Vacation Rentals by Owner

Rustic, Historic Creek Side Vacation Home in Va Mountains [#363466] | View Property

Front Royal
Cottage, 5 Bedrooms, 2 Baths (Sleeps 10)
$300/nt US Dollars
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Traveler Reviews (11)

• Wonderful Girls Weekend

  Wonderful Girls Weekend

  • Guest Colette
  • Date of stay 07/20/12
  • Review Submitted 07/25/12
  I spent a weekend at Gooney Lodge with 7 girlfriends and the property fit our needs well. We arrived to a clean, airy house and were charmed. The porch and ceiling fans were so nice and we spent both mornings there. It was noted that cell phones don't work and to bring a calling card. This worked fine for us as Front Royal was a close drive away if we needed to use our cell phones. Driving through the creek was a surprise at first. Cathy does give a good description on the information sheet. I would highly recommend this property.

  Recommended for: Girls getaway, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

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• Great girls weekend

  Great girls weekend

  • Guest E&RMommy
  • Date of stay 07/20/12
  • Review Submitted 07/25/12
  I spent the weekend here with some friends from College. It was wonderful. It is the kind of place that you can tell the people who own it use it and care about it. The kitchen truely is fully stocked. The family must use it when they are there. We really enjoyed sitting out on the front porch reading books talking and watching the humming birds, gold finches and cardinals. Even when it was hot sitting under the ceiling fan on the front porch you did not really notice the heat. The creek was beautiful too. There is no cell phone access and it was nice to unplug for a little while and know that about 4 miles away we could get to town and us our phones.

  Recommended for: Families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

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• Not worth the trip

  Not worth the trip

  • Guest Jeana M.
  • Date of stay 06/28/12
  • Review Submitted 07/30/12
  We stayed at Gooney Lodge for 10 days. When we arrived the gate was locked and we had to go back up the hill to get phone service to call the caretaker. We should've kept driving. The house is dilapidated at best. We paid for the linen service but the linens provided were old and scratchy. The house was not clean. There are bugs and rodent bait boxes everywhere. The pots and pans are the cheapest set available. There is no a/c in the house and the upstairs rooms were uninhabitable due to the heat. The bathrooms didn't feel clean. We wore our shoes everywhere in the house. We had to repair the kitchen sink because it was leaking. There is only a marginal view of the creek from the porch. Most of the view is obstructed by overgrown vegetation. The house sits very near the road and fast traffic goes by at all hours. Since we couldn't close the windows we had to endure the traffic noise. Last, the owner kept our deposit because the caretaker said she had to spend an extra long time cleaning after we left. I can assure that we left the house cleaner than when we arrived. I would never return to this property and would encourage you to pass n this property.

  Owner response: Some people just don't appreciate the true value of a beloved spot, such as Gooney. It is unfortunate for those people, as they say - the beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Having grown-up a "Gooney", it is not a spot for someone looking for a four star resort. Yes, it is an older property but one that comes with much character and adventure. No, there is no A/C and there is no cell service; how nice to just detach from the world for awhile. I can assure you that there is not "traffic noise" at all hours of the night. I have had many (years and years) of great nights sleeping at Gonney and never even noticed the cars that drive by. The creek separates the house from the road and provides distance/safety if you have children playing in the yard/creek. There are so many places to explore on the property (the creek being the main one) as well as the surronding towns/areas. I could go on and on about this amazing house & location, but I suggest you see for yourself! Don't let one bad apple ruin the chance to experience all the beauty this home & place has to offer.

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• A perfect family reunion setting!

  A perfect family reunion setting!

  • Guest margaret B.
  • Date of stay 05/24/12
  • Review Submitted 05/31/12
  Our stay with 7 adults and, 6 children under 6, was a well enjoyed time had by all. The accommodations were clean, comfortable and charming. We know this is a spot we will surely return to in the near future.

  Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

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• always an amazing stay!

  always an amazing stay!

  • Guest molly
  • Date of stay 05/24/12
  • Review Submitted 05/31/12
  Gooney is such a special place, and even more special when I get to share it with all my family and kids! what a special, peaceful ad adventurous place. always leave wishing I didn't have to!

  Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with young children, girls getaway, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

  Owner response: So glad the Pittsburgh clan enjoyed their stay with us!

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• We loved Gooney Lodge - it's one of a kind!

  We loved Gooney Lodge - it's one of a kind!

  • Guest Carasue
  • Date of stay 05/18/12
  • Review Submitted 06/12/12
  We stayed with two other couples at Gooney Lodge in May and had a fabulous time. We loved sitting on the porch and building a bonfire in the outdoor "chimney". Visiting local wineries was a treat, but we had our best meals cooking in at Gooney Lodge. The authentic atmosphere makes it feel like a real home. The beds were super comfortable and the decorations were fun to check out. We loved the lack of intrusion from "screens" (no TV, cell service, wifi, etc.), made it a real getaway. I loved relaxing in the clawfoot tub, the house was impeccably clean and I know how difficult it is to keep an old house in such great shape. Can't wait to bring our kids here - they will love it. Driving in through the creek set the mood for our fun weekend. What a truly beautiful spot! Gooney Lodge is something special!

