Historic House with Gardens Near Universities & Downtown

Property grounds
1 bedroom, hypo-allergenic bedding, iron/ironing board, WiFi
Fridge, microwave, stovetop, dishwasher
Shower, hair dryer, bidet, towels
1 bedroom, hypo-allergenic bedding, iron/ironing board, WiFi

About this house rental

Nestled in Lexington, this lovely house for $185 per night is a fantastic choice for your next vacation. McDowell House offers the unusual opportunity to stay in an exquisitely restored historic residence in one of Lexington's most beautiful neighborhoods. Surrounded by other 19th-century properties, the house sits just blocks from Washington & Lee, VMI, and downtown's restaurants and shops. A deep front lawn and tranquil gardens provide quiet and privacy. McDowell House sleeps 6 guests--or up to 10, when combined with the property's 3rd floor apartment, McDowell Studio (VRBO #339861). Combined bookings receive a special rate. All beds have high-quality mattresses, silky all-cotton linens, and hypoallergenic duvets. McDowell House's charming 1st-floor Garden Bedroom features a tall-post double bed and a window overlooking the secluded rear garden. An adjoining tiled bathroom retains its original marble sink and claw-footed tub, but with shower mounted above. On the 2nd floor, the West Bedroom has a queen-sized brass bed and tall windows on 3 sides. The Turret Bedroom features an elegant pair of antique brass twin beds and its own little circular porch overlooking the front lawn and mountains beyond. Two well-appointed bathrooms serve these bedrooms: a marble-floored bathroom next door with tiled shower and claw-footed tub and the house's original bathroom, on the same floor, which contains a tiled shower. Guests may use a rowing machine located on the 2nd-floor porch and a vibration platform located in the 2nd-floor conservatory. McDowell House has an amazing eat-in kitchen with original wainscot, Virginia soapstone counters, and state-of-the art appliances--from restaurant-grade gas stove to espresso maker. With windows overlooking both rear and side gardens, it's the perfect place to enjoy cooking--or eating--local vegetables, meats, breads, and cheeses. Glassware, china, flatware, and serving pieces make dining or enjoying take-out easy and fun. McDowell House is a magical place to spend time with friends and family. A large, airy parlor with tall windows opens into the generous dining room, via sliding doors. The sunny library provides comfortable space for reading, working, watching television, or catching up on the day's activities. Rooms feature luminous colors and period carpets, wallpapers, and curtains. Art covers the walls, as it did in the 1890s. Musical guests love playing the c.1890 ebonized Knabe piano in the handsome 1st-floor hall. Visitors also enjoy lounging on the porches that wrap the house. In the back garden's rock-lined pool, waterlilies bloom all summer. A round table and chairs sit on a stone terrace, surrounded by lush Japanese maples and evergreens, ferns, and native woodland plants. McDowell House provides a quiet refuge--and a perfect base for visiting Washington & Lee and VMI, exploring scenic Rockbridge County, and enjoying Lexington's vibrant downtown. Keywords: historic property, residence, villa, self-catering house

Amenities

Air conditioner
Kitchen / Kitchenette
Internet / Wifi
Fireplace
Parking
Laundry
Balcony / Patio
Dishwasher
TV
Gym / Fitness Center
Garden

Map of Lexington, VA

Reviews

4.8/5.0
Outstanding(41 Reviews)
3.0
star 4 emptystar 5 empty
Nov 2023
there were several issues which negatively impacted our stay. front walk in poor condition. tripping concerns. porch light never worked, broken lamp shade in lr, burned out chandelier bulb and broken outside door lock in dr, flickering bulb in kitch will probably burn out, inconsistent heat-2 of 3 bedrooms no heat at all 1st night, radiators always luke warm at best, found men's clothes in mast br wardrobe!!, also, one bulb was out in over head light. "gym" unusable-too small contained excercise bike, medicine ball, wash basket w clothes in that half covered up major hole in floor, electric cords all over floor, large flower pot w dirt-no plant in corner, broken, cracked missing tiles-no swimming pool vrbo had adv, sauna out of order, paint cans, junk on side porch, 4 full trash cans back of prop-we didn't even know were there til we tried to put our1 bag trash on departure date. the landscaping/garden was a an overgrown mess. the bedding was good, high ceilings nice, staircase lovely, furnishings just ok. this property is not well maintained. when you open your home to the public and charge them to stay, it is not unreasonable to expect everything to work-hotel standards to be met. someone needs to look into this immediatley. frankly, i believe we are owed at least a partial refund as this property far from met expectations VRBO listing created. we may return to lexington but, never again to this property.
5.0
Nov 2023
Enjoyed our stay.. would definitely stay again
5.0
Oct 2023
The location allows you to experience the town of Lexington from right in the middle of it, and the house captures the historic feeling of the area beautifully. Filled with art, books, and history, it is a great place to stay when visiting Lex.
5.0
Sep 2023
Fantastic stay. The home is a historical experience. We loved sitting on the porch. The big dining table was nice for us all. The host thought of everything you’d need. Would come back again.
5.0
Sep 2023
Comfortable home. Enjoyed the location as it is so close to Main St and other downtown shops. Bring your own toiletries as none are available in the home.
4.0
star 5 empty
Aug 2023
The host gave us check in directions to the wrong house, but we found the place. It's large, decorated in period style, but mice feces are on kitchen surfaces and in the drawer with pots and pans. This continued throughout our 2-wk stay. By the third day we couldn't get the oven to work. Host was unhelpful & unapologetic when we contacted him about the problems. Also has spotty Internet and not all lights work.
2.0
star 3 emptystar 4 emptystar 5 empty
Aug 2023
The host gave us check in directions to the wrong house, but we found the place. It's large, decorated in period style, but mice feces are on kitchen surfaces and in the drawer with pots and pans. This continued throughout our 2-wk stay. By the third day we couldn't get the oven to work. Host was unhelpful & unapologetic when we contacted him about the problems. Also has spotty Internet and not all lights work.
10.0
Jun 2023
Perfect, our family loved the home and walking distance to campus and downtown.

FAQs

How much does this house cost compared to others in Lexington?

The average price for a rental in Lexington is $175 per night. This rental is $10 above the average.

Is parking included with this house?

Yes, parking is listed as an amenity at Historic House with Gardens Near Universities & Downtown. For more information, we encourage you to contact the property about where to park.

Is there a pool at this house?

We didn’t find pool listed as an amenity for this house. It may be worth double checking if a pool is important for your stay.

Is Historic House with Gardens Near Universities & Downtown pet friendly?

Unfortunately, this house is not pet-friendly. Try searching again and filter for "Pets Allowed"

What amenities are available at Historic House with Gardens Near Universities & Downtown?

We found 11 amenities for this rental. This includes air conditioner, kitchen / kitchenette, internet / wifi, fireplace, and parking.

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