MidMountain Retreat — a budding arts space in a historic home on the James River

Come be inspired with us! MidMountain Retreat is an arts and agricultural community in constant growth , serving as both a private residence and a nonprofit community hub focused on creating rural community resilience—including hosting events as well as seasonal free creative fellowships and discounted residencies for creatives projects when the space is when not privately rented. Your private rental will help make possible the in-kind donations that help make that programming happen! We are an LGBTQ and BIPOC friendly space. Are you nonprofit who shares our commitment to building inclusive communities? Ask us about a discount for retreats or other uses of our space.

The grounds feature a 3 bedroom, 2.5 bathroom, three-story brick home dating back to the 1700s; multiple outbuildings including an old brick Post Office currently in use as a nonprofit community center during public events and a barn-style two-car garage/workshop with loft; nearly five acres of outdoor space with mowed trails that is suitable for small events or arts installations, plus access to 400 feet of private frontage on the James River! Part of our grounds are also currently being replanted with native trees and shrubs to form a sustainable food forest thanks to a grant program in partnership with the James River Association, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, and Virginia Forestry Department. The best access to the river for swimming or other water activities on site is available via a short, steep trail. Please note that river use is at visitors own risk and should only be done after checking water conditions for safety.

Renting the main house includes sleeping space and linens for up to 12 guests to across 3 bedrooms and shared areas, 2.5 bathrooms, an open concept kitchen with and den and dining space, a library, a dining room with a striking mirror wall feature, and gallery/theater with projector. The house also features zoned heating and cooling, laundry, modern kitchen appliances with dishwasher, and will be stocked with basic necessities and clean linens during your stay. Highspeed (200MBPS) WiFi service is available throughout the main house, including via an extender for bedrooms furthest from the router.

We are working to increase the general accessibility on the property. Currently, accessing the main house requires climbing three steps via the side-entry or navigating a small ramp. A half-bathroom two twin futon are available on the first floor, as are the kitchen, gallery/music room, plus main eating and living spaces. Accessing the bedrooms, library, and full bathrooms require climbing one flight of stairs. The gallery/theater space includes a rotating set of exhibits, a projector, a convertible twin futon and additional seating as well as a variety of musical instruments. The dining room includes a semi-permanent installation of artifacts from legendary Washington, DC-area recording studio Inner Ear — including the rug from the engineering room and piano from the studio.

The third floor dorm will be locked and not be accessible during rentals for up to 12 guests. The dorm includes space that can sleep up to 10 additional people and will be made available to groups booking for more than 12 people who book, but incur an extra extra $100 per stay cleaning fee on top of the per person fees. We can also make it available for smaller groups upon request for the additonal cleaning fee—please ask about when booking. The third floor is furnished with a set of twin bunk beds, two futons, a double mattress with room for additional air mattresses or sleeping bags. This space is not connected to the main heating and cooling so it may be hot during the day in the summer, but is comfortable to sleep in at night. It is also equipped with a small space-heater and a box fan. Rustic lodging with electricity for up 8 people additional people, including a twin futon, a set of twin bunk beds and space for sleeping bags or air mattresses inside MidMountain’s Post Office Community Center at the entrance to the property will be made available for groups larger than 22 who book and be charged an extra $100 per stay cleaning fee on top of the additional per person fees. The building will otherwise be locked. With the third floor, main house capacity can reach 22 people for short stays, such as family reunions, weekend arts workshops or organizational retreats, or up to 30 people with the addition of the Post Office Community Center. Please inquire with details of your plans for groups above 12 people so we help determine if you need access to both additional spaces, or the which might best accommodate your group.

We have two video cameras on site, both outside the main house and pointed towards the driveway. Although we work to minimize encounters, you may see wildlife inside due to the age and rural location of the house. Please also note that although our space is professionally cleaned before each private rental, this is also an arts retreat space that actively hosts nonprofit programming as well as serving as a private residence so you may encounter longterm occupant items in the fridge or storage areas.

The house is on a well and water pressure may vary, especially if multiple devices are using water – such as showering, using the washer, and running the dishwasher at the same time. For larger groups, we encourage you to limit the length of showers. In the event of a water pressure drop, wait an hour for the well tank to refill and check for running toilets.

Some other known quirks: The fridge’s ice maker can also be temperamental. Icecube trays are available in the top drawer of the freezer. The tub in the bathroom attached to the River Room must be turned on and off at the spigots on the floor in addition to at the faucets.

Please inform us immediately if something goes wrong during your or anything on the property is damaged so we can try to fix it! We also have a handful of house rules. Violation of these rules will incur a $500 penalty per incident or damage as professionally assessed.

Rules:

No smoking.
No use of interior fireplaces or open flames.
Lost keys will incur a $50 replacement fee.
No parties or events, unregistered guests, or commercial videography use without separate written agreement.
Swimming in the river is done at your own risk and should not be done before checking conditions and water level for safety.
Lost keys will incur a $50 replacement fee.
Do not feed or disturb our aquatic animal tanks.

Your cleaning fee covers sanitation of the home and linens before your arrival and emptying of the outdoor trash can and recycling bins at the end of your stay. Any additional trash left behind will incur and additional cleaning fee. Trash can be dumped at: 1615 Wert Faulkner Highway, Natural Bridge Station, VA 24579 Monday through Saturday from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Sunday, 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.