Locust Lodge is the perfect river place for your family and friends to gather.

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There's no better way to start a day than this

Fall is our favorite time. My wife loves to decorate. Just ask for the service

We can decorate for your holiday, just let us know!

Kitchen dining tables, island in the greatroom, notice 14' boat in the ceiling

Kitchen double sink, dishwasher, griddle, stove/double oven

Overview
Amenities
Policies
Location
Host

Exceptional

7 bedrooms5+ bathroomsSleeps 21

Popular amenities

Parking available
Dryer
Washer
Fireplace
Gym
Kitchen

Explore the area

Dunnsville, VA

Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge
‪29 min drive‬
Westmoreland State Park
‪54 min drive‬
Morattico Waterfront Museum
‪62 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

7 bedrooms (sleeps 21)

Bedroom 1

1 King Bed and 1 Crib

Bedroom 2

1 King Bed and 1 Single Bed

Bedroom 3

1 King Bed

Bedroom 4

1 Double Futon, 1 King Bed and 2 Single Beds

Bedroom 5

1 Queen Bed and 1 Single Bed

Bedroom 6

1 Queen Bed and 1 Single Bed

Bedroom 7

1 Single Bed and 1 Queen Bed

Office 1

1 Double Bed

Office 2

1 King Bed

Theater room

1 Double Sofa Bed

5 bathrooms, 1 half bathroom

Bathroom 1

Soap · Towels provided · Bathtub or shower · Bathtub · Toilet · Shower only · Shampoo

Bathroom 2

Soap · Towels provided · Bathtub or shower · Toilet · Shampoo

Bathroom 3

Toilet

Bathroom 4

Soap · Towels provided · Bathtub or shower · Toilet · Shampoo

Bathroom 5

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only · Shampoo

Bathroom 6

Soap · Bathtub or shower · Toilet · Shampoo

Bathroom 7

Shower only · Outdoor shower

Spaces

Deck or patio

Porch or lanai

Outdoor shower

Kitchen

Balcony

Outdoor play area

Garden

Dining area

About this property

Warm, inviting, rustic riverfront home. Excellent water views. Walk or ride the golf cart to your own private +200'x30' sand beach, boat ramp, lighted pier with water and fish cleaning table.

Many outside activities from fishing, crabbing, swimming, floating, boating (4 kayaks, 4 person paddleboat, paddleboard), fishing poles, crabpots, badmitten, croquet, bochi ball (all provided) that can be played on over 2 acres of flat lawn area. Pier/beach chairs and umbrellas are supplied.

There is plenty of seating on the large 2nd story deck and ground level screened porch, overlooking the lawn and river, to watch the outside activities.

After the sun goes down there is cable, high speed cable internet, Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Xbox. There are 8 TVs and 2 home theater systems (1 with a 12' projection screen) for your own movie theater experience. There is a gameroom with a tv, 9' pool table, a 12' shuffleboard, dart board, poker table, puzzles and board games.

The great room is @1000 square feet with a 12 person dining table, 3 person bar thru to kitchen, 8 person kitchen island and living area seating for the entire family. The kitchen is fully equipped to cook for all of your family and guests; commercial oven stove/cook top, 30" commercial griddle, 2 full size refridgerators, 2 full size microwaves, commercial Bunn double coffee maker, 3 grills (2 propane,1 charcoal), 400lb ice machine and a separate 90lb ice dispenser. If you prefer there are several highly recommended restaurants within 7 miles in and around the Tappahanock area.

When its time to sleep there are 5 king, 3 queen, 1 full, 9 twins, 2 queen pull out sofas and 1 full size baby crib (portable crib and pack-n-play available upon request) for many different ways for your family to spread out. All linens, towels and beach towels are supplied. There are 2 master bedrooms with private bathrooms. Master bedroom 1 has a handicap toilet to tub tranfer bench available upon request.

There is a gas log fireplace upstairs, wood stove downstairs (wood provided) and outside propane heater for the winter snowbird renters.

This is a really unique home that will more than meet the needs of large family groups. Please book well in advance, we fill up fast.

Property manager

Allen Elder

Premier Host

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen

Washer

Dryer

Free WiFi

Air conditioning

Gym

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Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Air conditioning

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM

Minimum age to rent: 25

Check out before 10:00 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17

Stairway guards on steps in house and deck.

Events

No events allowed

Outside cameras monitor sound and people.

