Easy, quiet, pretty! We enjoyed hanging out and the steep hike of Hells Trail and Devils Backbone. read more

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We've been going to Graves Lodge for over 50 years. The family is amazing as is the establishment and the facility. The food is outstanding. Sometimes we just drive out for Sunday brunch! Can't say enough good things about this resort. read more

I wanted to stop at every location I visited on my trip last September. Graves mountain farm was one place on my breakfast itinerary. I had to come back! I learned that the buffet we experienced is only offered on the weekends. We were given a paper menu this time, which I forgot to take a picture of. The table received homemade biscuits with apple butter and regular butter. It was so good! I ordered the veggie omelet which was stuffed with asparagus, tomato, onion, and topped with cheese. It was so delicious and perfect! It came with fruit, bacon, and a pancake. Everything was fresh and delicious. My sister was looking at houses to lodge here because she loved the area, the food, and the atmosphere. We will definitely return read more

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My 11 year old daughter and I booked the last ride of the evening. We had such a great time. Our trail guides were amazing. The man, I believe his name was Devon, was a kind handsome man. The woman, Ashley, was a beautiful cowgirl and knowledgeable. They were very helpful and ensured all riders were comfortable. They provided helmets for us. They allowed us to stop for pictures. We toured the mountains and went through some water. Overall it was one of our favorite parts of our vacation. read more

We arrived here around 9:15PM. The office was still open and they were able to direct us to where we could car camp. Without the office being open though, I would understand how it's easy for people to get lost figuring it out, especially at night. The bathrooms in the main lodge were super clean and they keep the main lodge open 24/7. When we arrived, there was actually a small string band performing, and they had the fire place going. It was really nice to warm up for a bit before heading to the campsite and the music was lovely. The only con for us was how lit up it was near the campground. We definitely needed some sunshades to be able to sleep in more darkness, but other than that, it was a comfortable sleep with no noise around. We would definitely stay here again! read more

This year was our first year checking out the apple harvest festival at Graves Mountain and it did not disappoint. The views were so beautiful and the weather was perfect. There were so many great vendors to check out as well. My son was so excited to ride the ponies and get in the bounce house. We tried the apple wine and cider, both of which were amazing. We stocked up on candy apples and enjoyed funnel cakes by the stream while listening to the live band. Everything was so delicious! Some of the food and beverage prices were a bit high but it's expected at a festival. I do recommend printing off directions to and from as signal is abysmal. We will definitely make this a yearly event for the family. If you're planning on picking your own apples though, you won't be able to do that here. read more

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Beautiful views, helpful reception desk, family owned, animals, great rocking chairs everywhere. Waterfall hikes less than ten minutes away. Firepit in the evening so bring s'mores supplies. Really cute and well stocked gift shop. Watering holes everywhere! Lynn and Lucky are such gracious people. Remembered us from years prior and greeted our family. So thankful for such a special place so close to DC. read more

Graves Mountain Farm and Lodges - Upgraded sitting areas this year! So nice!! - Campgrounds Near Me - Syria, Virginia

$60 for a 90 min ride Was a beautiful experience Beginner rider friendly Instructors were friendly and informative Loved that they were all female riders Horses of all sizes and they are all beautiful, well kept We were grateful to have ridden on Kate & Sam :) We did wish the ride was a bit longer, and there was more to see but still grateful for the opportunity. And loved it regardless x thank you read more

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Always have enjoyed this respite from DC. Wonderful views everywhere. The hotel lodge is super. Kick back with a book, on one of the rocking chairs. The pool and trout pond are decent. I like the change of pace here. All of the staff are friendly. The rooms to sleep in are clean, comfortable, and modern with smart TVs and WiFi. Have stayed in some unique spots, and this one's a classy one. The stars at night are incredible on a clear night. I think this is worth every cent, and already look forward to returning here. Trout fishing and horse riding is available at an extra cost. read more

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Great Experience!! camping. Open camping area. No hook ups. Bests: Fly Casting Class by master Tim for my 11 year old grandson. Followed by Tim supervised pond fishing time. caught very large rainbow trout. Pool exceptional clean including men's dressing area with shower. Returned to pond later without teacher. Grandson caught 5 bass of various sizes (biggest about 3 pounds). all around great fun. many other outdoor activities!! beautiful surrounding and easy and scenic drive in. overall highly recommended read more

