Entire home

Beautiful Historic Home Overlooking Shenandoah River and Blue Ridge Mountains

Photo gallery for Beautiful Historic Home Overlooking Shenandoah River and Blue Ridge Mountains

looking up to the house from the river road
Exterior
North view from the porch
Porch overlooking river
winter view from porch looking southeast

Reviews

10 out of 10

Exceptional

4 bedrooms3+ bathroomsSleeps 9353.0 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
    Parking available
  • Washer
    Washer
  • Barbecue grill
    Barbecue grill
  • Pet-friendly
    Pet-friendly
  • Pool
    Pool
  • Outdoor space
    Outdoor space

Explore the area

Map
Boyce, VA
  • Shenandoah River
    3 min walk
  • Burwell-Morgan Mill
    5 min drive
  • State Arboretum of Virginia
    9 min drive
  • Winchester, VA (WGO-Winchester Regional)
    20 min drive

Rooms & beds

4 bedrooms (sleeps 9)

Bedroom 1

1 King Bed

Bedroom 2

1 King Bed

Bedroom 3

2 Double Beds

Bedroom 4

1 King Bed

3 bathrooms, 2 half bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Bathroom 2

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 3

Toilet

Bathroom 4

Toilet

Bathroom 5

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Kitchenette
Balcony
Separate dining area
Outdoor play area
Garden
Dining Area

About this property

Beautiful Historic Home Overlooking Shenandoah River and Blue Ridge Mountains

The Play Garden is a charming renovated country home nestled on 20 acres in the heart of Horse/Hunt country at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in historic Clarke County, Virginia. From the large veranda on top of the plateau you have the best view in the county of the bending Shenandoah River and there are up to 150 boxwoods of all varieties on the property. The house is surrounded by wineries and historic sites located an hour and 15 minutes west of Washington, DC, 25 minutes west of Middleburg/Upperville, 20 minutes east of Winchester, 10 min from Millwood, and 10 min from Berryville. The main house, which has been recently renovated, was built in 1908 and has been in our family since 1920 and maintained with loving care. The adjacent guest house is more contemporary and has the 4th bedroom.

In addition to the view there is a swimming pool and total privacy from the outside world, with basically no houses in view. The main house has three bedrooms (two kings and twin full size beds), a sleeper sofa in the den, 4 baths (two full and two half) and a large kitchen with double oven, washer/dryer, etc while the adjacent guest house has one full bath, a king bedroom and a sleeper sofa in the living area. Both are tastefully furnished, including many antiques.

In the area you will be able to see and do the following (we have more info to send you upon booking):

- A multitude of WINERIES (including Delaplane Cellars, RDV Vineyards, Barrel Oak Winery, Veramar Winery, Bluemont Vineyards), BREWERIES (Dirt Farm Brewery, Bear Chase Brewery) and DISTILLERIES (Copper Fox, Catoctin Creek)
- Shenandoah River - with fishing and kayaking
- Appalachian Trail Hikes- Sky Meadows State Park
- Historic Middleburg
- Salamander Resort and Spa
- Watermelon Park for canoeing , tubing, fishing (though we have 8 kayaks and our caretaker can assist with logistics)
- Burwell-Morgan Mill, an historic water wheel grist mill and the most original operating Mill in the country, circa 1792 that grinds wheat and corn. Grinding days on weekends during May- October
- Shenandoah National Park
- Blandy Experimental Farm and State Arboretum of Va.
- Skyline Caverns
- Harper's Ferry
- The Long Branch Historic House and Farm
- Red Fox Inn (oldest continuous Inn in the U.S., Middleburg, Va)
- Berryville Monastery (opened to public)
- Bear's Den Trail, Raven Rocks Trail and Hollow Brook Trail
- Millwood village, Locke Store
- Red Schoolhouse Antiques along with many other antique shops within 25 minutes
- Clarke County Farmer's Market, May-Oct
- Mount Airy Farmer's Market, year around
- Shenandoah Seasonal Farm Stand, May -Oct
- Horse Trail riding , ask for details
- Wilson's Animal Park (great for kids)
- Barns of Rose Hill (great venue for music)
- Blue Ridge Hot Air Balloons
- Dinosaur Land (great for kids)
- Civil War Battlefield tours
- Revolutionary War sites
- Upperville Horse Show (oldest in the country)
- Golf , ask for details

Restaurants in the area:
- The Buttery, Millwood, Va.
- Ashby Inn and Restaurant, Paris, Va
- Hunter's Head Tavern, Upperville, Va
- The Berryville Grille, Berryville, Va
- Red Fox Inn, Berryville, Va
- L' Auberge Provencale, White Post, Va
- Hidden Horse Tavern, Middleburg, Va
- King Street Oyster Bar, Middleburg, Va
- Field and Main, Marshall, Va
- The Rail Stop, The Plains, Va
- Front Porch Market and Grill, The Plains, Va
- Girasole, The Plains, Va
- The Whole Ox, Marshall, Va
- Locke Store, Millwood, Va (great boutique food to take out or eat at Burwell-Morgan Mill meadow across the road)
- Camino Real Mexican, Berryville, Va
- Mario's Pizza, Berryville, Va (delivery)
- Fox Pizza, Berryville, Va (delivery)
- HorseShoe Curve (good bar with music as well) Bluemont, Va
- Sweet Nola's, Winchester, Va
- Union Jack Pub & Restaurant, Winchester, Va
- The Butcher Station, Winchester, Va
- Violino Ristorante, Winchester, Va
- Crush Bar, Winchester, Va
- Patsy's Pastry Pizzas, Winchester, Va





