Location: Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, USA (Less Than 90 Minutes from Washington, Dc and Baltimore, Md)
Accommodations: House, 3 Bedrooms, 2.5 Baths (Sleeps 7-9)
This one-of-a-kind vacation rental is located in a 2-1/2 story brick federal-period building built in the 1830's, and renovated in 2004-2005. The house shares the building with a small boutique wine shop (Harpers Ferry Wine & Gourmet) and a family-style restaurant (Secret Six Tavern), which specializes in Traditional American cuisine. The house was originally 2 townhouses, and the center walls were removed in the 1970s to create a large open space on the 1st floor. While the house's exterior painting scheme reflects this original configuration and looks like 2 separate units, the vacation rental actually spans both spaces (see photo)! The building was used during the civil war by both the Confederate and Union Armies, primarily as an infirmary/hospital, and is a stop on the Harpers Ferry Ghost Tour!
The first floor of the house features a large open living room/dining room, a full modern kitchen, 1/2 bath, and a large porch with fantastic views. The porch sits above the Secret Six Tavern's outdoor eating area, which due to the view, is a Harpers Ferry hotspot! On occasion, the restaurant has live entertainment, and the vacation home's porch provides it's guests with prime seating. The inside space features hard-wood floors, exposed brick walls, an exposed beam ceiling (many of the beams are original hand-hewn), and large windows looking onto the mountains. After the leaves fall, there is also a view from the 1st floor of the Potomac River. There is a TV, DVD player, VCR, games and toys, and a 10-seat dining table on the 1st floor. A highchair is available upon request. In addition to new beds and living room furniture, the house is decorated in fantastic period antiques.
The second floor has 3 bedrooms, 2 full baths and a laundry room w/ full-sized washer and dryer, and offers year-round views of the Potomac River. The master bedroom has a Queen bed and a comfortable full-size futon. The second bedroom has a Queen bed, and the 3rd bedroom has a twin/full bunk bed (twin on top; full on bottom). The configuration is ideal for two families, three couples, or 7-9 friends! All three bedrooms have TVs and DVD players and comfy new sheets, mattresses and pillows.
The building sits atop a steep hill, and there are 65 stairs leading down to the 2 parking spaces reserved for the vacation rental in the rear of the building. The front-door to the house is at street-level, so door-to-door drop-off of luggage is possible.
Vacation Rental Features
- Amenities
- Air Conditioning: Window units.
- Washer: Full-Sized.
- Dryer: Full-Sized.
- Linens Provided
- Off Street Parking: 2 spaces. 3 cars can fit in the 2 spaces (ask for details)
- Wood Stove: Pellet Stove w/ glass front for enjoying the fire.
- Beds
- Queen Bed (2)
- Bunk Bed: Twin on top/full on bottom.
- Convertible Bed: Very comfortable futon.
- Crib: Pack 'n Play available upon request.
- Entertainment
- Cable/Satellite TV: 4 TVs total. 1 in each bedroom/1 in Great Room.
- DVD (4)
- VCR
- Video Library
- CD Player
- Stereo System
- Kitchen
- Full Kitchen
- Cooking Utensils Provided: Plus, blender & coffee maker.
- Refrigerator
- Dishwasher
- Microwave
- Ice Maker
- Outdoor Features
- Balcony: Large porch overlooking mountains, restaurant, town, & renovated historic Harpers Ferry Train Station.
- View/Location
- Water View
- Mountain View
- Communications
- Telephone (4)
- Free Long Distance
- WiFi (Wireless Internet)
- Suitability
- Pet Friendly: Up to 2 pets MAY be allowed. Additional $35 per night per pet; add'l $250 pet deposit required. Please inquire w/ owner.
- Kid Friendly: Kids (and train-loving grown-ups) LOVE watching the trains pass on the very active rail line!
- Smoking Not Allowed
- Activities (on site and nearby)
- Golf
- Shopping
- Sightseeing
- Restaurants
- Rafting
- Kayaking
- Biking
- Mountain Biking
- Wildlife Viewing
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Rock Climbing
- Spelunking
- Antiquing
- Museums
- Horseback Riding
- Other Activities
- Tubing & Whitewater rafting nearby; Bicycle rental in-town; Charles Town Races & Slots (7-miles).
