Montfair Resort Farm, Henley’s Orchard, and Wildrock Playscape and Discovery Center are excited to let you know about a brand-new website designed as a “Get out in Nature with Ease” Directory. The website https://blueridgenatureplay.com is a resource for travelers, locals, children, families, seniors, day- trippers and groups. The site is made up of three itinerary loops that showcase local businesses and nature destinations working to preserve a special way of life close to the land in rural Albemarle County and the surrounding area. All the best places to hike, walk, bike, fish, canoe, kayak, horseback ride, swim and explore and experience nature are listed all in one place! The website blueridgenatureplay.com features the interconnected rural locations and authentic nature destinations along with a “Menu” of places to stay, eat and shop to augment your Nature adventure. Would you like to increase your knowledge of Nature and Albemarle County? There is also a Nature resource page packed with eco- action links for organizations working in conservation, climate change and habitat protection, a list of Nature books for kids and online Nature Guides as well as a long list of local nature supporting Instagram pages!
We truly love to share the community we live in and love to support the beauty and rich cultural heritage of the Blue Ridge foothills. We are inspired to help increase responsible tourism that helps create and sustain a strong and eco-friendly rural economy.
You can view the website https://blueridgenatureplay.com and check out a local CBS 19 feature to see more photos of the destinations!
Montfair Resort Farm, Wildrock and Henley’s Orchard received a Virginia Tourism Corporation Recovery Partnership Marketing Leverage Grant for Tourism Marketing to create the blueridgenatureplay website.
Ease Into Nature Three Site Open House Tour on July 5th, 2021. 9am – 4 pm. Travelers, day trippers, kids of all ages, and families celebrate a love of the Blue Ridge foothill landscape and nature. Discover Wildrock Playscape, Montfair Resort Farm and Henley’s Orchard, near the small town of Crozet, Virginia.
Covid precautions in place: Distancing, masks, spaced timing as well as outdoor venues are in place to keep folks safe!
Enjoy an authentic Blue Ridge foothills experience. Explore the playscape at Wildrock, Paddle a canoe at Montfair Farm Resort, eat a peach at Henley’s Orchard. Connect to nature and meet the owners working to preserve a special way of life close to the land. Start your day with a visit to Wildrock. (Reservations for a 90 minute visit are required. Open house visits to Montfair and Henley’s Orchard may occur after the scheduled Wildrock visit between 9am and 4pm. Directions will be provided with the confirmation email. Book online: https://www.wildrock.org/
A Sisterhood in the Blue Ridge Foothills: Ease Into Nature Open House
CROZET, VIRGINIA – Three women eco-business owners in rural Albemarle County have come together to offer a three-stop Ease Into Nature Open House on July 5th.
Visit three locations in one day: Wildrock, Montfair Farm Resort, and Henley’s Orchard, to connect with nature and to meet the owners working to preserve a special way of life close to the land.
Enjoy an authentic Blue Ridge foothills experience at the Ease Into Nature Open House. Start your day with a visit to Wildrock to tour the Playscape and the Bird Sanctuary. Paddle a canoe, fish and explore the trails at Montfair. Eat a peach and wander the orchards with the fourth-generation owner of Henley’s Orchard.
Meet three women working to preserve authentic Blue Ridge foothills experiences. All three women share a close tie to the land and a desire to share their passion for nature connection with visitors.
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Leora Sheridan Vincenti: nature artist and manager of the third-generation Montfair Resort Farm
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Sarah Henley: steward of Henley Orchard, family-owned and operated for four generations
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Carolyn Schuyler: founder and director of Wildrock, a nonprofit Nature Play and Discovery Center
The event is free of charge and open to everyone! Reservations are required to maintain crowd capacity limits and may be made through Wildrock’s website or call 434-823- 5100 to make a reservation by phone. Open house visits to Montfair and Henley’s Orchard may occur after the scheduled Wildrock visit between 9am and 4pm.
The Ease Into Nature Open House will mark the beginning of an ongoing partnership of local businesses in support of our vibrant rural economy that works to preserve our beautiful, unique landscape and rural community. The Ease Into Nature program will include a series of tourism itineraries for visitors to select from, including visits to Montfair, Wildrock, and Henley’s Orchard, and other local businesses and attractions. This collaboration is made possible by a Virginia Tourism Corporation Partnership Grant. An Ease Into Nature website will launch this summer with more information about these travel itineraries and scheduling details.
