Located in Sperryville, this holiday home is in a rural area and on a lake. River District Arts and R.H. Ballard Shop & Gallery are cultural highlights, and some of the area's activities can be experienced at Copper Fox Distillery and Little Washington Winery. Take in the nearby slopes with cross-country skiing, or try out other outdoor activities such as sledging.
Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) - 87 min drive
Restaurants
Before and After - 5 min drive
Rappahannock Pizza Company - 5 min drive
The Black Twig - 5 min drive
Off the Grid - 8 min drive
Three Blacksmiths - 5 min drive
Frequently asked questions
Does The Historic Poorhouse at Cardinal Springs have a pool?
Yes, this property has a pool.
How much does it cost to stay at The Historic Poorhouse at Cardinal Springs?
As of 29 October 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at The Historic Poorhouse at Cardinal Springs on 25 April 2027 start from NZ$1,833, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.
Is The Historic Poorhouse at Cardinal Springs pet-friendly?
Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 1 total).
How much is parking at The Historic Poorhouse at Cardinal Springs?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at The Historic Poorhouse at Cardinal Springs?
Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.
What time is check-out at The Historic Poorhouse at Cardinal Springs?
Checkout is at 12:00 PM.
Where is The Historic Poorhouse at Cardinal Springs located?
Situated on a lake, this holiday home is 2.7 mi (4.4 km) from Copper Fox Distillery and 2.8 mi (4.4 km) from River District Arts. Shenandoah National Park and Little Washington Winery are also within 6 miles (10 km).
Reviews
10
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
This is such a fun property! Lots of animals to meet and a very comfortable and well appointed place to stay. Hosts and friendly and accommodating and the location was within easy access of Sperryville and the park.
Always a wonderful stay at Cardinal Springs. Idyllic, peaceful, fun, and restful. Accommodations are lovely and comfortable, hosts are so welcoming and warm. Love it here.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 24 September 2026
It was great to see you again! Thanks for leaving the Poorhouse in such excellent condition. We are always happy to share our farm with you.
What a wonderful place to have our mother daughter weekend! We enjoyed walking around d this peaceful property, hiking in Shenandoah and visiting the Luray Caverns. Sperryville had several convenient places to have a tasty meal! The Historic Poorhouse was a lovely and cozy space to spend time together! Thanks for a great weekend. We would definitely stay here again if we were in the area.
Beautiful property! We wished the hosts were there as the reviews said they are so great at showing around the farm. We hope to come back soon
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 21 August 2026
Rachel, I'm sorry we were on vacation during your stay and that you apparently did not get the personal attention that you felt you needed from our farm sitters. They are normally very attentive to our guests, so I am surprised to see this review. Our apologies.
Such a special property with gracious hosts who go out of their way to introduce you to their farm and all the animals that inhabit it. The Poorhouse is so comfortable and perfect for two. We can’t wait to come back in the fall.
This is our 2nd time staying on the property. First time staying in this particular house. Amazing property with very nice hosts. Planning to come back!
Everything about our stay was perfect, and the farm is pure bliss. We are so happy to have found Cardinal Springs Farm and can't wait to visit again.
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2019
Response from VrboOwner on 29 March 2020
Katie,
We are glad that you were able to spend New Year's Eve with us and that you enjoyed the farm! We enjoyed meeting you. Come back and see us again.
--Andrea
We had a lovely stay at the Poorhouse! Beautiful property and close to many lovely things to do. We also enjoyed time with the animals and a paddle on the pond. Very organized, communicative, and thoughtful owners -- we'll be back! Thank you so much!
Perfect weekend getaway in the heart of Shenandoah
Very thoughtfully laid out, charming cabin on a farm with all sorts of animal friends. 20 minutes from Old Rag, 5 from Sperryville. A lovely weekend getaway
Our family stayed for a weekend and could not have been more thrilled! Our hosts were a delight, the beauty of the property is second to none, and the animals were a wonderful addition!!
The poorhouse is great for a family of 4 with younger kids. The kids loved walking around the property and seeing all the animals. Being close to sperryville was convenient.
The Poor House is exactly as shown online. If you’re looking for a place near Shenandoah to relax and enjoy animals, this is the perfect place. Our daughter loved getting to feed some of the animals and the fishing in the pond was pretty amazing. Steve and Andrea are very nice and generous hosts. We will definitely stay here again.
Andrea and Steve were great hosts - communicative and provide a great experience with the various animals and opportunities to experience their farm.
The Poorhouse was very well equipped, clean and perfect for our family. The property is beautiful and close to many restaurants and activities.
We cannot to stay again.
Wonderful views, amazing hosts and an exceptional cottage
We traveled to VA for a friend's wedding, this listing in particular caught our eye. It was above and beyond our expectations in every way. Andrea and Steve have done an absolutely amazing job transforming this property into what it is today. They were so welcoming and eager to make sure we were comfortable during our stay. There's so much to do on the farm, whether it's enjoying the amazing views, saying hello to the animals, taking a swim/canoeing in their pond or just relaxing in the cottage. I highly recommend watching the sunrise at the top of the property. We will absolutely be back in the future!
