Can one lose oneself in the timelessness of beauty and history, and find oneself in the same place but this time, enamored by its luxury?
After the peaceful reelection of US President Barack Obama, America will be celebrating Thanksgiving. For many Americans, Thanksgiving is, more than any other national holiday, a celebration of gratitude to God for bountiful harvests and for the priceless blessings of family, friends and home.
On my recent visit to Virginia, I was privy to a magnificent region where one of the first Thanksgiving feasts was celebrated, way back in 1619. This land of intoxicating beauty, glorious vineyards and sprawling agricultural yards also nurtured leaders and renaissance men like the eight US presidents, namely George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe, William Henry Harrison, John Tyler, Zachary Taylor and Woodrow Wilson.
The deep roots of America’s rich history were planted in the Virginia Piedmont, the gently rolling countryside east of the Blue Ridge Mountains. It is in this remarkable setting that we find the magnificent 600-acre Keswick Hall Mansion that celebrates its centennial year of existence.
Together with my dear friends Reesa Guerrero-Silliman, Tony Rodriguez and Edwin Santos, we explored and experienced this historic gem-of-a-property that started with the construction of Villa Crawford in 1912. Located in the midst of Virginia’s countryside rich with award-wining vineyards and hunting grounds, the original two-story, 8,000-square-foot country estate first served as the home of the illustrious Florence and Robert B. Crawford. Given their insatiable wanderlust, the Crawford couple was inspired by the Italian villas in the countryside of Tuscany. Built as a gorgeous, Italianate-style estate, the property was converted to a country club in 1948, and restored in the early 1990s as part of the world-class hotel that now graces a most beautiful piece of Virginia countryside. Its rich history goes hand in hand with the property’s most recent prestigious award, won in both 2010 and 2011 –– Conde Nast’s “No.1 Small Resort in mainland US.” That same rich history has been well documented in a recently published and well-received book, The Story of Keswick Hall, also featured at the 2012 Virginia Festival of the Book.
Patricia Castelli, the hotel’s official historian, shared that many Hollywood movies were filmed here. She also said that in the early 1990s, Keswick was about to be bulldozed to the ground, but Sir Bernard Ashley (husband of the well-loved designer Laura Ashley) resurrected the precious property setting it on the world stage where it poignantly remains today. Their signature stamp of countrystyle-inspired fabrics are evident in the warm interiors of the enclave. Today, Keswick Hall is a timeless treasure where all paintings, murals, furniture, chandeliers, antiques and memorabilia have their stories to tell. The original staircase, ceiling moldings and fireplaces have been painstakingly retained.
Located in the fifth largest wine producing state in the US, Keswick Hall at Monticello is a short drive away from many more vineyards where guests can enjoy tours and tastings. Brigette Belanger-Warner of the Charlottesville Albemarle Convention and Visitors Bureau even arranged special wine tours for us at the Jefferson Vineyards, Blenheim Vineyards, Trump Winery and Castle Hill Cider. Brigette also provided us with presidents’ passes, which allowed us to visit Monticello, the only American home on the list of World Heritage Sites. No other home in the United States more accurately reflects the personality of its owner than Monticello, Thomas Jefferson’s architectural masterpiece and beloved mountain-top home. We also visited Ash Lawn-Highland, the home of James Monroe, fifth president of the United States located in Charlottesville. On the other hand, Michie Tavern, located below Jefferson’s Monticello, has accommodated travelers with food, drink and lodging more than 200 years ago.
Former presidents Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and James Monroe resided just a stone’s throw from Keswick. Even today, several centuries hence, their loving presence can be surmised along a morning horse ride through Keswick’s immortal grounds.
The hotel produces its own private label wines, Edith’s Chardonnay and Edith’s Petit Verdict, which pay tribute to Edith Fossett, Thomas Jefferson’s chief cook at Monticello –– one of the most responsible positions in Jefferson’s household during his retirement. Guests dining in Fosset’s can enjoy the extensive offering of both Virginia and international wines. The resort’s beef burger with foie gras and fried egg with truffle fries is heavenly. Favorite dishes here include braised Mount Vernon farm lamb loin rubbed with rosemary served with parmigiano and mascarpone ravioli and free Union Grass Farm duck confit ragout with butternut squash, arugula and cracklings.
It’s a divine destination that boasts of an illustrious past and embraces a progressive future that can be enjoyed by a duality of casual or formal subtleties. Choose from an array of activities to engage in while in Keswick. Play a round of golf or play tennis, walk or ride bikes, luxuriate while riding a hot-air balloon for a scenic view from above, take a historical tour of the resort, swim with the kids, relax at the spa, watch the hounds run early in the morning. Treble is the resort’s wine cellar that houses over 3,000 bottles of wine and is a great venue for special events for groups of two to 12 guests.
Keswick Hall integrates the coziness and rustic charm of a luxurious country home. I enjoyed the place as I sat in my veranda in Keswick Hall overlooking what resembles a velvet carpet of greens and bunkers to my right and a charming infinity pool with audio streams that one can listen to under the clear blue water. The Arnold Palmer-designed championship course in my backyard in Virginia is not just a well-landscaped 18-hole verdant paradise; it stands as a veritable witness to history that has unfolded in the lap of stunning luxury.
Impressive scenes greeted us from our suite, the famed Room No. 9, one of the most frequently requested guest rooms, which is the Louis XV-inspired room with original hardwood floors dating back to the year 1912. It has massive French doors that open onto a private terrace that was once designated as the master’s bedroom of the illustrious Crawford Family. The entire resort is a museum without walls, a living museum simply because you can sit, lie down, feel the furnishings and the lifestyle of yesteryear so exclusively and casually.
Our dear friend Jennifer Crisp, public relations manager of Keswick Hall, shared that visitors to Central Virginia can now experience two iconic travel experiences –– Keswick Hall and The Jefferson Hotel –– all in one delightful package. These two exquisite sister properties combine the country estate living, wineries and presidential homes in Charlottesville at Keswick Hall with the history, culture and attractions offered in downtown Richmond at The Jefferson Hotel.
Lavender fragrance wafting through the air succumbed me to the sweet arms of slumber. Everywhere you look at Keswick Hall, you are enchanted by how fabulous the lifestyle of the glorious past was and yet you remain infatuated by how all these have been preserved, restored and wonderfully presented to the discriminating guests of today. Guests will also be in awe to find out that there are 80 different birds species and dancing fireflies that inhabit the resort.
In the sincere quest to preserve and improve further this jewel of a property, much has taken place. Patricia Castell, the historian of Keswick, writes in her book: “The ups and downs of this property throughout its distinctly non-linear history include all the elements of life in their unique time: dreams, enthusiasm, love, mystery, energy, tragedy, romance, failure, beauty, dormancy, serenity, heartbreak and excitement.”
Can one lose oneself in the timelessness of beauty and history and find oneself in the same place but this time be enamored by its luxury? Yes, in Keswick Hall, one experiences this historic and luxurious sanctuary that has always been and will always be like no other.
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For more information, please log on to www.keswick.com or www.visitcharlottesville.org.
Email the author at miladay.star@gmail.com.