Had an amazing time at the Apple Harvest Festival here. We came up from Richmond, VA to spend the day doing all things apple related. We were able to enjoy apple butter donuts, fresh apple cider, a hayride through the farm, pumpkin and apple picking, artists tents, apple butter making, live music, and more. As a Virginia local, I'd highly recommend checking out the festival once. I wish we came a little earlier because they were offering horseback riding around the farm. We still really enjoyed our time here. There was a lot to explore. The hayride really showed us all the beauty of the farm. I loved the farm animal section and the apples growing on the trees. There was something for the whole family at this festival and the pricing was reasonable. They offered a corn maze, face painting, and pony rides for the little ones. I'm really happy I had a chance to check the Apple Harvest Festival out! read more

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We arrived after dark and we did not see any signs pointing us to check in after we entered the property. Once we found our way to the main lodge, check in was rather easy. The staff were welcoming and friendly. A packet of information was provided including meal times, activities on and off the farm, and a map of the farm and lodges. We looked around inside the main lodge. Upstairs was the dining room with a great fire and the office where check-ins, checkouts, reservations occur. Downstairs there was a game room with a ping pong table, foosball, puzzles and board games, piano, television, and roaring fire. There was also the lodge room with leather couches, another great fire, a TV, and other sitting areas. Everything was decorated nicely for the holidays. Outside, there are lots of rocking chairs and seating areas, propane lantern heaters, picnic tables, and a fire pit with log seating. We drove to the Blackwood cabin with only one hiccup -- after dark we could not see where the road went at the left turn at the top of the hill. It could be helpful if there were a few reflective signs. The cabin included an Escape room in a box to play which was fun. Things that would have been helpful: Wi-Fi/Bluetooth speaker for music Nightlight Paper towels Firestarters PLEASE clean between couch cushions! We accidentally locked ourselves out of the bedroom and couldn't find a doorknob "key", but luckily there was a metal hanger in the other bedroom. The combination carbon monoxide smoke detector, was 11 years old and the batteries were dead! We installed new batteries, but it still wasn't functioning correctly -- kept beeping and saying battery low. PLEASE REPLACE SMOKE DETECTORS AND VERIFY THEY WORK! No cleaning supplies - broom to sweep leaves dirt, paper towels for spills, nowhere to put ashes from fireplace Instructions for heat - spent first night without heat because we didn't know there was any heat. Where the floor meets the showers not sealed, water from shower gotten crack and under floorboards, to the point the bathroom floor squished. Mold issue. Fireplace dripped water inside when it rained. Air condition needs to be insulated. There was so much cold air (it was 27 degrees!) pouring in around and under the air condition. We stuffed a towel under it to help. Check the weather for the area to see if you'll need to run the heat. If so, consider bringing a small humidifier to quell dry skin, stuffy noses, and chapped lips. Cozy, vintage cabin. There are a few plates, glasses, and mugs, but be sure to bring anything else you need for tea, hot cocoa, coffee, or any cooking supplies. When you arrive to either the blackwood or the greenwood, there is a light in the parking area of the blackwood with a switch on the outside and the inside. There was lots to do outdoors, but it was only 40°, so we opted to stay indoors most of the time. We ventured to Sperryville to check out the shops and have lunch. We had dinner at the main lodge. Each guest picked an entree, a drink, and a dessert, and all of the sides arrived family style. We chose the smoked barbecue chicken and the smoked brisket. For sides we had salad, rolls, apple butter, collard greens, scalloped potatoes, baked beans, and baked apples. For dessert, we chose white cake with vanilla icing and carrot cake. Dinner reservations were easy and check-in was a breeze. The servers were all very friendly and expedient. I do wish they had some music playing, as it was sort of like eating in a library. I was also disappointed that in the large room with the giant fireplace and not many diners, we were placed at a table pushed against the windows next to the fireplace, so we couldn't see it (and there was a cold draught). IMHO, there's a lot of potential for a nice rustic getaway, but it needs some polishing around the edges, so be prepared! read more