Pets

No pets allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Allowed outside only

Friend and family units only. Failure to comply wi

There is no trash service. Must be 16 to operate t

Grills are usable at the guests risk. Owner will n

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy

Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges

Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed

On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited

Note from host: Outside cameras monitor sound and people.

Host has indicated that there is no carbon monoxide detector on the property, but there are gas appliances; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip

Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property

Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock

We should mention

A car is required for transport to and from this property

About the area

Dunnsville

Located in Dunnsville, this holiday home is in a rural area and on the waterfront. Morattico Waterfront Museum and Kinsale Museum are cultural highlights, and some of the area's landmarks include Menokin Foundation and Rice's Hotel / Hughlett's Tavern. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.

Dunnsville, VA

What's nearby

Rappahannock River Park - 19 min drive - 16.6 km
Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge - 29 min drive - 23.6 km
Westmoreland State Park - 54 min drive - 56.6 km
Morattico Waterfront Museum - 62 min drive - 60.8 km
Northern Neck Farm Museum - 65 min drive - 66.4 km

Restaurants

‪Prince Street Café - ‬17 min drive
‪The Sandbar - ‬17 min drive
‪Fairways Bar and Grill - ‬17 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Locust Lodge is the perfect river place for your family and friends to gather. pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Locust Lodge is the perfect river place for your family and friends to gather.?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Locust Lodge is the perfect river place for your family and friends to gather.?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Locust Lodge is the perfect river place for your family and friends to gather. located?

Located on the waterfront, this family-friendly holiday home is within 12 mi (20 km) of Riverside Tappahannock Hospital, Coleman Island and Tappahannock Historic District. Marsh Street Park & Pool and Rappahannock River Park are also within 12 miles (20 km).

9.8

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.

Learn more

9.8/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

9.8/10

Communication

10/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

10/10 Excellent

Colleen B.

3 June 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful Riverfront location

Very comfortable accommodations for a large group. Host is extremely helpful and goes out of his way to make our stay just perfect. Youll'll never be bored at Locust Lodge.

Stayed 3 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

CHRISTINE P.

1 January 2025

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Christmas Vacation

Our family enjoyed staying at the Locust Lodge over the week of Christmas 2024. The property is exactly as described. We wanted for nothing. We ate most of our meals at home. We had plenty of room for food, drinks, cooking and place we could sit down and have a meal together comfortably. We were already planning a trip to return in the summer. Allen was an excellent host and gave us through tour of the house upon check-in.

Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Lawrence H.

13 August 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great place for family to gather

We had a great week, and Allen was the best host. He answered every question we had. When we were visited by Tropical Storm Debbie, Allen was very proactive to make sure we knew everything we needed to know to have a safe and happy time at Locust Lodge. Highly recomend Allen and Locust Lodge for family gatherings.

Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Scott C.

20 July 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful Stay on the River

Our group of 14 had a fantastic vacation getaway at Locust Lodge! The house had everything we could ask for, a huge backyard with easy water access, and a perfect river view. Allen, the property owner, was super accommodating and friendly. He met us at the property when we arrived and took the time to give us a tour and answered any questions we had. I would highly recommend Locust Lodge to anyone and hope to visit again soon!

Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Dan S.

30 July 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Roomy House on the river

Allen is a great host, easy to get a hold of and gives great instructions! We had a large group of 20+ and we never felt cramped or that our needs were not met. The house is as advertised and we would love to stay here again!

Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Cindy C.

20 June 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great family vacation location

One of the best vacation properties we have rented for our bi-annual family vacations (10 adults and 14 grandchildren). Plenty of indoor space and lots of amenities. The river was great for swimming for all ages and a spacious lawn for activities. Everyone had a great time!

Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

kaye w.

19 September 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful stay!

This beautiful home has everything you would ever need. We had ages 1-86. There was something for everyone. We enjoyed the fishing, crabbing, kayaking, and paddle boating. The golf cart was an extra plus. The bedding is very comfortable. We enjoyed ending our evening in the game room, playing cards and shooting pool. Would definitely recommend and stay again!! Thank you Mr. Allen, for your kindness and wonderful communication.

Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Harold A.

31 July 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Family reunion

Many lasting memories were made during our stay. This is a fabulous venue for a large family gathering. Great communication with Allen who took care of everything.

Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Matt S.

5 June 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Awesome stay

We had a great time at Locust Lodge and Allen was a great host. The 9 dads and 19 kids in our party had fun playing in the water, fishing, kayaking, and watching movies. Awesome weekend!

Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Chrissy S., Powhatan, VA

15 August 2021

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful!

