Afton Station Cottage -Beautifully Remodeled in the Blue Ridge Mountains
- Sleeps6
- Maximum Guests6
- Bedroom(s)2
- Bathroom(s)2 full, 0 half
Description
Our house is nestled on the eastern slope of Afton Mountain just below Rockfish Gap in the northern tip of Historic Nelson County on the “Sunrise Side of the Blue Ridge” It’s just 3-minutes away from the where the Blue Ridge Parkway meets the Skyline Drive and 4-minutes to the southern gatehouse of the Shenandoah National Park. Hiking, skiing, golf, biking, sightseeing; the area calls to the outdoor enthusiast.
If history is your thing you're fortunate that we have that too! But if you are the type that prefers a quiet spot with a good book that's possible too; the house has two porches and outside of the occasional train rumbling through it’s pretty quiet. There are music and performance venues in the nearby communities of Crozet, Waynesboro, Charlottesville, and Staunton as well as the immediate area. In recent years Nelson County has enjoyed a renaissance of sorts in the age-old crafts of brewing, distilling, and viticulture; Nelson County's popular Brew Ridge Trail begins just three miles down the road where you can tour numerous breweries, cideries, vineyards and a distillery or two. Venturing further afield in Nelson County you will discover almost a half-dozen more breweries, wineries and at least two distilleries. Nelson County is also home to the Walton's Mountain Museum in Schuyler where the TV show's creator Earl Hamner once lived.
One section of our property was once the site of the freight station for the original Blue Ridge Railway which sits alongside the Claudius Crozet Blue Ridge Trail. Once opened this Rails-To-Trails addition will include Crozet’s nearly 4300-foot long tunnel dug 500 feet below Afton Mountain during the 1850’s. It was one of the longest tunnels ever built in its day and the first tunnel ever dug simultaneously from both sides. The tunnel/trail completion schedule has been delayed due to budget issues.
The house (our first home, we now live just 8 miles down the road) is a simple wood framed 2-story cottage with about 1200 sq feet of living space. We don’t know how old it is but 25 years ago we met a woman who told us she was born in the house in 1911; we believe it couldn’t be much older than that. Much of the house has been modernized and renovated. The upstairs bedrooms are small by modern standards and have sloped ceilings and the stairway was built for a time when people were shorter so you folks over 6’2 should watch your noggins. There are two bedrooms upstairs; one with a queen the second bedroom has two twin beds. There is a brand new bathroom with shower and a small sitting area.
On the first floor, you will find a nice kitchen, dining and living area in an open and well-lit floor plan. There is also a large den with a double futon and 2 single futon chairs. There is a full bath with tub.
The cozy open front porch faces east onto a small shaded front lawn. There are views to the east and south that open up in the winter. It is the best place to escape the heat of the day or to enjoy early morning coffee. The fully enclosed back porch is best when the weather is cooler or the heat of the day has passed.
We’re located just 25 miles west of Charlottesville, UVA, and Monticello, 4 minutes from I-64 exit 99 or 10 minutes from I-64 exit 107. It’s just a 15 min walk to the Appalachian Trail and the Blue Ridge Tunnel (it’s marked do not enter so go at your own risk). Wintergreen is a 15-20 minute drive down the Rockfish Valley or 20-25 minutes if you take the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway route. Enjoy the peace and quiet and yet be within minutes of all that the Blue Ridge Mountains have to offer.
The more information you provide in the booking inquiry the better we will be able to serve you.
Thanks for looking.
Owner/Manager
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About The Owner
We moved to Nelson County from the Virgin Islands almost 40 years ago and soon "got hitched" at the local courthouse. A few years later we pulled up staked and moved south to FL then West to CA before returning to Nelson and buying this house when as we started our family. We outgrew the house 7 years later moving and moved 8 miles across the ridge to a nearby town where we still live today.
Location
| Zip Code: 22920 | ||
| Nearest Airport | Charlottesville CHO or SHD | 30 miles |
|---|---|---|
| Nearest Bar | Blue Mountain Brewery, Heritage on Main | 4 miles |
| Nearest Beach | Sherando Lake Recreation Area | 18 miles |
| Nearest Bus Station | Greyhound in C'ville | 28 miles |
| Nearest Golf | Swannanoa, Old Trail, Wintergreen | 2 miles |
| Nearest Motorway | East Side Speetway | 12 miles |
| Nearest Restaurant | Favorite is Rooftop or Fardowners in Crozet | 10 miles |
| Nearest Ski | Wintergreen or Masanutten | 20 miles |
| Nearest Train Station | Amtrak in C'ville or Staunton | 28 miles |
Additional Location Information
The cottage is located on a private lane which forks off Afton Depot Lane. Turn off State Route 6 and then almost immediately turn right off the blacktop onto the private lane. Go past the bungalow on the left and up the hill to the cottage. The house has a tin roof which adds to the charm in rainy weather but can be noisy when the wind blows hard. The house is located 150 yards from an active Railroad line so there is noise at times. Most of it comes from empty coal car freights returning towards the western coal fields. They do not follow any schedule so there is no telling if or when they will pass but there's no mistaking their presence. The almost silent Amtrak passenger trains pass in both directions 3 days/week. Small local freight deliveries come through occasionally and road crews also work the line.