Wonderful experience 1/2 day Fly Fishing Lesson for my wife and me in celebration of our 32nd wedding anniversary! Tim Lewis was an exceptional instructor and guide, teaching the basics of fly casting followed by practical application in both the pond and river. Tim was very knowledgeable, unbelievably patient, and extremely encouraging. Highly recommend giving Tim a call to schedule your own fly fishing experience. read more

Graves Mountain Farm and Lodges - Campgrounds Near Me - Syria, Virginia

Graves Mountain campaign is always a great option for riders and families. Everyone is so kind and helpful and we absolutely love bringing our ponies up. This last weekend we had no idea that there was a motocross race going on, both days, in the orchard and the mountains. Had we known we would not have brought our horses for obvious reasons and not bing able to ride where we love most. maybe we missed it on the website but nowhere did we see anything about it. We will absolutely be back but next time we'll be calling to find out what activities are in place besides our beautiful peaceful camping spot. read more

Graves Mountain Farm and Lodges - Campgrounds Near Me - Syria, Virginia

Came here for a wedding and the rehearsal dinner at the lodge restaurant was really great! Well prepared grilled ribeye steaks, rosemary chicken, boiled shrimp, wonderful fresh salads, tender yeasty rolls, corn on the cob, spiced apples, peach cobbler, and very nice Virginia wines and craft beers from a local brewery. Local sourcing here! Our servers could not have been nicer and more attentive, and the place is clean and comfortable. read more

Stayed at Joanie's Place and it was amazingly charming and perfect. Solitude and everything you would need to enjoy a quiet place to stay. It was incredibly spotless. Outside seating was very nice and up to date. The bed was comfy and the bathroom was clean! I'm staying here again, soon. read more

I have been visiting Graves Mt. Lodge regularly to stay & dine for nearly 40 years. The Highlight was their delicious country style cuisine meals shared family style to a typically full house at tables seating 8-10 guests. After the huge meal, the best part was hearing other folks' adventures on the mountain. No longer. That is over. This past Saturday, after driving an hour and a half to Graves, we were greeted by a nearly empty restaurant. Only tables now are for 4, widely separated, Covid-style. The once copious country style meal has been replaced by a pitiful menu with a choice among 4 "who cares" sandwichs. The "best" listed was the hamburger. A HAMBURGER!!! For $20.00. No kidding. I felt disappointed, ripped off - we will never be back. read more

Graves Mountain Farm and Lodges - Campgrounds Near Me - Syria, Virginia

Place is very outdated, lodge room was not clean, towels were gross and walls are not insulated. Very overpriced room and restaurant. Would not stay there again! read more

Website stated pony rides would be 10 minutes long. We booked rides for our 3 granddaughters ages 7,9,and 9. The first was on the pony for 5 minutes. I timed the second and third granddaughters' rides and they were only 4 minutes. I did not point out this discrepancy to the person leading the ponies because I didn't want to make a scene in front of my granddaughters. Also, there was no one else waiting to be the next to get a pony ride, so I don't understand why the rides would be cut short. read more

This resort is wonderful in its simplicity. Great views, great food and friendly staff. The Graves Family operates every aspect of this family-friendly destination and they care about each of their guests as if they are family. Highly recommend. read more

We've been going to Graves Mountain Lodge for years now and still consider it one of the more convenient locations to stay outside Shenandoah NP. This year we've been there twice - first time in summer in a room in Ridgecrest that looked to be more recently renovated therefore in very good condition so that was great. Second time however in a first level room that's seen better days - the easy chair has a lot of stains and the two upholstered chairs both have burn marks on them - I had to cover them up with towels because they are so unsightly. Worse still, this year there seems to be a ladybug infestation - we also noticed it inside the park so obviously a strange natural phenomenon that can't be helped - but wished they'd swept the dead bugs off from the front of the door or just leave a broom so that we could swept ourselves. Thankfully after the first day after spending more than an hour on arrival in the room picking off ladybugs from the wall and ceiling and a few in the bed and keeping the door closed the numbers were much reduced the second day (although there were also a few stink bugs we had to keep getting rid of). Seems to be a very buggy fall which we'd never experienced before probably due to the overly warm temps this year. This won't stop us from going back to Graves but just hope for a better experience next time. read more

