1 site · Lodging110 acres · Spring Grove, VALightwood Forest is an ancient forest of mixed beech, oak, poplar, and other hardwoods in rural Surry County, Virginia, and is some of the earliest settled land in English North America. The stream that runs through Lightwood Forest was the original southern border of the land given by Chief Powhatan to his daughter Pocahontas, and her husband John Rolfe, as a wedding gift. Their son Thomas's house was somewhere on the property or in a neighboring field.
The forest is magnificent, and is an example of a rapidly dwindling ecosystem in Tidewater Virginia. There are many possible camping sites on the 110 acres.
On the property stands Lightwood House, the 18th-century home
of a Revolutionary War soldier and his family. The house is available for overnight stays, or as a central meeting place for campers and guests. The property is only rented to one party at a time, with exclusive use of the entire estate. The house can be viewed as a sort of time machine, but with all modern comforts and necessities.
Lightwood provides lovers of history and nature the opportunity to enjoy both--either as campers or house guests. This unique house and property offers visitors a rare opportunity to escape the twenty-first century and venture into a haven of peace, quiet and solitude.
Learn more about this land:
Within the expansive and protected boundaries of Lightwood Forest, many delightful and secluded camping sites can be found. Choose between green meadows or woodland settings with ancient majestic oaks, stately poplars or silvery beeches and sycamores as your nearest neighbors. A well-trodden walking trail, over two miles long, meanders through this, your very own Hundred Acre Wood. Up hills and down ravines, along ancient cart paths and road beds, wander at your own pace through this beautiful forest, watching all the while for, and sharing your space with, Lightwood's very own forest denizens. Who might that be, you ask? Well, look for quite the array of bird species including woodpeckers and owls, hawks and wild turkeys, ravens and crows. Be on the lookout for woodland tortoises and turtles as well as raccoons and possums, who all live within the protected boundaries of Lightwood Forest. You may not see them during the day, but if you look closely on the little sandy beaches that line the mossy banks of the streams that run through the property, you'll see their tiny paw prints, letting you know they were there, drinking at leisure from the clear, clean water of their protected forest home.
In the depth of winter, a house on neighboring property can be glimpsed at a distance through the woods, but other than that camping sites deep within Lightwood Forest are completely secluded from any sign of civilization.
The cozy and comfortable historic eighteenth-century house sleeps up to ten guests as well as up to two dog friends. All modern conveniences are available including WIFI, a six-foot jetted tub and walk-in marble shower in an expansive downstairs bathroom.
Lightwood Forest is a land steeped in history. The main stream that traverses the property marked the southern boundary of the wedding gift given by Wahunsonacock, alias Chief Powhatan, upon the marriage of his favorite child, Pocahontas, to John Rolfe, in 1614.
While the property seems far from civilization, the small town of Surry is only 1.5 miles away. Additionally, a short ferry ride away, across the mighty James River, are the nationally renowned historic museums of Colonial Williamsburg, Yorktown, and Historic Jamestowne. All lie along the beautiful, scenic Colonial Parkway.
Lightwood is the perfect retreat for lovers of both history and nature as well as for souls in search of peace, quiet and solitude.