January and February are a great time to getaway and enjoy the peace of Winter! Take advantage of Montfair’s Winter Vacation discounts for family fun and romance now through February 29, 2020! Enjoy 15% off nightly cottage rental rates! Call 434-823-5202 or book online today.
Spend an idyllic winter vacation in a comfortable clean cottage in the heart of the Virginia mountains surrounded by nature. Find an environment ideal for rest, rejuvenation and reflection. Explore gorgeous walking trails, canoe, fish, stargaze and bike. The air is fresh, brisk and a special quiet and tranquility pervades the open fields and woodlands. For birders, you may spot a Great Blue Heron, Night Heron, Green Heron, or a Belted Kingfisher on the Montfair lake and many species of Hawks abound, including the Bald Eagle! Enjoy a serene paddle in a canoe on the small Montfair lake or fish for bass and brim and discover your inner fisherman.
Montfair is surrounded by local cideries, breweries, vineyards and wineries that have an extra special cozy warmth in the winter. Sit by a roaring fire, enjoy each tasting rooms’ unique and beautiful views and sip Virginia spirits. Stop in at one of the local country stores for a hot cocoa or coffee and a yummy homemade sandwich or hot breakfast biscuit. Make sure you save time to explore the Sugar Hollow entrance to Shenandoah National Park, you will discover this gem tucked away in the “holler” by following Sugar Hollow Rd. that follows the Moorman’s River. On days when the weather is below freezing you can witness huge icicles hanging down from the cliffs along the trails. These trails, views and rock formations are some of our favorites!
The small hometown of Crozet is a beautiful scenic 15 minute drive from your cozy cottage and offers fine dining, Sal’s Pizza, the iconic Crozet Pizza and fun local pubs. Crozet is also home to a lovely public library, friendly playground and cool independent bookstore named Over the Moon Bookstore. Shop for artisan crafts at Crozet Art Depot and the Barn Swallow Gallery.
You can also reach the nearby slopes of Wintergreen Resort and Massanutten for awesome skiing within an approximate 45 minute drive time.
These are just a few of our favorite activities. Come on up to the mountains of Virginia and join us to savor Winter at it’s best! Looking for more local activities? Check out Montfair’s Local Resource page. There is plenty of fresh air, natural beauty and room to roam on Montfair’s family property. We hope to see you soon!
5 Great Reasons to Visit Montfair Resort Farm Now
With the upcoming shift in seasons, there is no better time than NOW to visit Montfair Resort Farm. With the cooler temperatures, exploring this beautiful, natural setting is at its peak of enjoyment. Here are my top 5 incentives for you to ponder:
1) Nature and “Forest Bathing” – Montfair’s cottages are nestled in the woods, so what better way to “forest bathe” than to simply spend some quiet time on your cottage’s front porch. Montfair also offers 129 acres to explore and recharge your senses. To discover the health benefits of Forest Bathing (or simply spending time in nature) please visit Slow Living or Joseph Cornell’s Sharing Nature Worldwide Blog, which includes a downloadable Forest Bathing activity sheet. Montfair’s 1 ½ mile nature trail presents the perfect setting, so come and recharge!
2) Fishing – Montfair offers three separate fishing areas on property and all are stocked with Big Mouth Bass and Blue Gill. The best news? No fishing license is required as Montfair is privately owned. According to Montfair’s staff fisherman, Scott Roberts, mid-September is the best season to fish as bigger fish are coming up from the deeper levels of the lake to enjoy and feed in the cooler water temperatures. Guests are currently catching 3-6 pound Big Mouth Bass, so bring your poles!
3) Birding – Calling all birding enthusiasts! With the quiet and serenity of Montfair, enjoy the calls of the wild. Along with our usual backyard residents; Cardinals, Finches, Wood Thrushes, Woodpeckers, Hummingbirds, etc…, we have recently been enjoying a profusion of Great Blue Herons, Great Egrets, Cuckoos, Belted Kingfishers, wild Turkeys, Hawks, Falcons and Bald Eagles! For a great resource, visit the Prince William Conservation Alliance website.
