Exploring Gordonsville, Virginia: Where Southern Hospitality Meets Scenic Beauty

The Exchange Hotel was built in 1860 in Gordonsville, Virginia next to an important railroad junction, to offer a welcome stop and resting place for the passengers on the Virginia Central Railroad and Alexandria Railroad. When the civil war began, the railroads became a supply route for transporting troops, supplies, and the wounded to Gordonsville and the beautiful hotel, with high ceilings, luxury parlors and a grand veranda changed into the Gordonsville Receiving Hospital and provided care for over 70,000, both Confederate and captured Union soldiers. Between 1865 and 1877 the hospital provided care and education to the newly freed slaves as a Freedman’s Bureau. Since 1971, the old hotel has been restored and converted into a museum and an African-America Memorial Site. The museum, located in the Gordonsville Historic District, contains diverse artifacts from the Civil War era, such as medical artifacts, uniforms and firearms.

Address: The Exchange Hotel Civil War Medical Museum, 400 S Main St, Gordonsville, VA 22942, Phone: 540-832-2944

Horton Vineyards is a winery and vineyard located in Orange County, Virginia established in 1989 on 55 acres. Horton Vineyards is known for experimenting with new varietals and techniques to create the very best wines that Virginia viticulture can produce, such as utilizing the "open lyre" training system to promote ideal ripening, and drip irrigation for ensuring ideal soil moisture. The first small crop was harvested in 1991 and made into wine at Montdomaine Cellars, leased by Horton Vineyards for five years. It produced Chardonnay and Cabernet under that label, and its own line of Rhone Varieties. In 1992 the construction started on a new winery, with stone underground cellars, views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and wonderful vaulted ceiling tasting room. Tasting Horton wines is a special experience because there are over 40 wines to taste.

Address: 6399 Spotswood Trail, Gordonsville, VA 22942, Phone: 540-832-7440

Raindrops in Virginia is a quaint, charming shop located in a lovely Victorian in Gordonsville, Virginia. The shop offers customers the finest handmade and vintage products for their home and garden. Many of the unique pieces are made by the owners and artists Adam and Kathryn. The store also offers handmade bath and body care products, custom home decor, unique furniture pieces, accessories, original jewelry, exquisite garden furniture as well as yard and garden implements. They also offer full service jewelry, watch and clock repair and antique restoration. Raindrops is a great place to pick up an original birthday gift or a gift for a special person in your life, but even if you are not looking for anything particular, the shop is so full of quirky and fascinating objects, it is easy to spend hours browsing.

Address: 206 N Main St, Gordonsville, VA 22942, Phone: 434-218-3360

The Barbeque Exchange is a rustic, homey eatery in downtown Gordonsville, Virginia, famous for its hickory-smoked and slow-roasted spareribs and pork shoulders. The meats are first dry-cured and rubbed with secret ingredients and then cooked in their special wood-burning cooker. The chicken is grilled over live coals, the roadside BBQ-style. It is so delicious that the Rotary, Kiwanis, and Fire departments happily serve it on Saturdays all over the Eastern seaboard. The meats come with freshly baked rolls, cornbread, pumpkin muffins, homemade pickles, salads, and slaws. There are six fantastic sauces and great southern sides such as Donna’s Baked Beans, Hushpuppies, Macaroni and Cheese and Collard Greens.

Address: 102 Martinsburg Ave, Gordonsville, VA 22942, Phone: 540-832-0227

Activities and Attractions for Couples:

The beautiful Honah Lee Vineyard is an ideal place to spend a few hours soaking up the stunning Virginia landscape as you sip some award-winning wines. Located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, this winery was awarded no fewer than 6 medals in the 2020 Virginia Governors Cup. Unlike some other wineries, Honah Lee offers a relaxed and friendly ambiance and welcomes everyone to come and take a tour, do a tasting or plan an event. The winery produces several single-varietal wines as well as a good selection of blended wines to suit all tastes. You are welcome to bring a picnic and sip your wine to the sounds of local musicians at their regular evening events.

Address: 13443 Honah Lee Farm Drive, Gordonsville, VA 22942, 540 308 7724

You can bring the whole family along to Oakland Heights Farm to get a taste of country living. Located in the scenic foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Oakland Heights farm is primarily devoted to promoting the art of horseback riding. The farm welcomes equestrians of all ages and abilities to come and spend some time enjoying a leisurely trail ride or a horseback riding lesson. Both of these activities are available year round. The farm also hosts horse shows and show-jumping competitions during the summer season. For a complete change of pace you can attend Professional Bull riding rodeo events every second Saturday, May through November.

Address: 17110 James Madison Highway, Gordonsville, VA 22942, 540 222 6576

If you happen to be a disc golf enthusiast, the Raptor’s Roost Disc Golf center in Shenandoah Crossing is the place to go for a great game and an excellent choice of merchandise. The facility offers a choice of 4 great courses, each of which provides a fun and challenging game. You can book your Tee time online and buy everything you need at the very well-stocked Pro Shop which carries a wide range of the latest and greatest Discs from several brands. The venue is ideal for a fun bachelor’s or birthday party – the on-site restaurant serves delicious meals including traditional BBQ pulled pork buns.

Address: 1944 Shenandoah Crossing Drive, Gordonsville, VA 22942, 540 841 8777