Come back to nature in a simple yet gorgeous cottage on the edge of the woods with views of Jump Mountain. Dancing Bears Cottage is located on it's own knoll near Jump Mountain in beautiful Rockbridge County, Virginia. Slow down and enjoy the ultimate relaxation in this secluded, picturesque area. Our 100 acre property adjoins 22,000 acres of Little North Mountain Wildlife Management Area, so you are likely to see a variety of wildlife such as deer, turkeys and the occasional fox or black bear. You will also find it offers excellent birding opportunites for a large variety of birds. Relax in the hammock, on the deck, or in the hot tub. Hike several well-marked trails through the woods or fish and kayak in the 1-acre spring-fed pond. Children will love catching crayfish in the creeks and playing in the tree house. No need to leave the property for entertainment!
The custom craftsmanship and architecture of the timber frame cottage is truly amazing. Downstairs you will find the main living space with an open living and dining area as well as the kitchen and bathroom with shower. Up the spiral stairs is a sitting area and work station with a futon which converts to a double bed. Just beyond the large square set of bookshelves is a sleeping area with a queen bed and more custom cabinetry. The cottage is furnished with quality and care and thoughtfully stocked with most everything you will need.
The cottage is adjacent to our main house via a large deck which includes a hot tub with gorgeous views. On the cottage patio, you can cook on the gas grill, enjoy your dinner on the outside dining set, or sit around the fire pit making s'mores and gazing at the stars in the breathtaking night sky without the glare of city lights. The sounds of nature, especially in the early morning or late evening, are enchanting.
The cottage is 6 miles from the beautiful Goshen Pass and Maury River. We are 17 miles from Lexington with the Virginia Horse Center, Virginia Military Institute & the George C. Marshall Museum, Washington and Lee University & the Lee Chapel and Museum, the Stonewall Jackson House, Boxerwood Gardens, and also the Cyrus McCormick Museum and Wade's Mill in nearby Raphine. Natural Bridge and the Safari Park Zoo are another 15 miles from Lexington. Staunton is about 23 miles from the cottage, where you can explore The Frontier Culture Museum, Woodrow Wilson's Birthplace & Museum, and The American Shakespeare Theatre at Blackfriars Playhouse, and Sunspots Glassblowing Studio. Both Lexington and Staunton have lovely historical and walkable downtowns with unique shops and great dining options.
There are many wineries within a 10 minute to 45 minute drive. These include Jump Mountain Vineyard, Lexington Valley Vineyard, Rockbridge Vineyard, Blue Ridge Vineyard, Ox-Eye Vineyard, Barren Ridge Vineyard, Bluestone Vineyard, Cross Keys Vineyard and the award winning Devil's Backbone Outpost Brewery.
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We have lived in this little piece of paradise since 2005 and truly love sharing the magic and beauty of nature here with others.
Zip Code: 24459 | ||
- | Nightly rate | Weekly rate | Monthly rate | Min. Stay | Change-over | |
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Week | Weekend | |||||
Rate summary | $180 - $200 | - | - | 2 Nights | - |
Type | Type | Price | Charge Type |
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Occupancy Tax | Required | 13% | One time |
This cabin is gorgeous! We just got home from a four day getaway with our two boys (ages 12 & 13). The setting of this cabin is amazing....we fished, kayaked, hiked, watched movies together, played board games together, and really enjoyed 'disconnecting' from the day to day busy lifestyle. I think my boys loved 'Rufus' (the dog) the most! They are already talking about going back in the fall. Kathy had everything we didn't think to bring available and the furnishings and comfort of the home were outstanding. Just make sure to take plenty of groceries. The trip to town is at least 30 min away. We look forward to coming back many times in the future! I would highly recommend this retreat to anyone that wants to enjoy nature and relax. Thanks again for having us!
Stayed March, 2018
We enjoyed the well equipped kitchen, the hot tub, the pond and the quiet peacefulness of the surrounding mountains. Our granddaughter loved Rufus and the great variety of toys/games. And Lexington (less than 30 mins away) is a lovely historic town with a great variety of shopping, restaurants and places to see and visit. Anytime of year is a wonderful time to visit Dancing Bear Cottage.