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2019
Response from VrboOwner on 29 March 2020
We are so glad that you enjoyed your trip to Virginia and your visit on the farm! Come back and see us again soon!
My husband and I stayed here with our 2 daughters, ages 6 and 8 and our 9month old puppy. It was everything we needed and more than we could have hoped for. With COVID cases rising, we'd just canceled our planned trip to Florida. We all needed a pick-me-up and a bit of peace in a safe location to relax and let the kids play without needing to venture out. Cardinal Springs was ideal. The girls collected eggs, fed the animals, regularly checked on the baby ducks, picked apples and pears, and enjoyed the entire property. We swam in the pond for hours each day, paddled on the paddle board and little boat, roasted marshmallows in the evening, and finally had some time to just breathe and relax. Our pup had the time of his life swimming in the pond too, meeting the friendly goats, and wishing to meet the ducks. Our hosts were lovely, gracious, and kind, providing us with tomatoes from the garden and a sense of privacy and safety. It couldn't have been any more perfect for us. Cardinal Springs provided us exactly what we all needed - peace, rest, and natural beauty.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 30 August 2021
Lindsay,
We are so glad that you had such a good time! We thoroughly enjoyed meeting all of you and hope to see you again soon. Thanks so much for leaving the property in such great shape. All the best!
--Andrea and Steve
Verified review
6/10 Okay
Frank S.
21 September 2023
Liked: Cleanliness
Disliked: Listing accuracy
Simple, Pleasant and Grossly Over-Priced
The entry way is/was very dangerous because of the steps down and up and my wife uses a walker. This was mitigated by the OUTSTANDING handyman who constructed a wooden bridge, which should become a permanent structure. The main room is smaller than the fish-eye camera shot portrays. Bedrooms are quite nice. Kitchen is inadequate. Just too small and the mat in front of the sink is downright dangerous. Speaking of danger, the one bath is totally unsatisfactory. Too small, way too cramped and the shower is so slippery my wife fell and pulled the shower curtain down, bruising her hip. The grounds are lovely and great for a pleasant walk but the entry road needs work. It is barely suitable for a four-wheel drive vehicle. At $450 per night it is grossly overpriced.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 21 September 2023
We regret your complaints about our Historic Poorhouse. The 1860s structure was renovated to preserve as much of its history as possible and, as we state in our listing, is not ideal for individuals with mobility issues. Our farmhand spent hours making a ramp to accommodate your wife's needs and he indeed is outstanding.
We can't say enough great things about Cardinal Springs Farm. This is a magical and peaceful place where you can get away from it all and simply soak in the beauty around you.
Steve and Andrea are incredibly gracious hosts. Upon our arrival, they oriented us to the farm and all of its animals, encouraging our kids to hold baby chicks and ducks, feed apples and carrots to the horse and mules, and give peanuts to the goats, and collect eggs. We so enjoyed using the fire pit at the top of the hill to roast hot dogs and marshmallows, all the while watching the glorious sunset and views of Old Rag Mountain. We also loved sitting on our porch watching the hummingbirds routinely visit the flowers around us; the property is bursting with Andrea's gardens, which are stunning.
The pond onsite is spectacular for swimming, stand-up paddle boarding, canoeing and fishing. It is spring-fed, very clean, and a great temperature. We also caught lots of fish, including large mouth bass and sunfish. They owners provide a canoe, paddleboard, and paddle boat for guests' use which was so nice.
I could go on and on. This is truly a magical place and Steve and Andrea have thought of everything. We will be back. Thank you!
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2020
Response from VrboOwner on 2 September 2020
Thank you for such a wonderful review. We are thrilled that you had such a good time at the farm and look forward to seeing you again soon!
What a great location! Not far from the main road but in a different world. My wife and I stayed three nights to enjoy the fall colors and to hike in Shenandoah Nat'l Park. Sperryville is five minutes away, the park about 20.
The cottage was charming and nicely decorated. We cooked in all three nights as most restaurants in the area are closed during the week. There is neither stove nor dishwasher, but we had no difficulties reheating frozen entrees we had brought from home, supplemented with fresh ingredients from the local store.
Walking around the property watching the animals was such a refreshing change from city living, we would love to come back!
Great respite from city life. The grounds are gorgeous with friendly sheep, rolling hills and beautiful views. Highlight was the hilltop fire pit plus grouse, deer, ducks and turkeys roaming free. Get you fresh eggs from the farm too. Sperryville is super quaint and nearby restaurants in Washington VA were amazing.
Cardinal Spring Farm is a gem. The setting is beautiful and the accommodations are comfortable and historically accurate. The hosts were friendly, knowledgeable and very gracious. Highly recommended.