Keywords: House

Property manager

Will Robinson

Languages

English, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Pool
Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Pet-friendly
Free WiFi

Similar properties

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 25
Check out before 10:00 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17

Events

Events allowed
Max number 20, otherwise talk to owner

Pets

Pets allowed: dogs less than 23 kg per pet (limit 2 pets total)
With pet fee and pet contract

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
SMOKING ALLOWED ON THE RIVER PORCH

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Parties and events are allowed on site. Maximum attendees: 16
Note from host: max number 20, otherwise talk to owner
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock

We should mention

A car is recommended for transport to and from this property

About the area

Boyce

Located in Boyce, this holiday home is in the mountains and on the waterfront. Burwell-Morgan Mill and Barns of Rose Hill are local landmarks, and some of the area's attractions include Paris Barns and Virginia River Trips. Travelling with kids? Consider Dinosaur Land and Shen-Val Farm Market. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
Boyce, VA

What's nearby

  • State Arboretum of Virginia - 9 min drive
  • Sky Meadows State Park - 9 min drive
  • Watermelon Park Campground - 10 min drive
  • Shenandoah University - 20 min drive
  • Summit Point Motorsports Park - 24 min drive

Getting around

  • Martinsburg, WV (MRB-Eastern West Virginia Regional) - 42 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪McDonald's - ‬13 min drive
  • ‪Camino Real Family Mexican Restaurant - ‬11 min drive
  • ‪Mario's Pizza - ‬11 min drive
  • ‪Fox's Pizza - ‬13 min drive
  • ‪Santorini Grill - ‬11 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Does Beautiful Historic Home Overlooking Shenandoah River and Blue Ridge Mountains have a pool?

Yes, this property has an outdoor pool.

Is Beautiful Historic Home Overlooking Shenandoah River and Blue Ridge Mountains pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 2 total) with a maximum weight of up to 23 kg per pet.

What time is check-in at Beautiful Historic Home Overlooking Shenandoah River and Blue Ridge Mountains?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Beautiful Historic Home Overlooking Shenandoah River and Blue Ridge Mountains?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Beautiful Historic Home Overlooking Shenandoah River and Blue Ridge Mountains located?

This family-friendly Boyce holiday home is located on the waterfront, within 3 mi (5 km) of Shenandoah River, Duvall Designs Gallery and Burwell-Morgan Mill. Robinson Crusoe Island and Lake Georgette are also within 6 miles (10 km).

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 76 out of 79 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 2 out of 79 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 79 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 79 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 79 reviews" "

9.8/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Kelly B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Private and peaceful property
Lovely place to stay, fully equipped, accurate pictures and description.
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Shirley S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Play Garden
Family fun, tubing and kayaking on the river. Spending time with our son and daughter in law from NC and our newest grand baby, and my family in Northern Virginia. The home is very comfortable and offers many areas to sit and chat. Groceries are close and goumet meals and foods and wines just around the corner. Safe gravel road to run or walk on. Winchester is very close and many farm to table restaurants and wineries can be found thorough out the Piedmont area of Virginia and surroundings towns. We enjoyed the cool breezes on the veranda watching the river run and eagles fly and hearing our 8 month old grand daughter giggle. A wonderful home to make memorable times with our family.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Bill D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Best VRBO stay
We were extremely happy with our stay. The property was everything we hoped it would be, and communication with the host was excellent. Our best VRBO stay ever.
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Cathy W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Lovely time!
The pictures don’t do this wonderful place justice. The house has everything you need and the views/grounds are breathtaking. We were able to see 3 eagles soar over the river from the kitchen table. Totally recommend!
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Elizabeth C., Syracuse, NY

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Rest and relaxation on the Shenandoah!
We absolutely LOVED our stay at the historic “Play Garden”, a house with great character and charm. Every summer my husband and I spend a week with my sister in law and brother in law to reconnect. We’ve rented many beautiful historic houses but this magical place is very special … just lovely, it truly was like staying at a friend’s house. Everything we needed was there: pans, dishes, glassware, spices, oils, tableclothes, great bed linens & towels, a brand new grill, kayaks and bikes, and the pool! Our favorite activity was to relax and dine on the front porch/veranda overlooking the bend in the Shenandoah River. The owner, Will, and caretaker, Ricky, were both very accessible via text and phone. This is a very well appointed historic house.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Shirley S., Spencer, Massachusetts

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Play Garden is Spectacular
Kyacking, relaxing on the veranda watching the river and beautiful sunrises and sunset. Flying our drone, special time with our son and daughter in law swimming and cooking wonderful meals together. We all had wonderful and enjoyable time to together in a very peaceful and beautiful setting together with every convenience.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