Allen was so accommodating and such a wonderful host. Their home is so beautiful and the views are breathtaking. There was plenty of room for our family and the house was very kid friendly. We would definitely recommend and would stay again!!

Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

Angie M.

8 July 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Excellent for big groups and beach lovers

This was the best vacation home rental we’ve ever had. The private beach and dock were where we spent most of our time. The owners provide kayaks, paddle board, paddle boat and access to fishing equipment and crab pots. You even have use of a golf cart to schlep all your gear from the house to the river. The other standout quality of this rental is a huge, completely stocked kitchen with everything needed to cook for and eat together with our really big family. We had a wonderful vacation and plan to return.

Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

john c.

6 July 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful property

We have rented on Vrbo many times and by far this was the best place ever. Accommodations For everything and everyone you could imagine.Homeowner was always available and took the time to show you everything in the house . Will definitely rent again

Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Mike S.

15 April 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fabulous Lodge

Property was fantastic for our Family birthday celebration. More then enough rooms, beds, baths, kitchen and dining. Outdoor river dock and beach were used extensively. Can’t beat the sunrise from the deck or dock.

Stayed 6 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

mary l.

7 August 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Family vacation

We were a family group of 21 and their was plenty of room for all of us. Allen is a great host to work with. You can stay at the house and enjoy everything there without leaving just bring food and clothes. Everything you need is there. Wish we could of stayed longer.

Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Jonette V., Ashburn

6 July 2021

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Incredible gathering place for families

We had an amazing trip to the Locust Lodge! We had a group of 23 people ranging in ages from 5-86! There was something for everyone. We didn’t need to leave the house the entire week. Thank you to Allen and his wife for all of their thoughtful details to the home.

Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2021

10/10 Excellent

DeShawn M.

27 November 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Spanish Reunion

Our 4th family reunion, which included 19 of us was held on thanksgiving weekend at the Locust Lodge and the accommodations were great. We had more than enough room and the house provided everything that we needed, all we had to bring was our clothes, toiletries and food. It was a good time and thanks Allen for loaning us your home.

Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2022

10/10 Excellent

Jessica W.

26 August 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing

We chose this property for our family reunion this year. This house was able to accommodate all of us (12 adults 5 children) with room to spare You only have to leave for groceries. From the fishing, kayaks paddle boat everything was in your reach. The owner is very responsive to any and all your concerns. Could not recommend this property enough

Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Joanne G., Steubenville, OH

18 August 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing property

Allen was an excellent host and is available to answer any questions that arise during your stay. The kitchen is fully loaded with practically everything you would need to cook and serve a large group. Additionally, the property has are many toys and acticities for the children and adults to enjoy. It was a wonderful stay. The only downside we found to the week was the presence of the jellyfish in the river, as we were frequently stung during watersports.

Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2022

6/10 Okay

Arthur F.

21 December 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, listing accuracy

Disliked: Communication

Good family retreat home. Some disappointments.

Good house for an active family. Nothing fancy but well maintained. Summer storm brought a 17-hour power outage of which there was no back-up for well water. As such, almost intolerable conditions with inadequate response from host including unwillingness to refund one night stay. Listing says no garbage pickup, but only until instructions near date of rental is one made aware they will need to tote their garbage to a transfer station. This is difficult unless you have a pick-up truck. Also, warnings about jellyfish are real - and we rented in June! Disappointed with the host. Will not rent this home again.

Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

brent v.

5 July 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful Home

This home really does have everything! All you need is food and a change of clothes and you'll have everything you need. We spent the whole week on the property and had a great time swimming, boating, eating, talking and playing games. .Our group was 11 kids (ages 2 to 18) and 10 adults.

Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2022

8/10 Good

Ellen C.

27 August 2021

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful Views from all the rooms!

A very fun river house with great views of the river, perfect dock for laying out, reading, crabbing, fishing and swimming. It was nice to have umbrellas and chairs, and equipment (crab pots, fishing poles, kayaks, paddle board, etc) right there. The golf cart was a blast and quite helpful for transports to and from the beach. There is plenty of room in the large kitchen family room, along with fun activities (pool, poker, projection TV), and toys for the toddlers :). The Lodge has such interesting and creative decorations - well done!

Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

Nita B., Raleigh, North Carolina

7 September 2021

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Special gem ...