The location is beautiful, and the staff is very friendly. Checking into my room was an odd experience as the staff in the office seemed really flustered and unsure about how to complete the process. The lodging was very rustic, which is to be expected, but the musty air really bothered my lungs after having just recovered from a case of bronchitis. The dining hall food was full of a variety of delicious vegetables, and I truly appreciate the chef doing their best to try to accommodate a gluten and dairy free diet, but nearly every meal contained beef, so I really just ate vegetables (and some yummy mashed potatoes) for the duration of my stay. read more

I've been coming here for several years and stayed in almost every building they have. From the poplar lodge, to the farm house, to the hilltop lodge, I can't get enough of Graves! Staff: Completely fantastic. I've never had a bad interaction with them. They worked with me at odd hours of the night when my schedule opened up and could come back here. They are accommodating, kind, and always have a smile. Location: Quiet, peaceful, stunning sunrises. One of the few places in the DMV you can actually see the Milky Way on a clear night. If you're into star gazing, spend the evening at the fire pit and take a glance up. Amenities: Farm tours, lightening fast WiFi, minutes from so many great hiking trails, fishing, a big pool, festivals, live local music, what more could you want? Double check your reservation to make sure you're in the location that you want. Poplar is much quieter, but our room didn't have a TV. We just sat out on the deck in the rocking chairs and watched the sun set. Food: You'll never leave Graves hungry. They have buffet style food that will suit every person. From steaks to seafood to meatloaf and salads, you and your pickest water will leave with a full belly and big smile Graves has never let me down. I think this week is my fifth visit and I always bring guests who fall in love with the quaint nature and hospitality. If you're looking for a quiet, laid back style of lodge, this is your place. It's closer to being at home than the Ritz, and it's so much better for that. read more

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My husband and I stayed at Joanie's Place for a long weekend. The cabin was absolutely delightful - it had everything we needed, including a kitchen, washer/dryer and outdoor grill that we used to cook a few dinners while we were there. While we had WiFi there, it was nice to be a bit off the grid. The cabin was secluded, surrounded immediately by woods and pastures where cows grazed. We used the cabin as a home base for outings to Shenandoah Valley National Park and the various hiking trails that took us into the park (including Old Rag).The main lodge was a few miles away, where we had dinner and breakfast a few times. We also explored the grounds there (including some farm animals, a lovely creek, and wooded trails). We also participated in horseback riding at the stables, which was a wonderful experience. Our guides were very friendly, knowledgeable, and passionate about the animals, and they took us on a guided 90-minute scenic trail ride. Everyone who worked at Graves was very friendly, and we would definitely go back to stay there. 10/10 experience overall. read more

Graves Mountain Farm and Lodges - Joannie's Place cabin - Campgrounds Near Me - Syria, Virginia

me and my boyfriend planned a trip to ride and it was abs one of the best times we have ever had. the horses we're all very well behaved and sweet. I can not wait to ride again!! read more

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WHAT A GREAT PLACE! You can expect to be treated like family! We required assistance during our stay and management and employees really went above and beyond for us. We really appreciated the compassion we were shown. There is so much to do and the views are stunning. We visited the farm animals, the gift shop, the pool, and the market. Every employee we encountered was extremely helpful and friendly. The prices are reasonable and our accommodations were very clean. We have stayed over Memorial Day weekend for the last two years and we can't wait to go back. If you haven't visited Graves Mountain Lodge, you are missing out on a hidden gem. read more

