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Beautiful, Remodeled Cottage in the Heart of Afton

Cottage in Afton with kitchen

Photo gallery for Beautiful, Remodeled Cottage in the Heart of Afton

Cottage Entrance
Gracewood Retreat Entrance
Driveway to house. Cottage on right
Springtime. Front of cottage.
Cottage in Winter.

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
1 bedroom1 bathroomSleeps 2800 sq ft

Popular amenities

  • Dryer
  • Parking available
  • Washer
  • Kitchen
  • Outdoor space
  • Air conditioning

Explore the area

View in a map
Afton, VA
  • Place, Veritas Vineyard and Winery
    ‪13 min drive‬
  • Place, Afton Mountain Vineyards
    ‪14 min drive‬
  • Place, Blue Ridge Parkway North Entrance
    ‪18 min drive‬
  • Airport, Charlottesville, VA (CHO-Charlottesville-Albemarle)
    ‪55 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

1 bedroom (sleeps 2)

Downstairs

1 Queen Bed

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Spaces

Kitchen
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Beautiful, Remodeled Cottage in the Heart of Afton

Located in the George Washington National Forest, Gracewood is a retreat from the mental and emotional activity of everyday life. The house was recently remodeled as a comfortable setting for couples or small families who want a break. We hold meditation retreats here twice a year, so it would work well for a writer or artist or a contemplative. Yet it is relaxing and healing for anyone.

Upstairs is a full modern kitchen with new appliances. We made the cottage so nice that one of us could live there comfortably if we chose to do that. There is also a dining set and a comfortable full size futon couch. (Many futons are not that comfortable. We own an organic mattress company, so the mattress and frame are the best.)

Downstairs is a queen size mattress and two comfortable Ekornes chairs (stressless chairs). We use Savvy Rest organic bedding.

Within 12 minutes are several breweries, wineries, and a cidery.

The property is 39+ acres, with 1/2 mile along Meriwether Creek. The volume of water varies with the season, but the feeling of energy is always powerful, calming, and clearing. There are about two miles of well maintained, private trails suitable for hiking or running. Trails are well marked, and a map is available.

Over the course of eight years we have seen a few bears, raccoons, groundhogs, bats, lots of box turtles, a few snakes, a wide variety of birds, along with plenty of deer and other wildlife. We took pictures of what appeared to be bobcat tracks one winter, but we haven't caught sight of the nocturnals.

Please note that there is no television, although we do have fiber optic for internet which is pretty fast and reliable. Cell service inside the cottage is intermittent, although right outside it is usually pretty reliable. So it's relatively easy to unplug.

Also note that the main queen size bed is downstairs, and the bathroom is upstairs if you get up in the night.

There are wonderful musical events spring to fall. Skiing at Wintergreen in the winter.

Live music at our charming farmer's market in Nellysford on Saturdays May to November.

For COVID prevention we wash the soft materials. For hard surfaces where COVID can survive longer, we thoroughly wash them and then disinfect them with natural disinfectants. We pay our cleaning help well, and they do an excellent job.

Upon your arrival you'll see that our house is close to the cottage, but there is landscaping next to both buildings; and the cottage is actually quite private. It's likely that you won't see anyone on our 40 acres during your stay.

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washing machine
Dryer
Air conditioning
Outdoor space
Parking available

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 25
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a deadlock
Property Registration Number 247

About the area

Afton

Located in Afton, this cottage is in a rural area and in the mountains. Crozet Tunnel and Swannanoa Palace are local landmarks, and the area's natural beauty can be seen at Shenandoah National Park and Rockfish Gap Entrance Shenandoah. War Fields and Wildlife Center of Virginia are also worth visiting. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
Afton, VA

What's nearby

  • Silverback Distillery - 7 min drive - 4.1 km
  • Veritas Vineyard and Winery - 13 min drive - 12.3 km
  • Afton Mountain Vineyards - 14 min drive - 10.2 km
  • Bold Rock Hard Cider Nellysford Cidery - 17 min drive - 15.4 km
  • Blue Ridge Parkway North Entrance - 18 min drive - 17.1 km

Getting around

  • Staunton Station - 35 min drive
  • Weyers Cave, VA (SHD-Shenandoah Valley Regional) - 47 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Trager Bros Coffee Shop - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Blue Mountain Brewery - ‬12 min drive
  • ‪Hill Top Berry Farm & Winery - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪Belties - ‬12 min drive
  • ‪Paulie's Pig Out - ‬5 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Beautiful, Remodeled Cottage in the Heart of Afton pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Beautiful, Remodeled Cottage in the Heart of Afton?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Beautiful, Remodeled Cottage in the Heart of Afton?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Beautiful, Remodeled Cottage in the Heart of Afton located?

Situated in the mountains, this cottage is steps from George Washington National Forest and within 3 mi (5 km) of Flying Fox Vineyard and Silverback Distillery. Hill Top Berry Farm & Winery and Cardinal Point Vineyard and Winery are also within 6 miles (10 km).

About the host

Hosted by Michael and Heather Penny

Host profile image
Heather and Michael met in a yoga ashram in 1976 and were married in 1982. We have always had an interest in what makes everything work, particularly human nature. Although we have both started successful businesses, we are teachers at heart.

We love meeting like minded people and sharing the beauty and serenity of our property. It has been transformative for us and many friends.

We have two wonderful adult children--one a hydrologist and one self-employed in IT.

Why they chose this property

We had been looking at property for years. Heather was on retreat in Brazil when this property came on the market; but once we had both seen it, we gave up looking anywhere else.

Nelson County is so beautiful, and being in the George Washington National Forest is like Eden.
It's so easy to calm the mind and relieve emotional stresses here.

What makes this property unique

2 Miles well maintained walking trails, 1/2 mile along a bubbling creek.
Serenity beyond words.
Breweries and Wineries galore.
Nice restaurants nearby.
4.5 mile walk to Humpback Rocks on the Blue Ridge Parkway, 2.5 miles to Shenandoah National Park.
Ekornes Stressless chairs from Norway.
Savvy Rest organic bedding throughout, although the main mattress on the Murphy bed could not tolerate the weight of an organic mattress. The bedding on top is all certified organic.
Low EMF Environment: Cell phones don't work in the cottage, and you can unplug the wireless router.
Environmentally friendly cleaning supplies.
Real china dishware & mugs.
Stainless steel pots and pans.

Languages:

English

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests