Summary: Looking to get away from the city and relax in Virginia's countryside?
Welcome to the Shade Tree Cottage! This home dates back to the Civil War and is full of cottage vibes. Located just a 3-minute drive from the town of Gordonsville, the home is a perfect combination of rural retreat and launching point to some of Central Virginia's best area amenities.
The Space: There is so much to see and do within driving distance to The Shade Tree Cottage which is one of our favorite features!
Located in Gordonsville, the Shade Tree Cottage offers close proximity to:
* 3-minute drive to downtown Gordonsville * 5-minute drive to Food Lion (grocery store) * 10-minute drive to Keswick Vineyards * 12-minute drive to Wolftrap Farm * 15-minute drive to Barboursville Vineyards * 15-minute drive to Orange, VA * 15-minute drive to Spring Creek Country Club * 30-minute drive to Charlottesville * 45-minute drive to Shenandoah National Park
The Cottage was originally only one room and served as a blacksmith's workshop and home. Over the years, the house has been added onto, room-by-room, to what you see today. The home itself tops out at about 1,000 square feet.
The Cottage is situated at the end of a long driveway with private parking for guests.
Living Room The living room is equipped with a 50" 4k Samsung TV with Roku (bring your own login for all streaming services), board games, and books. Please note the fireplace is not operational at this time.
Sleeping Arrangements - Main Bedroom: Queen Bed - Bedroom 2: Queen Bed + Two Twin Beds All mattresses are Zinus Memory Foam
Kitchen In the kitchen, you will find all the basic necessities including: - Silverware - Pots and pans - Dinnerware - Microwave - Dishwasher with pods - Toaster - Blender - Spices, salt, pepper, oil, etc
Coffee Bar We have a coffee bar setup in the kitchen for you to enjoy coffee, tea, or both: - Coffee maker - Ground coffee - Cream & sugar - Keurig - Various K-cup varieties - Electric tea kettle - Various tea options
Office Space - Dedicated desk area to work - Video calls work flawlessly without any interruptions - Upgraded internet so you will not have to worry about dropped video calls, dead zones or lagging internet.
Bathroom - Located just outside of the main bedroom - Standing shower - New Toto toilet, new Moen shower head and new Moen bathroom faucet
Amenities - Washer & Dryer - detergent included - Shampoo, conditioner, body wash and body lotion - Linen/towels - Iron & ironing board - Hairdryer - ChargePoint Home Flex EV Charger. This Level 2 EV charger is complimentary for guests to use.
Outdoor Amenities - Private deck - Propane grill - Fire pit (firewood & fire starters are included for free)
Loft - Bean bag chair - Works well as a cozy spot for a reading area - Please be careful going up the stairs
Please note: The washer & dryer is also used for The Little House (inquire to rent). The laundry room has an exterior entrance and if the housekeeper is using the washer & dryer, she will lock the door from the kitchen to the laundry room for your privacy. Feel free to use the washer & dryer when it's not in use by the housekeeper.
Guest Access: You will have full access to the home. This includes the front patio, back deck, propane grill, outdoor fire pit, front lawn, backyard, EV charger, and private, off-street parking in the driveway.
The Neighborhood: The Shade Tree Cottage is a 3-minute drive to the town of Gordonsville. The historic downtown Gordonsville has a laid-back, small-town vibe that features locally-owned shops to go along with a handful of casual restaurants.
Getting Around: Driving is recommended. The town does not have Uber or Lyft. Downtown Gordonsville is great to explore by foot!
Other Things to Note: To maintain a secure premise, the Shade Tree Cottage is equipped with an exterior camera on the front porch. The camera is ONLY on the exterior, and there are no cameras inside.
The cottage is in close proximity to The Little House (our other rental property).
The house is old! Like, Civil War old. You may see the occasional bug. The house is thoroughly cleaned after every guest. We have a pest company that services the house on a monthly basis. If you see a cricket, ladybug, etc, it most likely showed up after the cleaning and prior to your arrival.
The neighbors have an outdoor shooting range in the adjacent woods of their property. You may hear them using the range in the warm months. It is facing away from our property and does not pose any danger to our guests.
We are in the process of updating the landscaping. Currently, the landscaping is overgrown in some parts, barren in other parts, and generally in need of some love! Thank you for your patience as we improve the curb appeal over the next few months.
The indoor fireplace is not currently operational, but we are working on it!
The parking area and driveway are located about 75 feet from the front door.
The laundry room is used by our housekeeper for this house as well as the neighboring Little House. There is an exterior entrance from the outside to the laundry room. The door from the kitchen to the laundry room will be locked if the laundry room is in use by the housekeeper. Otherwise, the laundry room door will be open and unlocked for your use.
Absolutely no smoking inside the house. A $500 fine will be imposed if evidence of smoking has occurred inside the home. If you smoke outside of the home, please properly discard all smoking remnants. A $250 fine will be imposed if smoking litter is found on the property.