Stayed March, 2018
My wife and Iove this place. It's beautiful up in the mountains, the cabin is pretty much an entirely furnished house, and the whole place is incredibly peaceful. Kathy is very sweet when you need her, but you may not see her much as all. Rufus the dog is a very good boy and will hang out with you if you're looking for a guide dog to walk the trails in the surrounding hills.
Stayed February, 2018
We had such a great time celebrating the new year in this fantastic little cabin. I was worried it would be too cold to enjoy it all but we (husband and two kids ages 6 and 3) had an absolute blast. We all enjoyed the beautifully designed and built cabin. It was so cozy we were perfectly content just playing games, having hot chocolate, watching all the birds from all the windows and using the hot tub. We had fun exploring around the frozen pond and using the treehouse too. There were actually so many little places we wanted to explore in Staunton and Lexington that we'll definitely come back and would HIGHLY recommend this spot to anyone looking for a unique escape to the country. Just driving around those rolling hills and seeing all the beautiful landscape was magical. We are very thankful for the experience.
Stayed December, 2017
We had fun on the hiking trails and saw some wildlife. We visited nearby Lexington and enjoyed a local winery on the way back. This place is unique and has many extras that made our stay enjoyable. Overall, a perfect weekend getaway in the country. We would definitely return in the future.
Stayed November, 2017
The place is completely charming in every way- the pictures don't do it justice, really. It seemed like everything we needed was right within reach, or Kathy would provide it. The nearest store is about 40 minutes away, so unless you are planning to eat out every meal, bring some food. The movie selection is great. No cable, but you don't miss it. Hot tub was a bonus. The grounds are lovely. We hope to make it back someday. I'm allergic to dogs, so I couldn't meet sweet Rufus. The wood burning stove is a piece of art. The custom made built in cabinets everywhere are, too. Everything is quality- even the stocked kitchen. Perfect for 2 people on a romantic anniversary.
Stayed November, 2017
We had a wonderful time at the cottage, escaping for several days from DC. It was just a few hours, but felt like a whole world away. Kathy was great and helped make the cabin safe for our two-year old by adding a baby gate to the staircase. We all enjoyed exploring the woods and pond, and our six year-old loved the tree house. The cabin has plenty of room for a family and is well equipped to cook meals and spend the whole weekend on the property, with lots of hiking and great mountain biking. If you feel like exploring, Staunton, especially the Frontier Culture Museum and Gypsy Hill Park, are a close drive from the cabin. We look forward to coming back soon!
Stayed August, 2017
My family of 4 absolutely loved our stay in the Dancing Bear cottage. The property is gorgeous--mountain views, tons of space for my kids to run around and explore, and hiking trails all to ourselves. The cottage is immaculate and well-equipped. We wouldn't hesitate to reserve again!
Stayed August, 2017
Kathy and Len were the perfect hosts. They made sure our needs were taken care of, even delivering fresh tomatoes to us on our first morning! The cottage was lovely with so many warm touches. The property was beautiful with wonderful trails to hike, a pond, bird feeders, flowers and wild deer. We rent from VRBO pretty frequently and have never been disappointed, but this was a top notch weekend!
Stayed August, 2017
This is our favorite cabin experience ever. My kids begged us to spend a few more days and didn’t want to leave; we are already seriously talking about going back! A few things WOWed us: meticulously clean, unique architecture, solid build, well stocked up and complete attention to the detail. I felt sooooo pampered by this place. This little gem is tucked away in a beautiful mountain area! Talk about tucked away; we followed the instructions exactly but still feeling unsure driving thru all this wildlife territory, then EUREKA! There is this beautiful place, totally developed for us to walk around. We have been using VRBO for more than 5 years and honestly, this was the best one yet. At Dancing Bear, everything we touched functioned properly, all the kitchen sets were complete, no missing pieces from all the board games we opened--and so many board games for all ages. We feel the owner sincerely wants to make the guests feel at vacation yet at home. Anything we thought about was there waiting for us. My boy was so excited about the fire pit, so we actually lit up the fire while grilling steaks, in the hot summer afternoon! Of course, as we were wondering about putting out the fire, there was the hose rolled up right at the corner awaiting. We live in Kansas City, MO about 1000 miles away from Dancing Bear, but we are going to try hard to go back again at different seasons. Love Appalachian, love Dancing Bear.
Stayed July, 2017
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