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Is this the most glamorous festival? No. Is it exactly what you need? Yes. It doesn't have the best vendors, but there are some diamonds in the rough. Mohammed, from Ghana makes beautiful handwoven baskets. There also was a woman from Richmond offering gorgeous hand woven beaded collars and dog treats. The woman from Kenya has some gorgeous beaded necklaces. The family from Peru also has some unique bird whistles, and flutes. The apple butter donuts are quite yummy. Grab some donuts take off your shoes and play in the creek. The creek is actually a big draw for us. We've been coming to this festival since 2014, all the way from Richmond. Pick apples in the orchard if available and check out the farms animals. I do wish they would include some of the activities with the ticket price even if it meant paying for kids. But to have all the kid activities have separate prices is not it. $5 dollars for hay activities. $5 dollars for bounce house. $5 dollars for "petting zoo". $10 dollars(I think) for pony rides. The hay ride is a separate $3 a person charge as well but I do think it's worth it as it has beautiful views. I enjoy this festival because it doesn't feel super commercialized like the one in Charlottesville we all know. There's an old timey feel here. If you're coming from Richmond stop in Gordonsville on the way at Jackson & Co market for chai or coffee and a snack. Yoders Market is also a fun stop on the way to or from. Things are what you make it. The drive here and views there are incredible. Make sure to grab apple butter spread, cherry preserves and damson preserves. read more

Beautiful setting and great accommodations. The scenery is really amazing and they have horseback riding and an outdoor pool. The food is top notch and we never left hungry. Everything from brisket and fried trout for dinner to a full country breakfast gave us the energy we needed for all the outdoor activities. The staff was very accommodating and made us feel very welcome. read more

Graves Mountain Farm and Lodges - Campgrounds Near Me - Syria, Virginia

It's a cool place in the middle of nowhere to completely disconnect. You wont get a cell service in this area. Take a book or enjoy the nature, long walks in the woods, etc. Horseback Trail Ride - was a bit of a dud! They sold us on a fantastic ride through the mountains, and great scenery with a little bit of history. Rather it was more a ride through the orchard. We tried to interact with our guide but we wasn't really into talking, so it just became a walk through the orchard on a horse in silence. If you want to do the horseback thing, go further into the Shenandoah Park. We stayed 1 night at the lodge. It's older so don't expect the highest of standards. It was however very clean. The restaurant at the lodge - well lets just say...save your money. It was a very tiny buffet country homestyle cooking. Frozen food served up into steam tables. Their website makes it sound like it is a upscale restaurant - FAR FROM IT! We skipped the breakfast because the looks of it - well, it didn't look appetizing. Went to the little market instead. Owned and operated by the same family. Can't go wrong with a simple egg sandwich. Overall - it was just OK read more

The good, the bad, and the ugly: The good: all of the employees were responsive and kind. Our room was located in a lodge up and to the left of the main building, and it had a porch with a nice view and rocking chairs. It was clean and our beds were very comfortable. The location was great for hiking. The AC worked and at the end of the day, it was nice to have a TV. The bad: Our room smelled musty and was very dated. Lighting was poor which made it a challenge to put in my contacts. Whatever we smelled in the room wreaked havoc on my allergies and we had to go to a nearby store for more allergy meds. The walls were so thin that we could hear every word our neighbors said in their room. The dining experience at dinner was expensive and awful, especially when we were hoping for a locally sourced menu. The homemade cider was more like a cheap, carbonated wine. The chairs in our room were stained. I think they had trails which would be a plus but there was no information about them- length, difficultly, what you might see, etc. The ugly: everything indoors, from our room to the dining hall. I've never seen a tackier dining hall with mounted, stuffed animals by the fireplace. One was in a cast iron skillet. There was a red pumpkin decoration and other odd items. Maybe they were going for eclectic and rustic, but it was a miss. This place has so much potential. They have a huge pool and lots of space. With better management and some minor improvements, this lodge could be amazing. But as it is, not so much. We would actually still consider staying again because the location was so great and it was clean enough, but we would skip eating in the dining hall for sure. read more

Wow!! What a nice facility. We stayed for 4 nights and enjoyed every minute. Very nice dinners and a great buffet breakfast.

