Graves Mountain Farm and Lodges

Working Farm of 173 Years

Overview

Graves Mountain Farm and Lodges is an operating Century Farm in the Graves family since 1850, set next to the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia under the Shenadoah National Park in a tiny hamlet, strangely called “Syria”. We’re stuck with it!

Farming 1800 acres of meadow. Streams, timbered mountains and home to deer, foxes, coyotes, eagles, trout and the occasional black bear. We farm cattle, are apple orchard growers, and engage our guests in the farm-yard with egg collecting, visits with pet pigs, the farm hogs, goats, sheep, horses, ponies and tame calves. Two bee hives assist in pollinating the crops and orchards.

Where to stay with us? We have nineteen cabins, farm houses, and apartments ranging from luxury to modest. Then we have fifty-five lodge rooms in three lodge with either Blue Ridge Mountain and Rose Valley views or forest enclosures.

Experiential Discovery and Learning Included with Stays on the Farm. Nature walks, self guided hikes on 18 miles of trails, fly fishing, spinner fishing, great road biking and mountain biking, and then on to evenings with live Bluegrass music, and another campfire with roasted marshmallows.

Farm-yard tours on Saturday and Sunday are followed by a guided nature, geology and history walk.

Further learning opportunities for additional fees – fly fishing lessons, guided hikes, night catfish fishing, rock climbing, Bluegrass music lessons, yoga, and wellness weekends.

Our restaurant – the Farm Restaurant – uses our own organic garden produce local neighbors produce, beef, and pork.

Organized Learning for Groups: Able to do farming talks and show and tells, orchard explanations, stream explores but we need to charge additionally for them. Lessons and guiding, horse-back trail rides, bass and catfish night fishing with campfire,

Farm products to enjoy and take home:
Natural live apple cider, not pasteurized
Our own Original “Squeeze” Hard Apple Cider
Apple Butters
Apple Sauces
Preserves
Apples in season
Peaches in season
Wood from our forests

Trout from our ponds or streams
Meals at our Farm to Table “Farm” Restaurant

From our neighbors – local beers, and fine wines.

35 Activities and Events

Hiking
Farm Animals show and tell – Sat and Sun, egg collections, pet pigs, goats, calves, sheepTerrific Road Biking – easy to killer ascents
Terrific Mountain Biking including a laid out “killer” trail surrounding the campground
Hiking – easy stroll to really tough
Horse-back Riding Tues- Sun
Horse riding lessons – Tues – Sun
Pony Rides – Tues – Sun
Nature hike – Sat at 11AM
Guided hikes
Trout Fly Fishing – two streams and two ponds
Fly fishing lessons and guide
Fri open mike night at Main Lodge campfire
Sat Bluegrass on the Mountain Porch – Smokin’ Trout Trio
Seasonal Pool – huge
Swimming Hole on the Rose River, opposite the Campground
Massages
Yoga – mainly weekends, no every one, though
Wellness weekends with Jenn of In True Nature
Farm to Table Dining at the Farm Restaurant
Bluegrass Jams – six time a year
Bluegrass Music Festival with Kids and grownups activities
Harvest Festival – first three weekends in Oct, pick your own as long as crop is on trees
Peach Festival – third Saturday in July
Fishing Heritage weekend – for young folks to learn to fish – 1st Saturday in April
Halloween – the haunted packing shed, Trunk or Treat
Santa – first three Saturdays in Dec.
Christmas Fair – second Sat in Dec – at the Market, Deli & Tackle
July 4th – music and fire-works – for our whole county and right over the campground
Horse Trail Riding Get- togethers
Vineyard Visits to our Partner – just over the hollow.
Market- Deli-Tackle on site
Our own fresh ciders, hard cider, preserves, apple butter and apple sauce.
Games room.
Volleyball court.