Skyline Crest - Spectacular Mountaintop Retreat - 120-Mile Panorama
- Sleeps4
- Maximum Guests6
- Bedroom(s)2
- Bathroom(s)2 full, 0 half
Video Tour
Description
Skyline Crest is a private mountain-top retreat high in the Blue Ridge Mountains west of Charlottesville, Virginia.
Part of a 1,400-acre gated compound bordering the Shenandoah National Park, the property offers supreme privacy in one of the most spectacular natural settings in the Eastern Mountains. Deer, bear and turkey wander through the forests and open fields. Hawks soar overhead. An elevation of 3,200 feet ensures cool temperatures and constant breezes throughout the summer.
The views from the striking contemporary house are breathtaking - a 120-mile panorama from the level Piedmont in the east, over the near Blue Ridge and the Shenandoah Valley to the distant Alleghenies, fading far into West Virginia. (See the video link on this page) Five decks, including a spacious rooftop deck, open onto the various daytime vistas - and at night provide for thrilling star-gazing under some of the darkest skies in the Mid-Atlantic.
The house itself (2 bedrooms, 2 full baths) features every modern convenience, including a state-of-the art kitchen, satellite TV and wireless internet.
Although it feels like a world apart, Skyline Crest is only 40 minutes from Charlottesville and Jefferson's University of Virginia, giving you easy access to all the cultural amenities that a cosmopolitan University community can offer. There are many distinguished vineyards in the vicinity, and wines from the Monticello American Viticultural Area (named for Jefferson's home) are considered among the best produced anywhere in the Eastern United States. Also nearby is Wintergreen, the renowned four-season resort, featuring two award-winning golf courses and some of the best skiing and snowboarding south of New England.
Some final notes:
1. Skyline Crest is located at the summit of Buck's Elbow Mountain, just above the town of Crozet. We like guests to know that the drive ends with a 5 mile ascent up a gravel road. It's a very good road, well maintained and, except in snow or ice, fine for 2-wheel drive. (See the picture in our Photos section.) It is, however, curvy and steep in places. In the winter months, because weather in the mountains can be unpredictable, we do recommend 4-wheel drive.
2. At the very top of the Mountain, about 150 yards behind our house, there is a small complex of FAA radio towers. These don't interfere in any way with our views, a 270-degree panorama facing entirely in the other direction. But you do see them as you drive up, and from the parking area at the rear of our property. There are 6 unlighted towers, all quite low compared to broadcast radio or cell towers. About 60 feet tall. The setting is very much like that of an oceanfront beach house, with a gorgeous, unobstructed view of the ocean – but perhaps with a radio or water tower behind the house on the other side of the road. The towers are very low wattage – used only to relay airline communications. In more than 20 years of renting the house (hundreds of parties), we have had only 4 or 5 guests tell us that the towers affected their enjoyment in any way. We believe that the view photos on our web pages and the testimonials from our guests speak for themselves, but if you’d like to have a clearer sense what you see from the back of the house we are glad to send a photo taken from the parking area.
3. Although the house has Wifi, we cannot allow video streaming (Netflix, YouTube etc.). Our internet service is through Hughesnet, a satellite provider - the only option in our remote location. Satellite internet speeds are marginal for video streaming. Also - like all satellite services, Hughesnet gives a fixed data allowance each month. We are on their highest-data plan, but, even so, just a few HD streamed movies will consume an entire month's allowance. We do have DirctTV satellite cable as well as a DVD player at the house.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding the house, the setting, or anything else, please don't hesitate to email or call us before submitting your booking request.
Owner/Manager
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About The Owner
I'm a Charlottesville/Albemarle County native. Both my parents' families were peach orchardists - my father grew up at the base of this mountain near the little town of Crozet. As boys, he and his brothers would often hike to the top - to take in the panoramic views and exult in the feeling of being on top of the world (a rare enough experience in the depression years of the 1930s). My wife and I built this house in 1986 as our weekend retreat (and completely remodeled it in 2009). We also have a house in Charlottesville, where I'm a farm and estate broker and she is a professor of English at UVa. We have one daughter, who now lives in Washington, DC.
Location
| Zip Code: 22932 | ||
| Nearest Airport | CHO | 50 minutes |
|---|---|---|
Accommodation, Features
Availability
- Booked
- Pending
- Available
- Unknown
Rates
| - | Nightly rate | Weekly rate | Monthly rate | Min. Stay | Change-over | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week | Weekend | |||||
| Rate summary | $275 - $325 | $1,900 | - | 2 Nights | - | |
Fees, Taxes, Deposit
| Type | Type | Price | Charge Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cleaning Fee | Required | $100 | One time |
| Lodging Tax | Required | 10.3% | One time |
| Pet Fee | Optional / Seasonal | $50 | One time |
| Refundable Security Deposit | Required | $250 | One time |
Policies
52 Reviews
Amazing, Relaxing Getaway
This was our second stay at Dan’s home and it was even better than we remembered. The house was spotless and the views are wonderful. It was the perfect time for a relaxing and secluded getaway. Dan was so nice - even letting us know when to watch the ISS pass by in the sky one morning. Amazing property and love that our dog can come enjoy the beauty with us. Looking forward to when we can stay again!!
