Entire home

Stay in history at the Swannanoa Gatekeeper Cottage, a cozy mountain retreat beside Swannanoa Palace. Enjoy timeless charm, modern comforts, and easy access to wineries, breweries, hiking trails, and wedding venues.

2.0 star property
Cottage with kitchen, near Shenandoah National Park

Photo gallery for Stay in history at the Swannanoa Gatekeeper Cottage, a cozy mountain retreat beside Swannanoa Palace. Enjoy timeless charm, modern comforts, and easy access to wineries, breweries, hiking trails, and wedding venues.

Interior
Exterior detail
Interior
Fridge, microwave, oven, stovetop
2 bedrooms, iron/ironing board, travel cot, free WiFi
Located close to Shenandoah National Park, Stay in history at the Swannanoa Gatekeeper Cottage, a cozy mountain retreat beside Swannanoa Palace. Enjoy timeless charm, modern comforts, and easy access to wineries, breweries, hiking trails, and wedding venues. has plenty to offer. Stay connected with free in-room WiFi.

Entire home

2 bedrooms1 bathroom107 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Fireplace
  • Dryer
  • Washer
  • Kitchen
  • Parking available
  • Barbecue grill

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About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

Stay in history at the Swannanoa Gatekeeper Cottage, a cozy mountain retreat beside Swannanoa Palace. Enjoy timeless charm, modern comforts, and easy access to wineries, breweries, hiking trails, and wedding venues.

Nestled atop Afton Mountain w/ inspiring views of the Shennandoah Valley, Swannanoa Gatekeeper Cottage is secluded an offers 2 guestrooms w/ a shared bathroom, living room w/ wood fireplace, kitchen, utility room & screened in porch to enjoy the views all 4 seasons. New modern amenities but w/ old world charm. Directly overlooking the intersection of Skyline Drive, Blue Ridge Parkway & Appalachian Trail @ Exit 99 of I-64 near Waynesboro, wineries/breweries, Wintergreen, UVA, hiking, & shopping.

You'll be interacting via TEXT directly with the owners, but not in person unless needed.

The neighborhood is quiet and rural. 0.9 miles to Veritas, and ELEVEN wineries/breweries/distilleries within 5 miles! 15 mins to Humpback Rocks and Jack Albright Loop (plane crash site!). 1.5 miles to Afton Tunnel!

There is a keypad entry door to the property. Guests have access to the entire house and 1/2-acre property apart from the locked master suite and the large utility sheds. Please, make yourself at home!

Our 2-story cottage built in the late 1920's is a great escape to the mountains to bask in all that nature has to offer while enjoying all the creature comforts to make this your favorite home away from home. Newly furnished, outfitted and updated with Wi-Fi and Streaming services w/ Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime, Roku are available as well as onsite, secured parking for up to 4 vehicles.

1st Floor
→ Living area with wood burning fireplace, Smart TV and Google assistant
→ Dining area with adjustable table and chairs for 4
→ Fully equipped kitchen
→ Utility room with washer + dryer w/ supplies, ironing board and iron

2nd Floor
→ Queen guest room
→ Full guest room
→ Shared bathroom

The unincorporated Village of Afton was established in 1859 with the opening of a train station and Post Office. Richmond families were often traveling to Afton to escape the heat and humidity. The most notable were James and Sallie May Dooley of Maymont, who built Swannanoa Palace and Gardens on top of Afton Mountain as their summer “cottage”. Neighboring us is this 23,000 square foot fully marble Italian Villa built in 1912. Our home is the old gatekeeper’s cottage when the formal entrance and marble gates still stood to serve those who wished to travel up to the beautiful Swannanoa. Swannanoa is privately owned and open seasonally for tours.

Also, look up "Koehler Vacation Rentals" to see our great reviews!

"Wherever you go becomes a part of you somehow." – Anita Desai

Free driveway parking on premises – 4 spaces

Ask us about private winery tour options through local car companies!

LOCATION - This cottage is located on the mountain top. We highly recommend driving during daylight hours upon arrival and departure so there is no stress finding your way down the private road especially because are often “sitting up in the clouds” so fog can be of an issue.