Accommodation, Features
Additional Property Information
The house is located in the former mountainside rail stop summer resort Village of Afton. There are 2 bedrooms upstairs, 1 with a queen and the other with 2 doubles. Downstairs the original living room has a double futon and two single chair style futons. This room has doors so it can be closed off but it doesn't have any bedroom furniture. The house is equipped with a smart TV (guests provide their own Netflix or Amazon passwords) Ther is also a digital antenna for broadcast TV of the major networks and PBS.
Availability
- Booked
- Pending
- Available
- Unknown
Rates
| - | Nightly rate | Weekly rate | Monthly rate | Min. Stay | Change-over | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week | Weekend | |||||
| Rate summary | $185 - $225 | $1,019 | $3,195 | 2 Nights | - | |
Fees, Taxes, Deposit
| Type | Type | Price | Charge Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cleaning | Required | $100 | One time |
| Pet fee per dog | Optional / Seasonal | $60 | One time |
| Security, damage, excess cleaning deposit. | Required | $500 | One time |
| VA State Sales (4.3%) & County Occupancy Tax (5%) | Required | 9.3% | One time |
Policies
Bookings accepted up to 11 months in advance.
Payment schedule:30% to confirm Balance due 45 days in advance of arrival.
$500 Damage, security, and excess cleaning deposit required 25 days in advance of check out date. Damage deposit may be done by Credit Card Authorization which will not bill to the card unless a claim is processed.
Parties are not allowed.
Select dogs may be allowed if pre-approved and the pet fee(s) have been paid.
Smoking is not allowed indoors. Responsible smokers that do not litter may smoke outdoors.
Children - the house is not baby-proofed but it is neither is it a house of horrors and breakable nick-nacks. We raised both our children in the house safely but we did take precautions with the steps, kitchen cabinets and the where we now have gas logs we had a wood stove.
Seniors-hmmmmm? Since I'll be eligible for Medicare within the year I find the term senior off-putting. If you have mobility issues please speak with us.
Pet-friendly - housebroken, non-destructive, well-behaved dog or dogs of responsible owners who know how to care and clean up after them will be considered with the payment of a fee.
Smoking - NOT IN THE HOUSE OR ON THE BACK PORCH - field strip your cigarettes and properly dispose of the filters.
Military discount - 10%
19 Reviews
Great Wifi
This is a great space to get away, in the mountains with modern conveniences, including a pretty robust wifi connection!
Stayed December, 2020
Amazing Experience
We had an Amazing experience at Tom & Jackie's cottage! Everything was Sparkling Clean and the cottage offered every amenity that we needed for our five week stay. Tom & Jackie were very responsive and went out of their way to make our stay comfortable and enjoyable! We really enjoyed going on hikes and visiting local wineries and orchards! We highly recommend it!
Alan, Sherry & Scribbles
Stayed December, 2020
Lovely Little House
Lovely little house. I really loved the recliner and the kids loved the Roku TV. We didn’t get a chance to use the fire pit outside, but it, along with seating around it, is a big plus to me. My wife loved the large bathrooms. Note that the bedrooms do have slopes ceilings, but it’s charming.
The location is nice - within a handful of miles (not walkable) of the entrance to Shenandoah National Park. We didn’t run into traffic around there, so Waynesboro was close and Charlottesville was maybe 30 mins away. Wineries were also just down the road. You are also close to Route 151, which goes down Nelson County with several wineries, the Bold Rock cidery, and a distillery.
Stayed December, 2020
Great Location
Tom’s place is extremely well-situated for hiking, vineyards, and breweries. He’s a great communicator and our group of 3 plus our pup had a great stay. Beautiful part of Virginia and the home made our trip that much better.
Stayed December, 2020
Great House
Great house in an ideal location. We can’t wait to go back!
Stayed December, 2020
Nice Getaway
The place was just as described, a nice getaway to the beautiful Virginia countryside amidst all the corona craziness. The host was very responsive and attentive, recommending a local brewery and winery. We had a great time and would stay again in a heartbeat!
Stayed December, 2020
We had a wonderful stay
We had a wonderful stay in Tom and Jackie's cottage. We house was clean, cozy, and perfectly located close to trails, and wineries. Can't wait to come back!
Stayed December, 2020
Cottage and views are equally beautiful!
This cottage is the perfect location for a mountain getaway! It was incredibly spacious and the kitchen was stocked with all of the essentials. I highly recommend the sunroom at 4pm for sunset views with a glass of Veritas Petit Verdot in hand. Jackie and Tom are great hosts who make you feel right at home. Highly recommend this cottage and look forward to our next visit! Cheers!
Stayed March, 2018
Perfect weekend getaway!
Couldn't have been a better home to stay at for our girls weekend! The owners are beyond sweet and the house is adorable and fully stocked. We will be returning for sure!!
Stayed February, 2018
Erin W
We had a wonderful time at Tom and Jackie’s cottage. It was so clean, cozy, and perfect for what we needed. We really enjoyed being able to bring the dogs with us and they had plenty of room to run and play. We hope to be back very soon.
Stayed February, 2018
Last update: 14-Jan-2021 15:14
Contact the Owner
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If you notice that the calendar or rates are not current on this listing please let us know. We will contact the owner & ask them to update it.
