A Large Family Gathering at Douthat Lodge

Renovations on the five-bedroom, three-full-bathroom Douthat Lodge were completed a couple of months ago, and my extended family enjoyed two nights in this mountain-top masterpiece. Read about the renovations on the Virginia State Parks blog.

Built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, this log lodge is perched on a mountain in Douthat State Park with an incredible view of the lake. If you want a quiet, secluded place for your people to gather, this is it. With enough space for twelve people to sleep very comfortably, this large lodge has adequate room and luxurious upgrades that keep the rustic, historic charm firmly intact. I received a tour of the place towards the end of renovations while visiting Douthat on a DCR team retreat, and my jaw dropped twice then—and repeated when I arrived for my two-night stay. 

Upon walking in the front door, the view of the great room is enough to stop you in your tracks. It’s incredibly spacious, and the wood beams and ceiling details are spectacular. This room has two long dining tables as well as living room furniture that can be arranged for your group’s needs. 

Want to gather around the grand fireplace? Sure, pull up a couple of chairs and a couch. Need to have separate sitting areas? Certainly, there’s space for that. Have a longing to sit in a window seat with a view and a good book? There’s room for you and several more. Want to push everything against the wall and hold a dance party? I was very tempted. 

Next, once you step out the back door, the view from the stone patio is breathtaking, especially first thing in the morning and at sunset. Four picnic tables, rocking chairs, and a nice fire pit area provide a spot with a view that you don’t want to leave. But you should eventually, because the rest of the park is waiting to be explored and so very worth it. My family played corn hole out on the back patio for hours. Off to one side, there is an area ideal for hanging a hammock or two. And around the corner of the house is yet another patio, with a picnic table and a large charcoal grill. 

The kitchen and bathrooms are freshly updated, just like the other CCC-era cabins that have been recently renovated. They are both modern and rustic. Every detail is so well done. Four bedrooms have a queen bed, and the fifth bedroom, the large room at the end of the hall, provides four twin beds. All three bathrooms have a shower; two are walk-in showers with doors, and one is a tub/shower combo with sliding doors. Remember, with any cabin or lodge rental at a Virginia State Park, you need to bring your own linens and towels. But in this lodge, there is even a laundry room. In fact, I could move in and make it my home without changing a thing.

Douthat State Park has been one of my favorite parks since we first visited in our pop-up camper in 2019. It has all of our favorites: epic hiking with mountain views and waterfalls, a lake, a creek, history, great campground options and fantastic cabins, zero cell phone service, and now the perfect lodge for a large family getaway. 

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