  Recommended for: Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, families with young children, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

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• Unique, lovely home in peacful setting

  Unique, lovely home in peacful setting

  • Guest Amltravel
  • Date of stay 05/18/12
  • Review Submitted 06/01/12
  We were one of three couples who stayed at Gooney Lodge to attend the Front Royal Wine Festival. We loved the house, the grounds, the antiques, the stream, and the town (not to mention the wine!). The house is so unique and makes for such a memorable stay. I felt like I was in my great grandmother's farm house. I would have given it five stars if it had one more bathroom (or one closer to the bedroom we stayed in), although I would highly recommend it to other guests and I would stay there again in a heartbeat!

  Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, girls getaway, romantic getaway.

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• Parents 50th Anniversary

  Parents 50th Anniversary

  • Guest jennifer l.
  • Date of stay 10/14/11
  • Review Submitted 01/27/12
  A perfect place for a weekend getaway! My family celebrated our parents 50th anniversary at this lovely home. It was charming and cozy with an awesome fireplace and a stack of chopped wood for the cool autumn evenings! Fresh flowers were set out throughout the house and pumpkins at the front door added to it's rustic country charm. It was so relaxing to sit on the front porch in the morning with my coffee and listen to the clear running stream right in front of me! There is also a really good vineyard and tasting room right down the road from Gooney Lodge called Glen Manor. I highly recommend stopping by for a tasting and a beautiful view. Skyline drive, Luray Caverns and the historic town of Front Royal Virginia (with its cute shops and cafes) are only a short drive away....We have already booked Gooney Lodge again for the Fall of 2012!

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 2/2

• Refined Rustic Charm in the Shenandoah Valley

  Refined Rustic Charm in the Shenandoah Valley

  • Guest nell m.
  • Date of stay 08/05/11
  • Review Submitted 08/10/11
  I've rented Gooney Lodge twice and each time couldn't have been more pleased. It is the perfect way to experience the northern Shenandoah Valley/Skyline Drive area. The setting of the lodge both inside and out match the feeling of the beautiful countryside that surrounds it. Just being in the lodge makes you feel a part of the history and beauty of the area. Yes, it is rustic, but that's part of the charm. Feeling the mountain breezes, hearing the bubbling creek and staring up at those mountains make for a memorable stay. Even in the beastly heat this summer, those breezes and strategically placed fans made it comfortable even without air conditioning. The antiques, four poster beds covered with quilts, a cast iron stove (as well as a modern one) in the kitchen, a glider on the porch...all make you feel that you're stepping back in time. It was clean, comfortable and well-maintained. The owner is eager to help make it a memorable experience and to meet your needs. I'd definitely recommend it and hope to rent it again soon. It is a great spot from which to explore Shenandoah National Park, canoe or kayak on the Shenandoah River, explore a cavern, do some wine tasting at Glen Manor Vineyard across street or just sit on the porch and read a good book.

  Recommended for: Adventure seekers, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 6/6

• Great Family Getaway!

  Great Family Getaway!

  • Guest Lissy V.
  • Date of stay 07/27/11
  • Review Submitted 07/31/12
  We met our whole family at Gooney and had the most fun we have had in many years. This big wonderful family lodge gave all of us the opportunity to just "be together". We loved the big open spaces, cooking in the simple kitchen and seeing all the history the lodge holds. The huge front porch with all the rockers and easy outdoor furniture provided hours of peaceful time for all to chat, read, nap or watch the stream go by. We waded in the stream and explored the beautiful country around this lodge and got what we came for...undisturbed by technology relaxation. We played games, slept late, and took a tube trip on the nearby river. Yes, it is rustic but clean and cared for by a family who loves this wonderful piece of history. We all highly recommend this getaway for family time and fun!

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• Family / Country / Get-Away / Good Times!

  Family / Country / Get-Away / Good Times!

  • Guest Tom V.
  • Date of stay 08/08/09
  • Review Submitted 08/03/12
  Apologies to the Gooney Lodge for being a bit late in my review, but good things come to those who wait. I have stayed at this house several times, which alone should give you an idea of my recommendation here. Most recently, I stayed with 10 members of my family. We were looking for a nice get-away where everyone could meet for a reunion. It's tough finding a common ground for that many people, but Gooney was a perfect fit! For starters, it was August, an incredibly hot month everywhere. You'd think that an old country home on a creek would not be a suitable selection for this, but you'd be completely wrong. Not only was Gooney always pleasantly cool, but we also enjoyed long visits on the porch while playing family games in front of the running creek...think of a CountryTime Lemonade commercial! I should add that two members of our group were also pregnant, and both of them were completely comfortable the entire time, which is a feat in any environment! There is also lots to do in this great town. We enjoyed river tubing, the downtown shops and local stores, as well as Demolition Derby! At the beginning and end of every day, however, was Gooney itself. Whether sitting on the porch, cooking outside, swinging by the barn, or lounging in the great room, you feel at home and can feel all the rich history. One great feature of the lodge is the guest book. When you read through this, you find two common themes: 1. Everyone had a great time. 2. Everyone was very different. It doesn't matter if you're a large family, small family, reunion of friends, or bachelorette party, you will enjoy your stay at Gooney Lodge! I highly recommend this unique vacation home to anyone. I have stayed there a total of two weeks in my life and certainly look forward to many more. I will be bringing my children there as they grow up. I miss Gooney just looking at the picture... Tom Vogt

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1