4) Hiking – Montfair is nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains with hiking trails aplenty. This area boasts some of the most beautiful trails all within a stone’s throw from your cottage. Beginners can enjoy Montfair’s 1 ½ mile Nature Trail while more experienced hikers can venture up to the Shenandoah National Park via fire trails less than a mile from the Resort. We are close to Mint Springs, Patricia Ann Byrom Forest Preserve and Sugar Hollow which offer trails that appeal to everyone’s level.
5) Wineries & Breweries – After spending your day recharging and enjoying nature, venture to one of Crozet’s local wineries and/or breweries and sample some of our local award winning beverages. There are over a dozen wineries, breweries and distilleries within a 20 minute radius of Montfair Resort Farm. With harvesting season around the corner, many offer extended hours, music, amazing food trucks and beautiful venues to sit and enjoy the sunset. All are family friendly and many are pet friendly as well! Visit the Monticello Wine Trail site to view the many wineries in this area.
I hope that you are now excited to visit us in the most beautiful part of the country. Treat yourself and your family to some downtime in nature, where you can unplug and recharge and simply do your own thing. Montfair Resort Farm – Nature, Comfort, Simplicity.
Spring vacation savings for family fun and romance for nights now through May 31, 2019! Enjoy 15% off nightly cottage rental rates and multiple night packages! Call 434-823-5202 or book online today.
Spend an idyllic vacation or quick getaway in a comfortable clean cottage and witness the landscape as spring blooms in the heart of the Virginia mountains surrounded by nature. Find an environment ideal for rest and movement. Explore gorgeous walking trails, canoe, fish, stargaze and bike. The air is fresh, the birds are singing and the signs of spring are in full swing. Crap-apple, forsythia, daffodils and the redbuds are in full bloom. Dogwood, the peach trees and wild hydrangea are reaching their peak.
For birders, you may spot a Great Blue Heron, Night Heron, Green Heron, or a Belted Kingfisher on the Montfair lake and catch glimpses of Hawks and the Bald Eagle! You can hear the echo of Pileated Woodpecker as it drums out insects from the trees. Enjoy a serene paddle in a canoe on the small Montfair lake or fish for bass and brim and discover your inner fisherman.
Montfair is surrounded by local breweries, cideries, vineyards and wineries that on cool days offer roaring fireplaces and on the warm days the patios will be inviting. Enjoy each tasting rooms’ unique and beautiful views and sip Virginia spirits. Stop in at one of the local country stores for a hot cocoa or coffee and a yummy homemade sandwich or hot breakfast biscuit. Make sure you save time to explore the Sugar Hollow entrance to Shenandoah National Park, you will discover this gem tucked away in the “holler” by following Sugar Hollow Rd. that follows the Moorman’s River. Gorgeous trails, views and rock formations make the whole family happy. You will find many spring ephemerals blooming in the Shenandoah National Park.
Wildrock is open and is a play-scape for families on Saturdays 9 to 5 pm and is a ten minute drive from your Montfair cottage. Go to the Wildrock website to make a reservation. Right nextdoor find the Patricia Byrom Forest Preserve that has five hundred more acres of hiking trails.
Our small hometown of Crozet is a beautiful scenic 15 minute drive from your cozy cottage and offers several fine dining options as well as Sal’s Pizza, the iconic Crozet Pizza, Fardowners, a local pub and Duner’s for fine dining. Crozet is also home to a lovely public library, friendly playground, the cool independent bookstore, Over the Moon Bookstore and the local Crozet Creamery.
These are just a few of our favorite activities. For more ideas, check out Montfair’s Local Activities and Onsite Activities. Come on up to the mountains of Virginia and join us to savor spring at it’s best! There is plenty of fresh air, natural beauty and room to roam on Montfair’s family property.
Winter and early spring vacation savings for family fun and romance for nights now through March 31, 2019! Enjoy 15% off nightly cottage rental rates and multiple night packages! Call 434-823-5202 or book online today.
Spend an idyllic vacation or quick getaway in a comfortable clean cottage and witness the landscape as it transforms from winter into spring in the heart of the Virginia mountains surrounded by nature. Find an environment ideal for rest and movement. Explore gorgeous walking trails, canoe, fish, stargaze and bike. The air is fresh and awakening to the signs of spring. A hopeful awakeness pervades the open fields and woodlands.
For birders, you may spot a Great Blue Heron, Night Heron, Green Heron, or a Belted Kingfisher on the Montfair lake and still catch glimpses of Hawks and the Bald Eagle! Enjoy a serene paddle in a canoe on the small Montfair lake or fish for bass and brim and discover your inner fisherman. By mid February daffodils and the crocuses will bud and show off their bright colors. Early spring ephemerals will come out of hiding.
