SOUTH TRENDING: On the Scene: Goodstone Inn & Restaurant
Middleburg, Virginia (www.goodstone.com)
Living the good life with country comforts in Middleburg, Virginia
With my own Scottish ancestry rooted in southern Virginia, my weekend stay at the Goodstone Inn & Restaurant this summer felt like a homecoming.
An hour west of Washington, D.C., and some 25 miles from Dulles International Airport, this luxurious 265-acre country estate sits in Loudon County, named for a Scottish earl in 1757.
Jamie “the Scot” Leith, who originated the property as a 640-acre plantation in 1768, is buried onsite in a hilltop family plot found one of the three miles of hiking trails.
Groups will find their own kinship with Goodstone. Serving as the main base for small meetings, executive retreats and social getaways, the circa-1930’s Manor House is a private enclave with four bedrooms, professional kitchen, outdoor patio and breakout areas.
The Carriage House incorporates four suites along with check-in, casual Bistro & Bar and glass-walled fine-dining Conservatory restaurant.
Six historic cottages complete the 18-room count, with exclusive property buyouts available. Steps from the estate’s farm buildings and resident llama and goats, and my rustic digs—the Bull Barn—sit on original foundations.
Photo: GOODSTONE farm buildings CREDIT: Jeff Heilman
Comprehensive services and amenities make this adult escape (no children under 14) a quintessential choice for focused agendas paired with unfettered relaxation.
Belgian-born Executive Chef Jan Van Haute’s world-class credentials include cooking for the Belgian royal family, the Belgian embassies in Australia and D.C., and in a pair of three Michelin-starred restaurants.
[Listen to my On the Scene story about my visit to the Goodstone Inn.]
Featuring micro-greens, vegetables and edible flowers cultivated on site, his European-inspired, locally sourced seasonal menu is reason alone to book.
Michelin-worthy stars from my three-hour, six-course Chef’s Tasting experience included the scallop ceviche, leek soup with king crab and seared squab breast.
Photo: GOODSTONE Conservatory Restaurant Leeks Veloute with King Crab CREDIT: Jeff Heilman
The restaurant dishes also often feature home-grown honey, thanks to Goodstone’s thriving beekeeping program. Guests can even request to see the beekeeping process first-hand when staying at the inn.
Overseeing Goodstone’s acclaimed wine program is Moroccan-born sommelier Stephen Elhafdi, an award-winning 30-year veteran of the D.C. scene. Groups can sample the resort’s best wine in The Conservatory’s 820-label wine cellar, which is available for private dining.
Hidden behind the ivy-covered ruins of the estate’s original mansion, the outdoor pool opens onto panoramic pastoral views.
Adjacent amenities include a firepit, bocce court and outdoor spaces for tented events (and helicopter arrivals).
The property is just a short 10-minute drive from historic downtown Middleburg, which is worth exploring on its own. Established in 1787 by American Revolutionary War lieutenant, the small town is home to over 160 buildings on the list of National Register of Historic Places.
With its country charm and getaway feel, Middleburg and Goodstone Inn make for the ideal corporate retreat.
For more on this exceptional four-season retreat—and its group-capable sibling Playa Cativo Lodge in Costa Rica—go to MeetingsToday.com and listen to my podcasts with the Goodstone team and Cesar Vargas, Playa Cativo’s marketing & sales director.
Read next: Coastal Virginia Serves Up Unique Flavors From Fresh Seafood to Quality Spirits
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Goodstone Inn & Restaurant
540.687.3333
www.goodstone.com