Rate Details (In US Dollars)
In-Season ... Oct 01 '09-Jan 02 '10 & May 28-Aug 28, '10 . $250-$325/nt . $1850/wk
Mid-Season .. Mar 05-May 27, '10 & Aug 29-Sep 30, '10 .... $210-$275/nt . $1575/wk
Off-Season .. Jan 03-Mar 04, '10 ......................... $175-$225/nt . $1295/wk
Minimum 2-nights on weekends; 3-nights on Holiday weekends.
Monthly Rates Available; Government per-diem honored.
Rates do not include 6% West Virginia Sales Tax.
Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice.
Credit Cards Accepted:
Owner's Profile
Owner Description
Year Purchased: 2004
Rich and Jill Schaffer purchased this property in 2004 and lived there with their two daughters, 7 and 4, until just recently.
Why the Owner Chose Harpers Ferry
We fell in love with the quaint town of Harpers Ferry years ago, and visited often. When we started our family, we began thinking about moving out of the Washington, DC area for quality and pace-of-life reasons. We looked at many small towns on the outskirts of Washington, DC, but nothing compared to the natural beauty and historic charm of Harpers Ferry. We looked at every property available at the time in downtown Harpers Ferry, but nothing suited our needs to both accommodate our growing family and allow us to run a business. We noticed this beautiful, historically-significant property with fantastic views right in the heart of Harpers Ferry, but it was not for sale...yet. We kept our eye on it for over a year, and when it was offered for sale in 2004, we jumped! We spent 6 months renovating it, and when our older daughter was almost 2, we moved in. We lived in this beautiful home with our 2 daughters, until just recently. We are so excited to share our home (and to come "home" ourselves every-so-often)!
The Unique Benefits of this House
This property is a one-of-a-kind vacation rental home located in the heart of downtown Harpers Ferry. It offers fantastic views, historic charm and significance, and prime LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION! You can walk to Harpers Ferry National Historical Park and it's many museums, the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers, the C&O canal towpath, Jefferson Rock (which Thomas Jefferson declared was "worth a trip across the Atlantic"), Virginius Island, the Appalachian Trail, Maryland Heights, Loudoun Heights and numerous shops and restaurants. Charles Town Races & Slots is a short drive away, as are a number of Virginia Wineries. There is a large porch that looks onto the mountains and overlooks the newly-restored Harpers Ferry Train Station. There is a year-round view of the Potomac River from the second story, and from both the 1st and 2nd stories when the leaves fall! Kids (and train-loving grown-ups) love to watch the trains pass on the very active rail line and you can even ride the train to this destination, as it is in walking distance to the Harpers Ferry train station, which services both MARC and AMTRAK! The train horn does blow, and can be heard in the house. The house is bicycle friendly (there is ample space inside to store bikes), and being within walking distance to the C&O canal towpath, is a perfect spot for towpath riders! If you don't bring your bike with you, there are bike rentals right in-town! There are fantastic hikes, from easy to strenuous, right outside the front door! The house offers a large open floor plan perfect for larger gatherings, and the whole home is clean, nicely furnished and maintained.
Property Photos
- Front of building - Harpers Ferry, West Virginia Vacation Home with Porch and Potomac River View, shares building with family-style Restaurant
- Kitchen - Harpers Ferry, West Virginia Vacation Home with Porch and Potomac River View, shares building with family-style Restaurant
- View from porch looking onto MD Heights & restored Harpers Ferry Train Station - Harpers Ferry, West Virginia Vacation Home with Porch and Potomac River View, shares building with family-style Restaurant
- Bedroom #2
- Bedroom 3
- Master Bedroom
- Living / Dining Room
- Living Room / Dining Room
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Vacation Rentals by Owner Listing #265656
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This listing was first published here in 2009.
Date last modified - November 16, 2009
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Tim and Kimberly Lauder , Proctorville, OH