A Wild Woods Retreat

This property is located South of Luray off Route 340 in Tanner's Ridge near the town of Stanley, Va. 22851. You can expect a 13.5-mile drive to the town of Luray. This site first attracted us because of its wildness. Step onto the deck and you will spot the home of our Pileated Woodpecker. They don’t stay in that nest every evening, but they will circle and call letting you know which hole they have chosen. Leave the windows open in the spring and you will hear the full creek babbling over the rocks. In the dark of night, Barred Owls call “who cooks for you – who cooks for you all” as they argue over nesting and hunting territories. Summers are filled with lightening bugs and birds. In the evenings listen for the sweet flute like call of the Wood Thrush or the bubbling call of the Veery. Bears can sometimes be seen as you drive the gravel roads to our home and if you hear something that sounds like kids throwing big rocks into the creek you can bet that it is probably a bear looking for something good to eat. I’ve heard coyotes hunting late at night by the creek and often saw different sized bobcats jumping across the road as I entered Skyline Lakes. This is a beautiful spot to stop – listen, look, and appreciate nature’s calling. Meander down to the creek below the house or follow the gravel road down to a pond filled with bass, frogs, and Great Blue Herons. Our home is the perfect retreat for one or two people. From the entrance you will look up to the 16-foot ceilings with a wall of windows and a small comfortable deck. Gas stove flames are pretty to watch during the cold months but in the summer the chill can be taken off with the electric heat. The TV cabinet has a stereo, iPad dock and DVD player with a variety of discs to watch and games to play when you are not outside enjoying the natural world. As a former ranger, you will find many books about Shenandoah National Park including guides and maps for you to plan your trip into the park. This cozy 640-foot house has a great room with a small kitchen that includes an electric stove and oven, microwave, refrigerator, and many small appliances. One of my favorite things is the walnut eating and food preparation area built by my son. The two-tone wood bar was built without nails and we ask for your care in keeping hot items from marring the wood. The private bath contains a deep tub and shower, and the separate bedroom has a queen-sized bed, night stand, and dresser. This is a natural mountain site, rocks and gravel may be slippery. We do not recommend this site for anyone with mobility issues.

Massanutten Resort is about a 25-mile drive, Luray Caverns is a 14-mile drive, The George Washington National Forest Story Book Trail is 18-mile drive, and Thornton Gap Entrance to the Shenandoah National Park is about a 20-mile drive.