Montfair is surrounded by local cideries, vineyards and wineries that on cool days offer roaring fireplaces and on the warm days the patios will be inviting. Enjoy each tasting rooms’ unique and beautiful views and sip Virginia spirits. Stop in at one of the local country stores for a hot cocoa or coffee and a yummy homemade sandwich or hot breakfast biscuit. Make sure you save time to explore the Sugar Hollow entrance to Shenandoah National Park, you will discover this gem tucked away in the “holler” by following Sugar Hollow Rd. that follows the Moorman’s River. Gorgeous trails, views and rock formations.
The Wildrock will open again in March and is a play-scape for families on Saturdays 9 to 5 pm and is a ten minute drive from your Montfair cottage. Go to the Wildrock website to make a reservation. Right nextdoor find the Patricia Byrom Forest Preserve that has five hundred more acres of hiking trails.
Our small hometown of Crozet is a beautiful scenic 15 minute drive from your cozy cottage and offers several fine dining options as well as Sal’s Pizza, the iconic Crozet Pizza and fun local pubs. Crozet is also home to a lovely public library, friendly playground and cool independent bookstore named Over the Moon Bookstore.
These are just a few of our favorite activities. Come on up to the mountains of Virginia and join us to savor early spring at its best! There is plenty of fresh air, natural beauty and room to roam on Montfair’s family property. Ready to make a reservation? Click here! We hope to see you soon!
Winter vacation savings for family fun and romance now through January 31, 2019! Enjoy 15% off nightly cottage rental rates and multiple night packages! Call 434-823-5202 or book online today.
Spend an idyllic winter vacation in a comfortable clean cottage in the heart of the Virginia mountains surrounded by nature. Find an environment ideal for rest, rejuvenation and reflection. Explore gorgeous walking trails, canoe, fish, stargaze and bike. The air is fresh, brisk and a special quiet and tranquility pervades the open fields and woodlands. For birders, you may spot a Great Blue Heron, Night Heron, Green Heron, or a Belted Kingfisher on the Montfair lake and still catch glimpses of Hawks and the Bald Eagle! Enjoy a serene paddle in a canoe on the small Montfair lake or fish for bass and brim and discover your inner fisherman.
Montfair is surrounded by local cideries, vineyards and wineries that have an extra special cozy warmth in the winter. Sit by a roaring fire, enjoy each tasting rooms’ unique and beautiful views and sip Virginia spirits. Stop in at one of the local country stores for a hot cocoa or coffee and a yummy homemade sandwich or hot breakfast biscuit. Make sure you save time to explore the Sugar Hollow entrance to Shenandoah National Park, you will discover this gem tucked away in the “holler” by following Sugar Hollow rd. that follows the Moorman’s River. Gorgeous trails, views and rock formations.
The Wildrock play-scape for families is open on Saturdays 9 to 5 pm and is a ten minute drive from your Montfair cottage. Go to the Wildrock website to make a reservation. Right nextdoor find the Patricia Byrom Forest Preserve that has five hundred more acres of hiking trails.
Our small hometown of Crozet is a beautiful scenic 15 minute drive from your cozy cottage and offers fine dining, Sal’s Pizza, the iconic Crozet Pizza and fun local pubs. Crozet is also home to a lovely public library, friendly playground and cool independent bookstore named Over the Moon Bookstore.
These are just a few of our favorite activities. Come on up to the mountains of Virginia and join us to savor Winter at it’s best! There is plenty of fresh air, natural beauty and room to roam on Montfair’s family property. We hope to see you soon!
2018 Fall vacation savings for family fun and romance now through November 30, 2018! Enjoy 15% off nightly cottage rental rates and multiple night packages! Call 434-823-5202 or book online today.
Relax in a cozy cottage, canoe, fish, stargaze and bike. Best yet find yourself rejuvenated after a meander on our wooded hiking trails, see what Virginia native plants you might discover or catch sight of a painted turtle.The fall foliage is in its full glory, the air is fresh and brisk and the fields are wide open to run in. Try out some birding and you may spot a Great Blue Heron, Night Heron, Green Heron, or a Belted Kingfisher on the Montfair lake! Enjoy a serene paddle in a canoe on the small Montfair lake or fish for bass and brim and discover your inner fisherman.
