This Rural Virginia Resort Is a Luxurious Spin on a Basic Summer time Camp — With Log Cabins, Wooden-fired Saunas, and Dwelling-cooked Meals

Bathtub County, Virginia, is undeniably removed from nearly in every single place. Situated in a quiet nook of the Allegheny Mountains, west of Shenandoah Nationwide Park, the county claims simply 4,000 residents and a landmass that’s 89 p.c coated by forests. It’s dwelling to a naturally occurring mineral heat spring, the cleanest river within the state, small artwork galleries, charming cafes, an natural cidery, and most significantly, a rural resort that makes you are feeling that you just can go dwelling once more — if house is your reminiscence of summer season camp.

Unfold throughout 3,300 acres of a working cattle farm and the Cowpasture riverfront, Fort Lewis Lodge is likely to be Virginia’s best-kept secret. A family-run resort for over 35 years, the lodge is a nostalgic, luxurious spin on a basic summer season camp. And like all summer season camps, it’s solely open for a number of months of the yr.

The Could-to-November season is essentially overseen by the third-generation millennial house owners and farmers, David and Erin Cowden.

Throughout COVID lockdowns, the Cowdens infused new life into the property, including two new luxurious cottages, full with wood-burning fireplaces, waterfall showers, and rocking chair porches with sweeping views of the encompassing pastures and mountains. Right now, these cabins are the lodge’s most sought-after locations to put one’s head.

Different lodging choices embody snug historic log cabins, rooms in a restored gristmill and silo, in addition to full farmhouse leases.

The preserved pure great thing about the land — its forests, fields, mountains, and streams — is all within the palms of visitors and the lodge is about as much as be very a lot a rural choose-your-own journey. Right here it’s camp with out supervision and which means kayaking, canoeing, and tubing down a stretch of the Cowpasture River so serene you’re unlikely to see one other soul, mountaineering within the woods, attempting your fly fishing solid on the trout-rich river, sweating throughout an instructor-led yoga or health class, or, the most suitable choice, transferring between the wood-fired sauna and swims within the river. 

Though extra trendy farmhouse than bunkbed rustic, it’s simple to really feel as sentimental about Fort Lewis Lodge as you do about your childhood summer season camp because of the truth that the times start and finish with a gong signaling breakfast and dinner. Each meals, that are included in every keep, are home-cooked and have farm-to-table menus whipped up by the Cowden household matriarch and served buffet type to the 50 or so visitors.

Like essentially the most memorable nights of summer season camp, one of the best days at Fort Lewis Lodge stretch far into the evening and are dotted with s’mores, nation rambles, and star gazing. (The latter is greatest finished on the lodge’s star-viewing platform within the woods.) That is summer season camp with out bedtimes, nevertheless it gives the look that if a visitor had been to prepare a rousing recreation of colour wars, there could be no drawback discovering individuals.

You possibly can study extra or e book your keep at Fort Lewis Lodge at fortlewislodge.com.