Title: 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. Reviews, Deals & Photos 2025 - Expedia.co.uk [See all properties](http://www.expedia.co.uk/Hotel-Search?regionId=&adults=2&children=&sort=RECOMMENDED&useRewards=false&semdtl=&userIntent=&vip=false) 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. Cottage with kitchen, near Shenandoah National Park ![Interior](https://images.trvl-media.com/lodging/121000000/120870000/120868000/120867931/cf0509b7.jpg?impolicy=resizecrop&rw=598&ra=fit) ![Exterior detail](https://images.trvl-media.com/lodging/121000000/120870000/120868000/120867931/cd1afef0.jpg?impolicy=resizecrop&rw=297&ra=fit) ![Interior](https://images.trvl-media.com/lodging/121000000/120870000/120868000/120867931/d76cf620.jpg?impolicy=resizecrop&rw=297&ra=fit) ![2 bedrooms, iron/ironing board, travel cot, free WiFi](https://images.trvl-media.com/lodging/121000000/120870000/120868000/120867931/031c468f.jpg?impolicy=resizecrop&rw=297&ra=fit) ![Fridge, microwave, oven, stovetop](https://images.trvl-media.com/lodging/121000000/120870000/120868000/120867931/f52dca6c.jpg?impolicy=resizecrop&rw=297&ra=fit) - Overview - Amenities - Policies - Location 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 bathroom1152 sq ft ## Popular amenities - Fireplace - Dryer - Washer - Kitchen - Parking available - Barbecue grill ## Add dates for prices Check-in Check-out Travellers ## About this property ### Entire place You'll have the entire cottage 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 ![Outdoor dining](https://images.trvl-media.com/lodging/100000000/99980000/99978300/99978300/1d4bd034.jpg?impolicy=fcrop&w=469&h=201&p=1&q=medium) ### Grey Pine Lodge | Queen/Queen | Pet-Friendly! | BEST Location & Amenities! 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Charlottesville - Kitchen - Washer - Dryer - Free WiFi 10 Exceptional 41 reviews £219 includes taxes & fees 17 Nov - 18 Nov [](https://www.expedia.co.uk/Hotel-Search?startDate=2025-11-17&endDate=2025-11-18&selected=91327666&PinnedHotelID=91327666&HadPinnedHotel=true®ionId=-1&adults=2) ## 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 This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business or profession. 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 If you cancel your booking, you'll be subject to the host's cancellation policy. In accordance with UK consumer law, property booking services are not subject to the right of withdrawal. ### Property is also known as 0d40a86d-b289-4041-aeeb-f4c392915f1a ## About the area ![Map](https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/staticmap?&size=660x330&map_id=3b266eb50d2997c6&zoom=13&markers=icon:https%3A%2F%2Fa.travel-assets.com%2Ftravel-assets-manager%2Feg-maps%2Fproperty.png%7C38.02911%2C-78.86068&channel=expedia-HotelInformation&maptype=roadmap&scale=1&key=AIzaSyCYjQus5kCufOpSj932jFoR_AJiL9yiwOw&signature=vAJ5dZnItG4_CvNRunjxcf2Yj2Y=) Afton, VA #### What's nearby - Blue Ridge Parkway North Entrance - 6 min walk - 0.4 miles - Swannanoa Palace - 11 min walk - 0.6 miles - Rockfish Gap Entrance Shenandoah - 15 min walk - 0.8 miles - Veritas Vineyard and Winery - 5 min drive - 3.2 miles - Afton Mountain Vineyards - 11 min drive - 4.5 miles #### 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). ## Have a question? Beta Get instant answers with AI powered search of property information and reviews. Ask a question ## 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. Reviews 10 - Excellent 0 8 - Good 0 6 - Okay 0 4 - Poor 0 2 - Terrible 0 ### No reviews yet Be the first to leave a review for this property after your stay.