The Saluda Inn
Meet Our Team
Real people. Real mountain hospitality. This is who you'll find when you walk through our doors.
From the owners who restored this 1880s landmark to the team members who greet you at breakfast every morning — every person here is invested in making your stay exceptional.
Joel Kirby
Co-Owner & Co-Manager
Before The Saluda Inn, Joel Kirby was already setting the standard for what an event could be. A trained Landscape Architect, he spent 8.5 years with Arbor Engineering — one of Greenville's premier LA firms — before founding Curly Willow Designs and building one of the most decorated event design careers in the Southeast. From Florida to Louisiana, South Carolina to the mountains of WNC, Joel traveled the region installing large-scale weddings and events that were, by every measure, over the top. His portfolio reads like a who's who of the region's most prestigious moments: Dabo Swinney's All In Ball, the BMW Pro-Am, events at the Biltmore Estate, the American Heart Association's Heart Ball, and the Chocolate Soiree for the Greenville Children's Museum — raising donations at levels few thought possible. For a decade, Joel served as the key designer of the Artisphere Gala, the signature event of one of the top arts festivals in the United States. That same obsession with beauty, scale, and flawless execution is what drove him to restore this 1880s landmark and reimagine it as a boutique mountain inn worthy of the guests who find their way to Saluda.
Jay Burriss
Co-Owner & Co-Manager
Jay's path to The Saluda Inn is one of the most interesting in hospitality. He got his start at the concierge desk of The Francis Marion Hotel in Charleston — one of the South's most celebrated historic properties — where anticipating a guest's every need wasn't a skill, it was a requirement. From there, his career in residential real estate with Coldwell Banker Caine in Greenville sharpened a different kind of instinct: the ability to see potential in distressed properties that others overlooked. Thirteen renovations later, Jay and Joel had developed a rare fluency in what makes a historic space feel both authentic and extraordinary. That accumulated knowledge is woven into every room, hallway, and detail at The Saluda Inn. But what truly sets Jay apart is his artist's eye. An accomplished oil painter, Jay sees the world through nature, texture, and color — the way light falls across a surface, the way layers build depth and feeling. That same sensibility shapes everything he touches at the inn, from the art that lines its walls to the way each room feels composed rather than merely decorated. The Saluda Inn carries the quiet quality of a private gallery, and that is entirely Jay's doing.
This is Valarie. She runs the whole show.
Valarie Davis
Boutique Talent & Operations Manager
Valarie is the kind of person who makes you feel like the inn was built just for you. Her background speaks for itself — she led banquet management at The Francis Marion, one of Charleston's most storied historic hotels, and brought that same standard of gracious, detail-driven hospitality to the mountains. At The Saluda Inn, her generous spirit and genuine ambition to make every experience exceptional are felt in every corner of the property. From housekeeping to front-of-house, nothing slips past her — and no guest leaves without feeling truly cared for.
Traci Boggs
Events Manager
With 30 years in the event world, Traci is the real deal. She has led massive catering productions with La-Tea-Da's Catering & Events — one of Charlotte's premier event companies — worked as a floral designer, and brought her full creative range to weddings and events of every scale. At The Saluda Inn, her passion for wedding and event management is on full display, from intimate micro weddings on the Grand Lawn to large-scale celebrations under the Blue Ridge sky. Her creativity is truly unending, and it shows in every detail.
Charla Day
Breakfast Manager
Everyone calls her Char — and once you meet her, you'll know why she's the heart of the morning. Charla brings years of experience feeding large-scale operations across Western NC, from camp facilities to school programs, and she applies that same gift for warm, efficient hospitality to every breakfast at the inn. The food is thoughtfully curated, the coffee is always hot, and Char's humor will have you laughing before your first bite.
The Full Squad
When We Really Gear Up
Behind every big event at The Saluda Inn is a full crew — core team, contract talent, and everyone in between — all showing up to make it extraordinary.
Ready to visit?
We'd love to have you.
Reserve a room, plan an event, or just give us a call.