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2 BR retreat in the heart of historic Gordonsville -Walkable to many attractions
Gordonsville
2 BR retreat in the heart of historic Gordonsville -Walkable to many attractions
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
About the area
Gordonsville
Located in Gordonsville, this cottage is in a rural area. Graves Fine Art Gallery and Four County Players are cultural highlights, and some of the area's attractions include The Arts Center in Orange and Louisa Town Park.
Civil War Museum At The Exchange Hotel - 3 min drive - 2.1 km
Monticello - 32 min drive - 38.5 km
University of Virginia - 33 min drive - 46.4 km
Shenandoah National Park - 44 min drive - 59.9 km
Getting around
Charlottesville Station - 33 min drive
Charlottesville, VA (CHO-Charlottesville-Albemarle) - 32 min drive
Restaurants
Patch Brewing Co. - 4 min drive
Gordonsville Ice House - 3 min drive
BBQ Exchange - 2 min drive
Hardee's - 4 min drive
Inwood Restaurant - 4 min drive
Frequently asked questions
Is Country Cottage with Modern Amenities pet-friendly?
Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 2 total).
How much does it cost to stay at Country Cottage with Modern Amenities?
As of 9 Apr 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Country Cottage with Modern Amenities on 8 July 2026 start from AU$271, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.
How much is parking at Country Cottage with Modern Amenities?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at Country Cottage with Modern Amenities?
Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Country Cottage with Modern Amenities?
Checkout is at 11:00 AM.
Where is Country Cottage with Modern Amenities located?
Situated in a rural location, this cottage is 1.4 mi (2.2 km) from Graves Fine Art Gallery and within 9 miles (15 km) of Horton Vineyards and Honah Lee Vineyard. Keswick Vineyards and Winery and Castle Hill Cider are also within 9 miles (15 km).
Reviews
10
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
The property was welcome to pets, however we did not bring ours. There was plenty of board games and a nice binder about the owner and the property. The host was extremely responsive and i believe the stay was worth the cost. My wife only wants to stay there when we go back to Virginia now.
Shade Tree Cottage was one of the BEST properties we have rented through VRBO. So well-equipped, clean, and charming. We very much enjoyed our stay there and would highly recommend it to anyone considering staying there.
My husband and I had a wonderful visit to Gordonsville. We absolutely loved the Shade Tree Cottage and all of the amenities it has to offer. We enjoyed a wonderful dinner & Bingo at the Well Hung Bar and toured the towns in and around the area.
Thank you for a lovely stay.
We had a great stay in this beautiful cottage! It has everything you could possibly need.
Very clean, cozy and comfortable, all in a peaceful country setting, but yet conveniently located a couple minutes from Gordonsville, and not far from Charlottesville. Love the fact that it’s pet friendly, would definitely like to stay here again and bring our dogs!
Victoria B.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024
Verified
10/10 Excellent
Karen
19 May 2025
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
We stayed here for graduation weekend since our daughter was graduating from UVA.
Very quiet and peaceful. It is a 30 minute drive from Charlottesville but we enjoyed the drive since you have a beautiful country view when driving around. Also it is located near many vineyards which is great. We got to visit 2 of them. We truly annoyed our 4 nights/5 day stay.
Just spent a week at this property and it was great. Location, cleanliness, and amenities were excellent. Appreciated little extras like the wireless chargers by the bed and the labels to help figure out things like the fans and AC units. Everything was super clean when we arrived and the hosts were very responsive when we ran into an issue (that was no fault of theirs.)
Fully recommend!
We had a family wedding in Gordonsville and couldn’t resist staying in this wonderful little cottage. When we arrived, the first thing I noticed was how clean and neat the cottage was. It’s an older home, but had all the modern amenities that we needed and we’re very pleased with all the comforts that were provided. They thought of everything. Can’t wait to get a chance to stay again. !!
This quaint little house was perfect for a weekend get away. My girlfriend and I used it to get out of dodge. Everything was as described in the listing. The amenities were perfect. My girlfriend and I enjoy weekend trips from time to time, and we are already planning on going back. Thanks to the owner, Matt, for a wonderful opportunity to get away and relax.
We stayed for 5 nights while we visited wineries and Shenandoah National Park. This was the most well stocked property we've ever visited. Kitchen, bathroom, everything is provided. We usually have to run to a grocery store after we arrive, but everything we needed was there. Gordonsville is a beautiful town and there are many dining options. Barboursville Winery is about a 15 minute drive and we enjoyed tasting one day and lunch at their restaurant another day. Matt is very easy to work with and I highly recommend this property.
I cannot say enough about one of the best Vrbo stays we've had. The property is just as pictured. Quaint, cozy and fully stocked with just about anything you could possibly need for your stay. And the history of the cottage is interesting. Although we were plagued by rain during our stay, we did have enough of a clearing on our 2nd day to enjoy the views from the back deck while enjoying our morning coffee from the dual brew/Keurig coffeemaker. We slept comfortably, relaxed, and were able to enjoy a concert in Charlottesville, which is a short ride away. We have already decided that this will be our base when we return. A million stars for the Shade Tree Cottage!