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PREPArE FOr aRrIVal

We hope you’re looking forward to your stay at Rock Spring Retreat! We wanted to share some important information prior to your arrival to ensure you have a relaxing and carefree experience during your visit.

As always, though, please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or if we can be of assistance in any way. We’re happy to share recommendations for restaurants, local sights and adventures, wineries and breweries, specialty services, and other activities to enjoy in and around Shepherdstown, Harpers Ferry, and Charles Town. You can also plan your visit by exploring the history and attractions of Jefferson County and the eastern panhandle of West Virginia.

We’re thrilled to welcome you to “Almost Heaven!”

-Tom & Walt


Check In

You are welcome to check in any time after 2 pm on your arrival date. Your unique access code to the electronic lock on the front door will be emailed to you in advance (but please reach out if you did NOT receive this code a few days before your arrival). At times, the temperature or humidity can cause the antique door to stick, so you may need to pull the door toward you while the deadbolt unlocks. Once it has successfully unlocked (if it beeps or flashes, that means there is an error and you need to re-enter the code), turn the brass doorknob clockwise and push the door open.

Parking

Feel free to park anywhere on the gravel driveway or in front of the red barn, but please don’t block access to the driveway leading up to the hay bales and large barn with silos. Rock Spring is a working farm and our team will need access to that part of the property to care for the cattle, horses – and our friendly cats!

Wifi

The wireless network name is Rock Spring Retreat and the password is estd1795. Cell service is very spotty in the country, so we encourage you to connect to the wifi on your phone if you need to send messages or make a call. You should be able to connect outside of the house in case you need to reach us prior to getting in.

What To Expect

We hope that we’ve prepared Rock Spring to exceed your expectations! Prior to your arrival, you should know:

  • All linens are provided including bedding, bath towels, and kitchen towels.

  • The house will have been professionally cleaned and all beds made with the provided linens the day before check-in. If you would like us to make up one or both of the sleeper sofas for your guests, please respond to this message to let us know. Linens for the sleeper sofas are always provided, so you’re welcome to make them up yourself after arrival, if you’d prefer.

  • In addition to standard cooking utensils and equipment, the kitchen is stocked with some essentials: salt & pepper, a spice rack, oil & vinegar, coffee & tea, sweeteners, coffee filters, and paper towels. For your convenience, you can order groceries online for pick-up at the Weis Market grocery store, less than 10 minutes away at 217 Oak Lee Drive, Ranson, WV.

  • Bathrooms are stocked with toilet paper, body wash, shampoo, conditioner, and hair dryers.

  • Seasonally, the grounds and gardens are maintained by our exceptional team of local horticulturists. You may see them mowing the grass or tending to the flower beds during your stay, but we try to schedule them to come prior to guests' arrival.


For Your Safety

Part of the charm of Rock Spring Retreat is the historic and rustic nature of the home and property. Please help us take care of this beautiful treasure and follow these important rules for your own safety:

  • Smoking is not permitted inside the house, on the porches, or in the red barn or white stable at any time. If you smoke somewhere away from the structures, please carefully dispose of dampened cigarette butts appropriately.

  • Unfortunately, the antique fireplaces throughout the house are NOT operational. Please do not attempt to start a fire as all of the chimneys are fully sealed.

  • Please do not light any candles inside the house or outbuildings. There are a number of remote-controlled LED candles throughout the home if you are looking to create some special ambiance!

  • Given the age of the home, there is a lot of architectural character – and several abnormalities. Please be very mindful of low-clearance doorways, steep and uneven steps, thresholds that can be a tripping hazard, and antique windows that do not stay open on their own. This is especially important if children are joining you, so please do not leave young guests unattended.

  • Being in the country and on a working farm is a fun way to experience nature – but also requires your special attention. Watch for holes and animal burrows in the ground, note that the fences around the cattle and horses are electrified, do not approach any (generally harmless!) wildlife you might encounter on the property, and please do not cross onto the operational side of the farm (across the driveway from the house, past the hay bales) where there is heavy machinery and unsecured outbuildings.

  • Given its age and structural integrity, entrance into the stone Spring House behind the main farmhouse is also strictly prohibited. It is one of the most historically significant structures on the property, but also the one in the worst shape. Please do not attempt to enter this building under any circumstances.

  • While we love dogs, the lack of enclosed outdoor spaces, the proximity to livestock and wildlife, and the age of the farmhouse means that Rock Spring Retreat is unfortunately not pet friendly.

NOTICE
Under West Virginia law, there is no liability for an injury to or death of a participant in an agritourism activity conducted at this agritourism business if the injury or death results from the inherent risks of the agritourism activity. Inherent risks of agritourism activities include, among others, risks of injury inherent to landscape, terrain, equipment, and animals, as well as the potential for you to act in a negligent manner that may contribute to your injury or death. You are assuming the risk of participating in this agritourism activity.

Emergency Contact

If you need to reach us urgently for any reason at all, please feel free to call or text Tom at 202-577-3896 or Walt at 601-941-9869. We monitor our messages regularly, but you will get an immediate response by reaching out to this phone number.

Be Part of the Rock Spring Story

Be sure to follow us on Instagram and Facebook to keep up with happenings around the farm throughout the seasons. During your visit, please feel free to tag us and check in online at @RockSpringRetreat. We love seeing and sharing your special moments at Rock Spring with our community of guests, visitors, and friends!