My wife was sold by the pictures so we booked a night to rest while driving south. The pictures did no justice as the area was so beautiful! The lodges were clean yet rustic but the beds were a bit stiff to sleep on. The rooms were decent but what kept me up all night was that odd blue device in the ceiling which I assumed was the monoxide detector? The piercing blue light was very bright throughout the night. Everything was forgiven when they brought out the family-style breakfast. The food was delicious! That was the breakfast to really fuel us up and get us on the road again! We even walked across the way to see the farm animals hanging out for free! This farm was worth the random booking. read more

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2nd time visiting Graves Mtn and love it so much!! Worth the trip down from Connecticut. Great access to Shenandoah and I especially love the music they have every Fri & Sat night. Ellen of Smokin' Trout is fantastic and super talented. Check them out!!! read more

We've been coming here regularly, in all seasons, since 2020. We've lived through stink bug infestations in April, but also one very nice Easter dinner. The meals (which included lunch back then) were excellent. And breakfast was so good that we'd drive from Fredericksburg (55 miles) just to have breakfast, even if we weren't staying there. That was then. Graves Mountain advertises home-cooked meals using farm-fresh produce, local meats, etc. They may, but on every visit, I've seen a U.S. Foods truck come every day. I know they can't grow things like coffee and orange juice, but increasingly with each visit, the meals are slipping. And so is service. But the prices are not. Scrambled eggs were salty and watery, more like soup. Dishes that were listed on the menu never appeared. I miss real home-cooked foods like fried chicken, corn on the cob, and biscuits worthy of the apple butter, rather than a $28 crab cake in unidentifiable sauce. We will be back because we love the mountains. But we won't eat in the restaurant any more. Breakfast and dinner for two should not cost $80 and leave us feeling unsatisfied. read more

Amazing experience! We were greeted in such a kind manner that we immediately felt comfortable and welcomed. My entire family had a blast, we will visit again. read more

Graves Mountain Farm and Lodges - Family time! - Campgrounds Near Me - Syria, Virginia

We had such a lovely 5 nights at graves. Felt very Covid safe and so welcoming. The dining room handled our 4 and 1 year old with such grace and ease, and the children's menu update is much appreciated! They serve family style but keep it to only your table, which is nice. Tables more than 6 feet apart, everyone wore masks, and everyone could not have been more accommodating and nice. Great pony rides! Please support this wonderful family and lodge! read more

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We've been on several rides and this one was pretty simple and boring for us. And the worst part was that our tour guide was a smoker and he smoked 6 cigarettes on the 90 minute trail ride, very frustrating to have to breathe in smoke when you are out in nature. read more

A beautiful property to ride trails and the guides were absolutely wonderful!!! Can't wait to return visit and plan on camping next go around. Highly recommend the experience read more

Graves Mountain Farm and Lodges - Campgrounds Near Me - Syria, Virginia

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I've been coming here since 2017 and it's only gotten better since. The UVA Honor Committee has held our annual Retreats here to elect the new Executive Board for years and it's something I look forward to every time, three terms in. I don't know whether I love the food or the views better but both are spectacular. Graves Mountain Lodge is quintessential Central Virginia in beautiful Syria, Virginia. The people at the lodge couldn't be nicer or more helpful. Since my first time visiting Graves Mountain, there have certainly been upgrades made around the lodge and motels which was really nice to see, especially in the rooms. I always slept great and woke up to the sunrise cresting the horizon. There are still the same old stink bugs in every room but this is a problem you learn to deal with and frankly Graves wouldn't be the same without them. I hope to come back someday outside of my commitments to Committee so I can enjoy it as a place of leisure instead of work but the work has never made the trip any less enjoyable. I hope Graves Mountain Lodge stays around for a long time. read more

Graves Mountain Farm and Lodges - Campgrounds Near Me - Syria, Virginia

Incredibly disappointed. Went apple picking. So expensive, apple orchard was disgusting. Cow poop everywhere, feet from the "fresh" apples. NO apples. They were all brown and black, full of bugs. Kids are "free" to get in, but they charged them for literally every single thing. Jump on hay-$5, moon bounce-$5, hayride-$5, maze-$5 ride a pony-$10 Literally walked for 90 seconds!!!!!!! The grounds were so nasty. Muddy, made kids take shoes off to jump but socks were black. Bought food, dropped it on table because they stacked it funny , requested new one and the guy said "Need another one, they are wasting it." Bought a $5 Carmel apple, wasn't Carmel, was candy. Like lollipop. Couldn't bit it at all. Requested to return and lady got mad at us and was very nasty to us! We usually go to Stribling and will from now on. Never ever again. Super disappointed . Nothing but a money pit! read more