Take in breweries and wineries. Stop in at one of the local country stores for a hot cocoa or coffee and a yummy homemade sandwich. Make sure you save time to explore the Sugar Hollow entrance to Shenandoah National Park, you will discover this gem tucked away in the “holler” by following Sugar Hollow rd. that follows the Moorman’s River.
Apple season is in full swing at Henley’s Orchard and Chile’s Peach Orchard, both have pick your own options.
The Wildrock play-scape for families is open on Saturdays 9 to 5 pm and is a ten minute drive from your Montfair cottage. Go to the Wildrock website to make a reservation. Right nextdoor find the Patricia Byrom Forest Preserve that has five hundred more acres of hiking trails.
These are just a few of our favorite activities. Come on up to the mountains of Virginia and join us to savor these gorgeous days of autumn! There is plenty of fresh air, natural beauty and room to roam on Montfair’s family property. We hope to see you soon!
Fall is fast approaching and is a great time of year to hold an event at Montfair Resort Farm. The fall weather will allow guests to enjoy all of our outdoor actives including yard games, hiking/biking trails, fishing or canoeing on our lake during the day but cool enough in the evenings to gather around a bonfire. Our events lodge is temperature controlled and has a large kitchen, grill, fireplace, bathrooms, Wi-Fi and a large tented deck overlooking our lakefront. The events are endless that you could host including birthday parties, bridal or baby showers, retirement parties, rehearsal dinners, engagement parties, company picnics or day retreats, holiday parties or even just an evening bonfire party with friends just get together.
Here are a few unique ideas of events you could host at Montfair but you could dream up your own ideas as well:
- Stand Up Paddle Board Party: Mango Yoga Adventures will bring stand up paddle boards to our lake for your group and teach a lesson. She will also teach a stand up paddle board yoga class if your friends are adventurous enough. After spending the day on the lake you could have dinner in the lodge and end the night enjoying a bonfire by the lake.
- Thanksgiving Family Reunion: We still have Thanksgiving day available at the events lodge! It would make a great spot to host a large Thanksgiving Family Reunion meal. Any guests who would be traveling from out of town could stay at one of 9 cottages or the house we have onsite.
- Campout Party: Rent the events lodge full a whole evening and enjoy camping at the lakefront but still having the convenient use of a kitchen and bathrooms. Bonfire pit available and on a clear night the stars are unbelievable!
- Children’s Nature Scavenger Hunt Party: Make up a scavenger hunt of things found in nature at Montfair and then hike the trails with the group to see who finds the most items on the list. Great way to keep the children entertained while also teaching them about nature.
- Organize your own wellness retreat: Reserve the lodge for a couple days and plan a wellness retreat. Our location is a peaceful place to escape to and would be great to spot for guests to come and rejuvenate. Sche
We do still have a handful of weekend dates available this fall including September 7th, September 9th, September 29th, October 14th, October 21st, November 10th, November 23rd, November 24th, and November 25th and multiple weekend dates available this winter. We also have multiple weekdays available.
The Colors of Autumn
Skyline Drive, Virginia was voted the #1 place in North America to see the colors of autumn. This 105-mile stretch of highway in northern Virginia winds through Shenandoah National Park. It features almost 75 mountain overlooks and forests chockful of colorful sumac, locust, sassafras, scarlet oak, red maple and sweet gum trees—a combination that makes for a brilliant blending of reds and yellows that stretches on for miles. October is prime viewing month for the colors in the park. If you have time, pick up the Blue Ridge Parkway and continue through the southern part of the state, into the Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee. If you prefer to go on foot, Shenandoah National Park has over 500 miles of trails through the Blue Ridge Mountains. The park is about 75 miles from Washington, D.C., making it a great place to escape the hustle and bustle of the nation’s capital and get back to nature.
You can make one of Montfair’s cozy cottages your home base and see these spectacular views. Montfair is centrally located a short 25 minute drive from the top of Afton Mountain where the Shenandoah National Park and the Blue Ridge Parkway meet. You can also discover the two hidden back entrance gems of the Shenandoah National Park a short 10 – 15 minute drive way from your cottage.
Give us a call at 434-823-5202 and we will be happy to help you plan your Skyline Drive itinerary, direct you towards local information and let you know Montfair’s cottage availability!
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