Close to Old Rag and a few feet from the Hughes River, the Dodson House offers a plethora of opportunities to enjoy nature. The 3.2 acre parcel features a four bedroom, two bath farmhouse that has been lovingly wrapped around a historic one room cabin. The home itself has a generous, airy interior with an open floor plan. A large deck wraps around the rear of the home offering plenty of private space to enjoy the outdoors.
Set far back from the road, a wide front porch greets you as you enter the home. The porch looks out at an expansive lawn with mature trees and bushes that create the perfect privacy screen. After a good rain, you can hear the Hughes river burbling along. The home opens into a large dining room with an expansive bay window that lets in plenty of warm light. From the dining room the house flows into a small sitting area that is perfect for lounging around after a fun day hiking Old Rag or fishing in the Hughes river. A wood stove sits to the side of the sitting area and is enough to keep most of the first floor warm on even the coldest of winter nights. The home then flows seamlessly into a large kitchen with a gas stove and plenty of counter space. A bank of windows along the rear of the kitchen looks out into the oasis of privacy that is the backyard and lets in the evening light. A screen porch sits off the kitchen.
The farmhouse is wrapped around an old log cabin. The origins of the cabin are lost to time, with wide timber beams and a field stone fireplace it was clearly built before 1900. The namesake for this homestead, Ernest Dodson, was known to have lived in this rough cabin after his family was moved to accommodate the creation of the Shenandoah National Park. Accessed through the sitting area, the cabin acts as the heart of the home. The cabin makes a great family room. A large fireplace takes up most of one wall and provides warmth to the entire room. There is plenty of space for couches, game tables and even a small office area.
The first floor is completed by a mud/laundry room and a full bath. A staircase leads from the dining room to the second floor which features three bedrooms and a bonus room. Lit by two bright windows, the front bedroom looks out over the front yard. A Jack and Jill bath attaches the front bedroom to the rear bedroom which looks out to the south and is sure to be bright year round. Above the log cabin is another bedroom and a bonus room. All of the upstairs rooms feature interior shutters which add to their timeless beauty.
A large deck wraps the rear of the home. Protected by both the mature plantings that screen the home and the home itself, the deck offers plenty of privacy and opportunities to relax. A covered area (just off the screen porch) is the perfect place to dine outside while the deck itself is great for reading a book in the sun. A small creek runs through the backyard and is a fun place to explore. The property also features two small storage sheds and a small paddock for anyone who wants to keep a few animals.
The home is an easy walk to the Old Rag trailhead (and only a few feet from the Old Rag parking area), Nicholson Hollow Trail, Pine Hill Gap Trail and Robertson Mountain Trail. The Hughes River, a popular trout stream, is across the street. Nearby are the Robinson and Rose rivers (also great treat streams) and an extensive network of other trails including the spectacular White Oak Canyon and Cedar Run trail. The Rapidan Wildlife Refuge is minutes away.
Nethers Road is less than 12 miles from the Town of Sperryville, and 16 miles from the Town of Madison, where you will find basic necessities like grocery stores, banks and building supplies as well as many fun shops. Sharp Rock Vineyard is in walking distance from the home and DuCard Vineyard isn’t much further. The surrounding area has many wineries, a multitude of antique stores, interesting restaurants and some great farmers markets. Located only about two hours from Washington, DC, Dodson House on Nethers Road is an easy weekend getaway or a full time residence. With it’s proximity to Old Rag, this could be a great AirBnB.
