Historic Toll House Cabin sits on 29.5 private acres with mountain views, open pasture, woods, and a portion of Foot of the Mountain Run. The park-like lawns are surrounded by stunning stone walls. The newly renovated cabin features a field stone foundation, exposed log walls, back porch, deck, rooftop terrace and a stone patio. The two bedroom, two and a half bath cabin also has a working fireplace on each level.
The original cabin was built circa 1748 as the toll house in the village of Flint Hill. It was located along the King’s Highway, which is now Route 522. Over many years it fell into disrepair and was slated for demolition when a local preservationist bought the structure and had it moved up the road to where it now sits on a new field stone foundation. Step onto the deck and enjoy the serene view of lawns studded with trees, rolling wooded hills, and more distant mountains. Enter the unique antique front door, with iron work by Nol Putnam, and you are greeted by another view through a pair of French doors that opens onto the wide deck for easy outdoor entertaining. To the right is a large picture window that allows a view of the lawn from the kitchen seating area. The newly remodeled kitchen features granite counter tops, exposed log walls, and a clever built-in pantry cabinet. There is a newly renovated half bath beyond the kitchen.
The kitchen opens to the main log cabin and the living room. This room has a gorgeous wood-burning fireplace, exposed log walls, and a beamed ceiling. A French door opens out onto the roomy back porch with views of the landscape and no other habitation visible. One can imagine the bygone days in which the Toll House Cabin was built, when George Washington stayed at the old Black Rock Farm, for which the road is named.
A set of stairs leads up from this main level to the master bedroom suite on the top floor. The master bedroom has a peaked, beamed ceiling, exposed log walls, and a petite stone fireplace complete with mantle. The beautiful wood floor is antique wide-plank boards. Three of the many windows are charming dormers, adding to the interest of the structure. The ensuite master bath features a claw-foot tub and a new granite vanity counter. Another unique, quirky feature is the rooftop terrace off of the master suite. Open the French doors wide and feel like you are bathing in the out-of-doors. Sit out on the terrace in a fluffy robe and be transported to your own exclusive spa experience.
The roomy second bedroom is on the lower level of the cabin. A pair of French doors opens out onto a slate patio and the fenced back yard, perfect for containing a pet or the kids or perhaps for creating a walled garden room. This bedroom also has a field stone fireplace and its own full bath. The laundry area and the utility/storage room are in the back.
The 29.5-acre property has about six acres cleared around the cabin, leaving many beautiful specimen trees that include dozens of dogwoods. The landscape is gorgeous at any time of year, whether spring or fall color, the lushness of summer, or a day of winter sledding concluded by a warming beverage in front of the fire. A portion of Foot of the Mountain Run, a headwater of the Rappahannock River, splashes along its meandering course through the bottom of the property. There is also a year-round spring in the lower meadow that might be an ideal spot for an ornamental pond. The upper portion of the property rises up to the top of the ridge behind the cabin. This wooded area has a Jeep trail that loops up and around the boundary to a spot that had been considered for a larger, full-time residence with an even more spectacular view. The property would lend itself to any number of uses including keeping horses or other livestock, hunting, or maybe even a small vineyard.
For adventures further afield, Rappahannock and surrounding counties offer endless recreational possibilities. Shenandoah National Park, home to scenic Skyline Drive, Old Rag Mountain, and many miles of trails, is a stone’s throw away. Just over the mountain, the Shenandoah River offers canoeing, kayaking, tubing and fishing. There are wineries and breweries, great restaurants and cafes, antique stores, farms and orchards, and much more. Looking for cultural activities? Visit one of the many art galleries, attend a play or a concert at one of the theaters, or visit the Rappahannock Historical Society’s museum. Head in the other direction and Front Royal is just over Chester Gap, about 15 minutes away. Front Royal has pubs, restaurants, shopping, a hospital and more.
Located only about 66 miles from the White House, and about 70 miles from Charlottesville, Toll House Cabin is an easy drive for a weekend getaway yet it feels a world away. It would also offer a full time resident easy access to these two metropolitan centers and all they have to offer.
