

Lightwood Forest
Circa 1760
A Virginia Woodland Preserve


Staying at Lightwood




Lightwood is a unique place where guests can experience history while also enjoying the comforts of the twenty-first century. The house can accommodate up to ten guests as well as two canine friends, who are free to roam and explore the private and secluded one hundred acre wood that surrounds the house.
Children love Lightwood House with all its nooks and crannies and places to explore, both inside and out. While Lightwood House is elegantly furnished, the furniture is sturdy, so kids can have the run of the house. A play area with swings, slide, sandbox, and play tower (Tree Trunk Tower) is in the back yard. Be sure to search for the Fairy Tree in the forest, where children (and adults) can tie wishes written on cloth strips to the tree's branches. According to legend these wishes come true, so be careful what you wish for!
A vacation house of this period, so generously furnished with antiques as well as all modern conveniences, and situated in its own Hundred Acre Wood, is difficult to find in this country. With its proximity to the Historic Triangle of Colonial Williamsburg, Jamestown, and Yorktown, Lightwood is a rare gem in the vacation rental world.
The Williamsburg area also offers the more modern attractions of Busch Gardens, Water Country USA, and many fine restaurants and shops.
Lightwood is one mile from the town of Surry, where basic essentials and several restaurants can be found. Nearby, Smithfield is a beautiful and historic waterfront town, and features historic sites as well as fine restaurants.
Surry County proudly boasts several historic house museums, including Smith's Fort, a lovely 1760s brick house and the site of John Smith's fort of 1609; Bacon's Castle, possibly the finest seventeenth-century manor house in America; and Chippokes State Park, featuring an 1850s manor house, an Olympic-sized swimming pool, and walkways along the James River.

Map and Location

“The house is welcoming and the grounds are gorgeous.”

"Thank you for such an amazing time here! The kids loved playing with the wooden toys. Our Christmas was full of magic and joy. Everything was perfect."




Lightwood Lane







Casadei Photography
Dining Room, Circa 1760

Cozy Kitchen

Through the Hall

The Secret Staircase


Dinner by the Fire


Cozy Living Room

Corner Details

Through the Hibiscus Hedge

Over Two Miles of Walking Trails





Through the Parlor Window




All Dogs are Welcome

“We were captivated by the beauty of your home filled with special treasures and abundant in the richness of the history that permeates every piece of your home and property.”

A very special gift for a very special couple

Magic, magic everywhere

Lightwood Forest's newest resident, Prince Waldemar Christian of Denmark, will soon be celebrating his 400th birthday!





Old World Christmas Cheer


A Warm and Welcoming Glow

"A National Treasure"

Pleasant and Delightful



"This place is magic"


"What a joy! It is the most wonderful, magical place!"

Who lives down by the stream?

Some very lucky children discovering treasure in Lightwood Forest.