Allen's property is special. It's his family's vacation home that he rents out - it feels like that... full of heart, love and warmth. SUPER well stocked kitchen; plenty of fun games and activities; so many spaces for folks to hang out in, relax and enjoy; and the best part is the location... the most special sunrises, the river to swim, boat, fish and play, and the huge field in the back yard for family football games. We thoroughly enjoyed ...

Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2021

10/10 Excellent

Nancy P.

10 October 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

True delight

Nine of us gather twice a year and this was our first here. We loved it! We commented several times throughout our stay that we felt like we staying at a friend's home. It is so comfortable. You will definitely find something to entertain yourself. Fishing, kayaking, croquet, walking, watching the gorgeous sunrises and moonrise, making friends with the neighbor Great Dane or watching for the resident eagle. The owners are engaged and very quick to respond to all questions. We would love to return.

Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Becky M., State College, PA, United States

14 January 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful view for New Years with friends

We are a group of 16 adults and 6 children that stayed over New Years. The view of the water is amazing and we enjoyed some pleasant weather to take some kayaks out on the water and enjoy the dock and play set. The rooms were comfortable and there was plenty of room for our group. The kitchen was extremely well stocked with no need to bring anything from home. The owner was very responsive and communicative. We had a small issue with the toilets and water on the main level due to rainy weather and the septic system, but it was super minor and the host was accommodating. I would note that the twins that accompany many of the queen beds are smaller than your typical twin bed, but perfect for the kids. We would definitely stay again.

Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2022

10/10 Excellent

Bradford B.

16 August 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Family Reunion

House was very clean, host was extremely gracious, helpful and communicative. We accidently broke a small item and host was very gracious about that. We were on a family reunion and one in the party brought their boat. Pros: - Plenty of seating space in common areas and for dining. - More than enough dishes, pots and pans and cutlery, nice gas grill, and we really appreciated the ice maker and ice dispenser (industrial size was great). Extremely well-stocked kitchen. - Linens were soft, clean, high-quality and plentiful. - Nice, stable, well-maintained dock (no splinters on tiny feet) - Enjoyed the use of the kayaks, paddle board, and golf cart. Cons: - As some reviews mentioned, there were small jellyfish in the water. They only caused mild stings, but did cause some tears for smaller kids. Nothing anyone can do about that but just for full disclosure. We had a wnderful time and will definitely consider Locust Lodge for future family reuions!

Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024

About the host

Hosted by Allen Elder

My wife and I have been married for @40 years. We are both retired and have 3 children and 6 grandchildren (ages 1-13). We have spoiled all of them.

I am a jack of all trades (master of SOME) that was educated in commercial art. I enjoy creating things in my mind and then making them with my hands. I have a passion for electronics and have built more home theaters than I can count. I enjoy remodeling but my best skill is deconstruction.

My wife is very imaginative and loves to entertain. Her passion is decorating for holidays, gatherings, and special occassions. When she's not decorating to entertain, she is remodeling rooms. She challenges me all the time trying to make, modify or build something she dreams up.

Our goal is for everyone that walks through the door: feel at home. We want people to walk around and discover things we have done that are unique, unusual and different.

Why they chose this property

We vacationed in this area when our kids were 3-10 years old. We loved the area and especially the river, which is shallow enough to turn our kids loose.

We looked for a place around here for a few months. We knew this house was meant for us, when we walked through the door for the first time. The stone fireplace was the first thing that caught our eye. We wanted a river place large enough for my family, siblings and their family to gather for vacation, holidays and special occasions.

Our home is a place that everyone that visits, wants to stay and is large enough to not have to turn anyone away.

When you walk through the door for the first time, we know you will have the same feeling we have everytime we walk in the door.

What makes this property unique

There may be nicer river homes that have some of what this home has to offer (waterfront, views, pier, boat ramp, large beach, large level lawn, rustic river charm with modern amentities), but few can even come close to entertaining space for more than the 30+ people that can sleep in beds, without feeling crowded. You and your guests will feel at home as soon as you walk through the door.

Languages:

English

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests

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Locust Lodge is the perfect river place for your family and friends to gather.

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Reviews

Popular amenities

Explore the area

Rooms & beds

7 bedrooms (sleeps 21)

Bedroom 1

Bedroom 2

Bedroom 3

Bedroom 4

Bedroom 5

Bedroom 6

Bedroom 7

Office 1

Office 2

Theater room

5 bathrooms, 1 half bathroom

Bathroom 1

Bathroom 2

Bathroom 3

Bathroom 4

Bathroom 5

Bathroom 6

Bathroom 7

Spaces

About this property