recognized the historic and community value of Rockwood Manor and its significance to the area.
Stephen has a background in numerous business and service enterprises, especially real estate investments, through the mentoring by his grandfather, Bob Thomas.
“The most influential person in my life was my grandfather. He owned numerous businesses including real estate, construction, banking and concrete – where I worked as a teenager at my grandmother’s family-owned Marion Lumber Company,” he stated.
In school, Stephen studied Spanish and math. He received his Master’s degree from Bolling Green State University in Ohio. After college, Stephen entered the military as a U.S. Marine and served for five years as a Spanish Linguist overseas.
After the death of his father, Stephen returned to Tennessee to take care of the family businesses.
Other careers included high school math and Spanish teacher, and service-oriented positions at fine dining restaurants in Tennessee and Alaska. One of his hobbies is running ultra marathons. In his most recent one, which took place in Andorra, he completed a 105K in 25-hours and 20-minutes.
Stephen lived in Alaska, but during an interval between finishing his Master’s degree, Stephen visited his mother who was living in Texas. Leona’s best friend worked with Stephen’s mother, and introduced them. He took a year off to court Leona and they eventually married in Ohio when Stephen completed his degree. They bought their first property together in Alaska, a five-acre piece of land, which they still own.
“Leona’s background is in banking and without Leona there would be no company. We work really well together and I rely on her for every decision,” said Stephen. “I really value her opinion. We share the same vision and are very proud of our properties. Rockwood Manor is something special to us,” declared Stephen.
As they formed their real estate company, the Thomases turned their first house into an Air B&B and began investing and renovating other properties. They found a nine-bedroom and nine-bath estate in central Florida in which the venture turned into a learning experience.
“We bought it under the wrong mentality and took ownership with lots of issues,” stated Leona. “It wasn’t the best real estate deal, but the negative experience forced us into management” she confessed.
“We wouldn’t have been comfortable with buying Rockwood if it hadn’t been for the negative Florida experience,” explained Stephen.
While the Florida property is still being updated, the Thomases are refocusing their time and energy on Rockwood Manor.
“We are not in a hurry to change things. We are taking our time to make right decisions for the property and the needs of the community,” advised Stephen.
They are excited about getting Rockwood back into doing events, such as a wedding venue. Some updates and minor renovations to the Chateau will get it ready to function as a preparation area for the bride, while the renovated wet bar in the lower level of the Manor can be used as a preparation area for the groom. Leather couches and chairs will update the Game room and VT-theme room. Refurbished antique bricks will cover the 3,000 square foot floor in a herringbone pattern.
They would like to stage community events, too, such as fall festivals, Christmas pageants, trunk and treat parties.
Another proposed renovation is turning the Bell Room, which is on the main level of the Manor, into a family suite; complete with a sitting room, private outside decks and access to the kitchen.
Many of the amenities will remain the same – the evening social with appetizers on the porch, a three-course gourmet breakfast, and of course the southern hospitality where visitors become a part of the family and are treated like long lost friends. As the needs arise, new traditions will be added.
The Thomases are pleased that Rockwood staff members Christy Boerstler and Beth Gordon have decided to continue with them as highly valued team members. Beth and Christy have been part of the Rockwood Manor family for approximately 20 years, and radiate the warmth and friendship that visitors have come to appreciate during their stay.
“Frank, his family and staff, have a proven track record here at Rockwood Manor. Our passion comes from giving our guests everything they want to make their stay an exceptional experience. We want to be good stewards of this historic property. It will be in our family for decades,” exclaimed the Thomases.
In a recent conversation about historic relatives, the Drummonds and the Thomases discovered that the two families are indeed related – which means Rockwood Manor will remain as an original historic family endeavor in the NRV.
The Historic Rockwood Manor in Dublin, VA celebrates 150th birthday this year. It was built in 1876 by Frank Drummond’s great-great-grandparents, Francis and Sara Bell. Drummond and his family re-purposed the home as a 10,000-square-foot Bed & Breakfast. Rockwood Manor had remained in Drummonds family until May 22 of this year when it was sold to Stephen and Leona Thomas. The property will continue as Rockwood Manor Bed & Breakfast, under new ownership.