Wendy Snodgrass

A feeling of gentle sanctuary greeted me as Wendy Snodgrass opened the door to her home, which she shares with the loves of her life—Doug Kriebel and their cocker spaniel Milo.

Wendy is well known in Fearrington. She teaches yoga, plays pickleball, and helps coordinate many events for both Fearrington Cares and the Fearrington Homeowners Association.

Born in Wheeling, West Virginia, Wendy loved to explore nearby creeks and climb trees as she perfected the art of being an active tomboy. A few years later, she started helping out at her dad’s business, which sold industrial equipment.

College at West Virginia University found her majoring in business with a concentration in creative marketing. Then, an MBA from the University of Pittsburgh honed her knowledge of market research, leading to a job in an ad agency.

On a serendipitous vacation to the U.S. Virgin Islands, Wendy stayed on St. Thomas and overheard that an inn was for sale. Flying back to Pittsburgh, she wondered, “Could I become an innkeeper?” She bought a book on innkeeping and sketched out a business plan. The inn sale fell through. However, the daydream remained, and in her early thirties, Wendy moved to St. Thomas and took a job at the renowned Ritz-Carlton Hotel. “It was the best training imaginable,” she said. I learned everything about hospitality and guest relations from the bottom up.

Then, a beautiful island house with a stunning view of the Charlotte Amalie harbor, complete with gardens, a pool, and a caretaker’s cottage, came up for sale. Wendy wrote a new business plan, took a major leap of faith, bought the property, and started her own B&B, Bellavista. 

Not long after, serendipity struck again. Browsing in the local health food store, Wendy met a wholesome-looking guy who was also interested in vegetarian meals. They struck up a conversation, and she learned he was Doug Kriebel, originally from Seattle but now working in St. Thomas. Before long, Doug came over to Bellavista to help with carpentry projects, and they eventually decided to run Bellavista together. Their friendly personalities, Wendy’s understanding of guest relations, and an eye for detail earned them mention in the magazine Travel and Leisure and on the Today Show, plus a perpetual five-star rating on Tripadvisor.

Then came 2017.

With back-to-back hurricanes, St. Thomas was heavily damaged. Although Bellavista survived intact, Wendy and Doug felt that after 18 highly successful years as island innkeepers, it might be time to return stateside. As small-inn aficionados, they looked online for places they might want to visit. Wendy discovered The Fearrington House Inn, and they came to North Carolina for a vacation. In March of 2020, they moved here as permanent residents.

With her love of the outdoors, organizational skills, and incredible knack for working with people, Wendy quickly became an invaluable volunteer in Fearrington.

Maybe it’s the yoga, or maybe it’s the serenity of their home, but Wendy always has a genuine smile that almost whispers, “How can I help?”