Also note that we are just above I64 and 250 so you will hear the drone of highway.

Afton is one of the windiest places on the east coast so don’t be surprised by that. Stink bugs and Asian Ladybugs plague the east slope of the Blue Ridge in almost every home. Both are not harmful however can be a nuisance. A late afternoon vacuum will provide a quiet night.

We are also friends with our local wildlife such as deer, rabbits, black bear, etc. so please be mindful as you are traveling in the area. Please do not store any food items outside or in car to avoid any unnecessary issues.

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in the cottage: Free WiFi

Parking and transport

  • Parking on site

Kitchen

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Dishwasher
  • Hob
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Refrigerator
  • Toaster

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 2 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • 1 bathroom
  • Hair dryer
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Dining table
  • Fireplace

Entertainment

  • Games
  • Smart TV with cable/satellite channels
  • Video games

Outdoor areas

  • Barbecue grill
  • Patio

Laundry

  • Washing machine

Comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Smoke-free property

Services and conveniences

  • Iron/ironing board

Location highlights

  • In a rural location
  • In the mountains

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector (host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property)
  • Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
  • First aid kit
  • Fire extinguisher
  • Deadbolt lock

General

  • Unit size: 1,152 square feet

Similar properties

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM
Minimum check-in age - 25

Check-out

Check-out before 10:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions

Rules

Optional early check-in or late check-out can be arranged for a fee. Please message us to request availability.
No additional guests beside those included in your guest count on reservation allowed to stay

Pets

Pets not allowed

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome

Events

No events allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios and terraces, which may not be suitable for children; if you have any concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm that they can accommodate you in a suitable room
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation

Property is also known as

0d40a86d-b289-4041-aeeb-f4c392915f1a

About the area

Located in Lyndhurst, this cottage is in a rural area and in the mountains. Waynesboro Heritage Museum and Wayne Theatre are cultural highlights, and some of the area's attractions include War Fields and Wildlife Center of Virginia. Ready for a night out? Consider Hermitage Hill Farm & Stables and Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards.
Map
Afton, VA

What's nearby

  • Blue Ridge Parkway North Entrance - 6 min walk - 0.6 km
  • Swannanoa Palace - 11 min walk - 1.0 km
  • Rockfish Gap Entrance Shenandoah - 15 min walk - 1.3 km
  • Veritas Vineyard and Winery - 5 min drive - 5.2 km
  • Afton Mountain Vineyards - 11 min drive - 7.3 km

Getting around

  • Staunton Station - 20 min drive
  • Weyers Cave, VA (SHD-Shenandoah Valley Regional) - 37 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Basic City Beer Co. - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪The Estate Of Captain G Wilson - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Happ Coffee Roasters - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Blue Mountain Brewery - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪New Ming Garden Buffet and Grill - ‬8 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Stay in history at the Swannanoa Gatekeeper Cottage, a cozy mountain retreat beside Swannanoa Palace. Enjoy timeless charm, modern comforts, and easy access to wineries, breweries, hiking trails, and wedding venues. pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Stay in history at the Swannanoa Gatekeeper Cottage, a cozy mountain retreat beside Swannanoa Palace. Enjoy timeless charm, modern comforts, and easy access to wineries, breweries, hiking trails, and wedding venues.?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Stay in history at the Swannanoa Gatekeeper Cottage, a cozy mountain retreat beside Swannanoa Palace. Enjoy timeless charm, modern comforts, and easy access to wineries, breweries, hiking trails, and wedding venues.?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Stay in history at the Swannanoa Gatekeeper Cottage, a cozy mountain retreat beside Swannanoa Palace. Enjoy timeless charm, modern comforts, and easy access to wineries, breweries, hiking trails, and wedding venues. located?

Situated in the mountains, this cottage is within 1 mi (2 km) of Swannanoa Palace and Shenandoah National Park. Blue Ridge Parkway North Entrance and War Fields are also within 1 mile (2 km).

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