Goodstone Inn and Estate

A Retreat of Uncommon Charm and Elegance

By ML Hilton

(Middleburg, VA) – It’s a hazard of my job, but I have been able to stay in some pretty amazing places – luxury hotels whose service is so spectacular that your every sneeze is answered by an attendant with a tissue; natural locations so amazing that you keep your mouth shut and eyes open in constant appreciation, resorts with wonderful attention to detail and all the amenities you can possibly ever want.

I won’t say that any of those experiences pale in comparison to my stay at the Goodstone Inn and Estate, but I will say that this 265-acre retreat is currently at the top of my list of places I would go to visit, and not return home.

Situated in the heart of historic Virginia horse country, the property has been a working farmstead for 250 years. The original farmhouse (one of five exquisite places to stay on the property) retains its hand-hewn beams – though of course, it has been updated with luxurious bathrooms including a separate steam shower. The original spring house and smoke house still sit nearby.

Part of what makes this property so unique is that it preserves the feel – and many of the structures – of the country estate and working horse farm. This means you need to have a rental car to get around, if not just for traveling the small country road to reach your accommodation, definitely to have it available to explore the countryside, wineries, and the nearby town of Middleburg.

On the estate, there are currently five individual residences that have been meticulously restored in English and French country-style luxury. You can reserve an individual room or an entire residence for your stay. Each residence, with the exception of the Carriage House, has a lovely kitchen and inviting sitting room. These residences are much like a private bed and breakfast, but with the style and amenities of an Inn.

The Carriage House is the centerpiece of the Inn and once housed horses when it was a stable. Care was taken to retain the charm and history of the building, so don’t be surprised to find a horseshoe print in the paneling of your room. The hayloft suite with a large, private redwood deck is a favorite of honeymooners.

The Inn has recently added a restaurant and will be serving dinner to those guests who can’t bear to tear themselves away. A few of the other out-buildings will soon be undergoing renovations, but the number of rooms added will only be a handful.

Daily room rates include full country breakfast (with fresh eggs gathered from the Inn’s own chickens), morning coffee and afternoon tea breaks. You can also take advantage of a complementary round of 18-holes of golf at the nearby Stoneleigh Country Club; take a canoe down Goose Creek; borrow a mountain bike from the Inn; or just hike the trails on the rolling estate.

Your comfortable room’s refrigerator comes stocked with water and beer, and you will find cut glass decanters of port and sherry on silver hunt plaques – no bar key needed.

The charm of this property is endless and deserves to be enjoyed endlessly. When strolling the grounds, if you close your eyes you can imagine a young Jackie Kennedy on horseback with her then-small children enjoying the countryside. The Kennedy’s once maintained a weekend retreat nearby.

If you would like to go:
Room rates range: $225 to $600 depending upon room, occupancy, and season.
Make sure you review the cancellation policy

Goodstone Inn and Retreat
36205 Snake Hill Road, Middleburg, VA (877) 219-4663
www.goodstone.com