Cabin 2 at Chippokes State Park is unlike any other cabin in our Virginia State Park system, whereas it is a quaint 3 bedroom historic cottage that sits alone guarded by a large shade tree and surrounded by rows of soybean and peanut fields. Known as the Brown House, this is one of the oldest structures on the plantation and was built around 1850 as an overseer’s house.

A lovely 3 bedroom cottage in an historic plantation setting

The Brown House is not your average state park cabin and has tons of personality

Living room has ample space for family and friends at The Brown House

Master Bedroom is on the first floor, you can gaze out upon the fields from the bed
 

WHY WE CHOSE IT

We wanted overnight accommodations that offered 3 bedrooms. The only big drawback to this state park cabin with three bedrooms is it only has one bathroom. Newer state park cabins throw in that extra bathroom that makes all the difference to a family of primarily female park goers.

This is a very homey two story house, with the beautifully decorated master bedroom downstairs and two more bedrooms upstairs. There is a sleeper sofa in the living room as well, which could make that an additional bedroom. The Brown House sleeps a total of 8. 

This cabin feels more like a bed and breakfast,

except you get to cook the breakfast

PROS

Attractive furnishings add to the warm feel of this cottage-like cabin offering comfortable beds, and upscale linens with hand embroidered quilts and period antiques.

This cabin, like the other three at this historic state park is set out amongst the fields, so you have ultimate privacy. The Brown House also has a large shade tree over the picnic and grill area, which is a boon with the heat and humidity found here. It also features a circular drive way, which may not seem like a big deal, but when you are toting bikes, kayaks, kids and a dog back and forth to the beach and pool it sure comes in handy. (Yes dog, this is also pet friendly cabin.)

There is a ton of outdoor space for you and the family to enjoy.

The roads are flat and ideal to ride from the cabin to the Farm and Forestry Museum, the antebellum mansion with its gardens and out buildings, and even to the creek and river access along a riding/walking path. I would say it is not such an easy ride to the swimming pool or Visitor Center, however.

CONS

While this is a 3 bedroom cabin, there is only one bathroom. The bathroom is a decent size, but has a clawfoot tub. While a vintage clawfoot tub is typically seen as romantic, it is impractical in many ways. 

The table in the kitchen in no form or fashion can fit the up to 8 people that can sleep in the cabin and there is no coffee table in the living room. So you have to be creative, dining outside on the picnic table, and moving the table out to squeeze more people in. There is also a lack of counter space as the only counter is next to the sink - left and right and one side has the perpetual dish rack there. Again, you need to be creative and so we used the kitchen table as a prepping area for meals.

There is not really a proper place to hang your wet stuff, like towels and swimsuits, so you will need to have it strewn all over the picnic table or vehicles to dry after a swim at the pool or beach.

The cabin is remote, so if you prefer being under a forest canopy in a woodsy setting, this is not the cabin for you. If you want the kids to hang out with other kids they meet around the cabin loop, this is not the cabin for you. You will have to drive to the swimming pool, Visitor Center for programs, and the beach along the James River.

A comfy sofa, TV with DVD player, wingback chair, and a set of rockers are in the sitting area, and we created this makeshift coffee table using wooden benches

With a lack of counter space you can use the table as a food prep station

There is plenty of cupboard and pantry space in the kitchen

HELPFUL HINTS

You can unload your vehicle for a day at the beach just on the North side of the creek and bridge; there is a pull-out there. Also it is a great place to put in your kayaks or canoes, and then drive to the main parking area near the Visitor Center to park. Then from there the driver can trek back down to the beach.

LOCATION

695 Chippokes Park Rd., Surry, VA 23883; Phone: 757-294-3728, click here for a Google Map. Drive Time: Northern Virginia: 2 - 3 hours; Richmond: 1.5 hours; Tidewater/Norfolk/Virginia Beach: 1.5 hours; Roanoke: 4 hours.

The cabins at Chippokes State Park are not located near the water, but you have plenty of access to the river and Olympic sized swimming pool to cool off.

I hope you can catch a sunset with the one you love along the shores of the scenic James River at Chippokes State Park

RATES

Specifically for this cabin at this park, staying in "Prime Season" which is Friday night prior to Memorial Day thru the Sunday night prior to Labor Day, Cabin 2 Brown House at Chippokes State Park is $149 per night or $891 for the week for Virginia Residents. If you calculate this out (PDF), when you rent this cabin for 1 week you actually get 1 night free, as 7 nights at $149 per night equals $1043.

Click here for a Flickr set of cabin photos at Chippokes State Park; you will note there are only 4 cabins to be had at this park. Each one is unique, and I highly recommend them.

You can learn more about the more than 300 cozy Virginia State Parks cabins here. 

RESERVE

Click here to check on availability and to reserve online or call 800-933-7275 Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Learn about the "Less than a week stay cabin pilot" here where the following Virginia State Parks: James River, Belle Isle, Natural Tunnel, Staunton River, Twin Lakes, and Westmoreland will drop the minimum 7 night cabin stay requirement for summer 2015. You can always reserve less than 1 week stay within the same month at any Virginia State Park cabin, if there is one available.

If you have ever heard the saying "Walk in the footsteps of history" or "George Washington slept here" then you will get the same notion when you stay overnight and experience the historic Brown House at Chippokes State Park.