David H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Relax
Good time
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Christina S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Beautiful view
Highly recommend. House is beautiful and view perfect.
Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2023

10/10 Excellent

Thomas L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great thanksgiving!
Everyone enjoyed the Play Garden for thanksgiving week and the great location and views!
Stayed 5 nights in Nov 2022

10/10 Excellent

Kevin J., Richmond, VA, USA

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Beautiful Property in a Great Location
Gracious and comfortable house with beautiful views. Our three generation family had a wonderful time at this property. The private guest house was perfect for the grandparents, and the cozy TV room was great for the kids while the adults enjoyed the fireplace in the living room and the amazing views from the large bluestone patio overlooking the river. Very comfortable beds with high-quality linens, a nicely appointed kitchen, and a beautiful pool. Conveniently located to many wonderful local attractions. The host and the caretaker were very helpful prior to and during our stay. Highly recommended.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

William H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The great escape!
Property was amazingly beautiful and tranquil. Nearby activities were interesting and fun.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

william v.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Beautiful setting
We enjoyed the property very much and all the little things that were available for our use.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Anna M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
July Week
Back for the fourth time in 2 years. I hate to advertise the Playgarden because we want to keep it for ourselves, but Will and his family deserve the great review. Thank you, again! We will be back.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Kathleen C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Delightful Retreat
The property is a loving maintained family home in an idyllic setting.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

John G., Washington, DC

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Excellent Property / Excellent Management
One of the best VRBO experiences I've had. Thank you!
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2022

10/10 Excellent

tina h.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
219948
The home/location were lovely. thank you
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2022

10/10 Excellent

G S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Beautiful property less than 2 hours from D.C
We were 2 families with young kids and a dog, that rented this property for a long weekend in mid January. The house, the adjacent carriage house and the expansive grounds offered plenty of space for everyone to explore and enjoy the beautiful views of the Shenandoah river. The house has lot of character and is tastefully decorated. It had all the necessary amenities and a well stocked pantry with spices, condiments and utensils. The property feels very private, with no other houses in sight, but is within 10-15 min range of grocery stores (Martin's/Walmart), a McDonald's, Sheetz and gas stations. The owner Will and the caretaker Rickey are just as great as the house. We decided to leave a day early due to a winter storm, and Will refunded us the rent for that night, without us even asking for it! Would definitely come back!
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2022

8/10 Good

Thomas L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Play garden
Great home and location with all the needed amenities. Beautiful river view and sunrise and sunsets. Will definitely be back.
Stayed 5 nights in Nov 2021

10/10 Excellent

Jane B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great House, Great Location, Great Stay.
We had a wonderful stay. The house is so comfortable it makes you feel relaxed as soon as you walk in. We loved the history of the house and the fact that it still has all its character but modern comforts to enjoy. The views are breathtaking, and my husband enjoyed some great fishing right in front of the property, while I watched and chilled with a good book on the back porch. The pool is an added benefit and the kitchen had everything you would ever need, we loved that the cupboards were labeled so we could find things easily. The location is wonderful, so close to everything. We can’t wait to come back again.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2021

10/10 Excellent

Pat M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Beautiful
Beautiful
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

Bill M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Outstanding Property with Pool
Family vacation with 6 family members and a couple of day visitor groups. Everybody enjoyed the house amenities (century home with plenty of cozy rooms) and the proximity to river rafting, national parks and historical sites. We had great weather but it was hot (90 degrees plus) several days - perfect for jumping in the gorgeous pool). The owner and property manager were accessible and responsive. The house was very well stocked with paper supplies and the kitchen with cooking equipment and utensils. In short, this was one of the best VRBO properties we have had the pleasure to visit. Cudos to Will and Ricky - thanks for a memorable family vacation!!!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

Peter H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Absolutely fabulous
Beautiful and relaxing as usual. Can’t be beat.
Stayed 14 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Jodie S., Where do you live?

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Gorgeous Home with Pool
This was the perfect home for a family reunion. The large patio overlooking the Shenandoah River, the big, beautiful yard, and the large self-cleaning pool with a diving board provided fun for everyone regardless of age. There were spaces to find privacy and spaces where we could all gather. The house was clean and beautiful, especially the well stocked kitchen with its big windows overlooking the yard, pool, and river.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Kim C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The most peaceful retreat!
The beautiful, historic tranquility of The Playhouse renews my soul. Will is the perfect host and Ricky, the caretaker, is wonderful! We purchased filet's to grill from Jim at Vineyard Hill Farm and all agreed they were better than any steak we had at a restaurant!! Fingers crossed, looking forward to returning for a third year next summer! Thank you!!
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

William E.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Home
Should you not be interested in a comfortable and well maintained home with unparalleled views of a Shenandoah oxbow in the shadow of the BlueRidge, this would not be your correct choice.

About the host

Hosted by Will Robinson

Host profile image
I'm one of the family owners along my 4 cousins

Why they chose this property

In the family since 1920

What makes this property unique

The view of the river and Blue Ridge Mountains, the history and overall beauty and serenity of the area

Languages:

English, German, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese
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