Peaceful Secluded Old Rag Retreat

The spacious one bedroom yurt is located high on a forested hillside in the middle of 15+ acres. Come enjoy a natural and serene getaway with all the comforts of home- a full kitchen (ie, all utensils, setting for four), a bathroom with shower and laundry, a queen bedroom, and a queen foldout sofa in the living room by the wood burning stove. The windows roll up from the outside and have permanent screens inside. There is also a BBQ grill, a separate firepit, and WiFi via satellite. The space The yurt is perched on a large raised deck high on a mountainside looking out over the fields of the Virginia Piedmont and Old Rag Mountain in the Shenandoah National Park. Complete privacy awaits - there are no other homes within sight! The only thing you will hear at night are the sounds of the forest. The yurt will comfortably sleep four (two in the queen sized bed in the bedroom and two on the queen sized fold-out couch). The screened-in porch provides a relaxing place to listen to the birds and enjoy nature, safe from mosquitoes and rain. Guest access Our yurt is located at 3574 Etlan Road (Route 643); the driveway is across the street (south) from Rider Hollow Lane (Route 645), and there is a red metal farm gate you’ll pass through. The gravel driveway continues 1/3 of a mile up to the yurt. We have had all sorts of cars do just fine making it up the hill, but it can be daunting at first. ***April 2021 update- there is a new road going up to the yurt; it branches off to the left from the driveway and heads up hill. It should make the drive up much easier. Please note there is a flight of stairs to reach the deck and the main entry. There is an Xbox for DVD movies and games and a VCR player, but no reception for TV. There is typically no cell phone reception at the yurt, so be prepared to unplug (some people may occasionally get a bar). To get reliable cell service, you typically need to drive at least ten minutes south on Route 231 towards Madison VA. The yurt landline is area code 540 then 9234914 if anyone needs to contact you during your stay. There is a portable a/c unit for the bedroom for hot summer nights, but the yurt itself is not air conditioned. Other things to note There is ample wildlife in the area, including black bear, deer, raccoons, skunks (our dog has found a few), foxes, and hawks. Less frequently seen are bald eagles, snakes (poisonous and nonpoisonous), bobcats, an occasional coyote and supposedly mountain lions (we've seen everything else, but not those). The animals will leave you and the yurt alone as long as you don't leave garbage unattended outside! Black bear cubs occasionally play in the yard when no one is there (and have destroyed the pine shrubs by the yurt over and over, in case you were wondering what happened to them). Black bears are very shy though, and run at the first sight of humans. We've never actually seen them near the yurt. Like any outdoor adventure in Virginia, please pay attention when moving firewood or walking in brush, stepping on logs etc. Copperhead snakes are occasionally seen on the property, and eastern diamondback rattlesnakes have been sighted on Old Rag and White Oak Canyon trails. They'll leave you alone if you make noise, pay attention, and don't bother them if you happen to see them. Lastly, there are ticks in the brush, so be mindful, check yourself, and wear bug protection if you hike in the area.