Stayed June, 2020
Perfect views
The beauty of this area can't be shown in photos. Truly stunning vistas. Fairly easy to access as well despite the remoteness of the cabin. The cabin was clean and everything we needed was provided for. Dan was prompt to communicate, and very friendly. Would highly recommend to everyone and anxious to go back.
Stayed June, 2020
Flying in Place
As soon as we arrived, we took in the breathtaking panorama on the top roof deck and fantasized what it would be like to hang glide into the valleys of Shenandoah National Park...and then we saw hawks and vultures flying below us, as if we were in a glass airplane with all the windows open...
Divisions, dualities, and deaths were still happening on the ground below us: but here, closer to the heavens, is it possible to carry this transcendance back to the valley? Binary categories are still arbitrarily divided, and everyone disagrees on how tidily the demarcations can be drawn, until good blends into evil upon a continuum of imperfection, resulting in everyone needing to ask for redemption and forgiveness at some point.
These were musings that naturally arise in such a resplendant setting, whose space-time ripples were defined by birdsong, sunrises and sunsets, not clocks....perhaps we were gifted even less airplane noise due to the pandemic...for we heard nary a commercial or small craft wail, a treat for my frazzled nerves that are daily frayed by horrific choppers buzzing too close here in the city.
Every aspect of the house and setting was restorative, uplifting, light and airy, fragrant with sweet grass, and tinkling with songs of bob-whites, bluebirds, cardinals.... like many other reviewers before us, this was one of our favorite ever air bnbs, and we never wanted to leave....we are so grateful the owners shared this with us, and were wonderfully helpful in our small questions of logistics.
Stayed June, 2020
Best view in Virginia!
The house was beautiful and well set up for a weekend getaway, the instructions were succinct and helpful. This house is placed on top of a mountain that provides what I believe is the best view in Virginia. I plan to stay again. The host was available and responsive to any questions during the stay and very helpful.
Stayed May, 2020
Relaxing Getaway
The house and surrounding property are beautiful and provided a restful haven for myself and my husband. Dan, the owner, was communicative and helpful.
We look forward to future visits to Crozet!
Stayed May, 2020
Wonderful
This is an incredible property and feels like a retreat from the world. The host is very responsive to any questions or needs. Would be a wonderful place to visit any time of year!
Stayed March, 2020
Great Mountain Retreat!
“Skyline Crest is a not-to-miss mountain retreat. Incredible, majestic views, great hiking, beautiful meadows, wildlife sightings (even near some good trout fishing)! The house itself is stylish and very comfortable. We extended our stay twice….just could not leave.”
Stayed March, 2020
exactly as described
House is exactly as described in listing. Nice private property on top of mountain. Good communication from owner. We would return again.
Stayed February, 2020
Mountain Getaway
Dan was helpful and responsive to questions before our reservation and during our rental. The house was everything we hoped it would be based on listing--secluded with great views and a woodburning stove that facilitates a good read. Proximity to local wineries, breweries, and some hikes in/near Shenandoah was also great. Can see how road up mountain would challenge some lower vehicles but found it manageable in oir midsized SUV. Hope to have the chance to return sometime!
Stayed January, 2020
Wonderful winter retreat
We had a fantastic stay on the mountain at this home -- the views are fantastic. We watched sunrises, sunsets and then some snow flurries roll in through the miles of mountains and woods. We brought our two dogs and they adjusted well to the home, loving the wood-burning stove and going on long walks through the fields.
For anyone who is a runner -- there is a straight, clear gravel road (about 1.7 miles) leading up to the property. On a nice day, it's excellent for challenging loops -- downhill to boost confidence and then uphill to remind you that you're on a mountain!
During our stay, it was reallllly windy, but something we expected given the location and the time of year. We would love to come back during the spring and summer to fully enjoy the decks and the skies at night.
Dan was incredibly responsive to all of our questions, both leading up to and during our stay, and the house is sparkling clean. Plus, it has a kitchen with all the tools you need. We brought food for three dinners and were able to cook everything without a problem.
We rented a SUV for the trip and were grateful. While the roads are definitely drivable and pretty easy to navigate, there are a few potholes that might cause problems for a sedan and you're certainly climbing up some steep parts.
Overall, we loved our weekend spent reading, taking in the spectualr views and being together as a family.
Stayed January, 2020
Last update: 07-Aug-2020 19:41
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.
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