Fort Lewis Lodge & Farm
EST. 1989
Millboro, Virginia
Adventure awaits at this 3,300-acre country retreat in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley where days spent hiking, biking, canoeing, trout fishing—or just whiling away the hours by the swimming hole—end with farm-fresh dinners and stargazing.
Farm Stay - Outdoor Recreation - Wellness - Farm-to-table Dining
Reasons To Go
Curl Up in Luxe Lodgings
Fort Lewis offers accommodations for groups of all sizes, from cozy, historic log cabins to farmhouses that comfortably sleep a crowd. Farm-fresh breakfasts and family-style dinners are included with a stay.
Explore Farming Traditions
Agri-curious guests can meet Fort Lewis’s pigs and chickens, stroll the vegetable garden, and observe the daily activities of a working farm,
from hay making, to cattle grazing, to the birth of a new calf.
Unwind in Nature
Relaxation comes easy at Fort Lewis, which includes a wood-fired sauna perched in the trees, a crystal-clear swimming hole, and hammocks for enjoying a good book.
Embrace the Great Outdoors
The Cowpasture River, stocked with rainbow trout each spring, runs right through Fort Lewis making early mornings easy for anglers. Guests can also canoe, kayak, or tube its waters, or opt for on-land adventures like hiking the Hickory Loop Trail for a bird’s-eye view of the farm. On summer evenings, search the fields for fireflies and take in the night sky from the star deck.
What Rings True — The Cowbell Difference
“In the end, we consider ourselves stewards of this land and love working with, and what really is living with, our cows and bulls. Our vision: a regenerative farming mindset. We want to return carbon and other missing elements to the soil, support biological diversity, restore a natural, self-supporting system, and produce a sustainable, nutritious, and tasty beef product.”
— The Cowden Family, Owners
Agriculture
Fort Lewis embraces sustainable farming techniques like rotational grazing with long rest periods. Through fencing, the farm has also kept livestock free from all waterways to protect the quality of free-flowing streams and rivers.
Locality
Fort Lewis is an easy jumping off point for exploring Bath County’s Warm Springs Pools, naturally heated mineral baths that have been drawing visitors for centuries. Special events celebrating the food of the Allegheny Highlands, like Foodlore Fridays at Oakley Farm, are also close by.
Enrichment
Open April to October, Fort Lewis hosts events and retreats with the goal of bringing people together in meaningful ways. Check their calendar for farm dinners, an annual Artist Retreat, and a Fourth of July celebration complete with fireworks.
Meet The Stewards
Fort Lewis has been owned and operated by the Cowden Family for over 65 years, opening its doors to guests in 1989. John Cowden and his son, David, run the cattle business and manage the 3,300-acre farm. Caryl Cowden is head chef, renowned for her home-style cooking and baking skills, with homemade muffins at every meal and desserts baked nightly for guests. Together with David’s wife, Erin, they all work together to manage day-to-day operations of the lodging business.
The Cowden Family
Owners, Farmers, and Innkeepers