If you think all campgrounds are alike, youain't seen Heavenly Acres yet!
In a town 15 minutesfrom SkylineDrive, calledStanardsville, you can visit this beautiful 80-acrerural campground with majestic views of the Blue Ridge mountains. With 50 campsites, 24 RV sites (with water/electric/sewer hookups), new cabins, a pool with a water slide, a playground and trails, they also offer a completely unique camping experience. How about spending the night in a refinished caboose? Yes, you heard me right, you can actually stay in a train's caboose!
Leesylvania Park Manager, Karen Lambey (right), Tom Cervenak (below), meet with campground owner, Gary Schneider, to feature Heavenly Acres as part of our Virginia Campground Association partnership
Owner Gary Schneider and his wife Jan, purchased and restoredfour originalrailroad cabooses from the 60's and one from 1926. From West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Illinois, he hauledhis cabooseshome andwent to work. Hestarted his projectcompletely renovating the interior. With a growing interest in the old locomotives and railroads from the 20's, Gary respectfully preserved the original parts, including the hardwood floor and railings, which were completely pristine yetrich withhistoric background. Immediately upon realizing these cabooses were available to rent,you bet wecouldn't wait to see the inside!
Gary's granddaughter, Kyla, sits in one of two twin beds in the "Happy Everly"
The kitchen is fully stocked with everything you'll need to cook and eat
The "Happy Everly" caboose sleeps up to four people
Thecaboosessit atopgenuine railroad tracksso they don't sink into the ground.Climb aboard and you'll notice a wraparound deck with an area below for a family campfire. Inside,a fully equipped kitchen, gasfireplace and down the hall a full bathroomincluding a shower. The sleeping arrangements were most unique.Two twin beds lofted above storage closets, probably an areathe conductor used for storage as well.It was like living in a locomotive from the 20's, but with all the modern necessities of a cabin including power and electric. The three cabooses vary with their own unique styleconsidering thateach one was from it's own train. The fourth caboose is currently under construction, but soon to be released for your camping experience!
You can't resist climbing aboard this caboose!
With Grave's MountainApple Harvest Festival, a majorevent that takes place annually.Especiallyduring these three weekends during October, Heavenly Acres is our choice for out of town guests to stay. And even though there is plenty of room to camp,we'd recommend getting your caboose there early!
The family run business lead by the friendly husband-wife team of Jan and Gary Schneider, is offering a First Time Campers special of 20% discount for reservations made in 2012.To find out more on this campground or to make reservations Virginia State Parks.
Tom Cervenak aboard the WV "Happy Everly"
Click here for google map and directions to Heavenly Acres.