2508 Sterrett Rd, Raphine, VA 24472

Briar Hill embodies historic elegance with panoramic western views of Jump Mountain rising beyond the historic village of Brownsburg in the foreground. Locally constructed as a nearby tavern circa 1810 and later relocated to its current 87-acre site, the log structure was carefully reassembled by skilled craftsmen under the oversight of a notable Charlottesville architect, adding modern conveniences while respecting the structure's quiet simplicity. Appropriate materials were selected throughout, including natural stone, heart pine floors, a standing seam metal roof, and a kitchen with custom cabinets by Jaeger & Ernst, local soapstone sink, and salvaged wormy chestnut countertops. A detached guest cottage with a full bath provides additional useful space adjacent to the property's expansive fenced gardens, which lend exceptional opportunities for horticulture. Once featured on the cover of Abode Magazine, the property offers exceptional privacy, no restrictions, and more than 1,000 feet of meandering Hays Creek. Its multiple tax parcels comprise an ideal mix of rolling fields and 45 acres of mature forest, with valuable hardwood timber and superb hunting prospects. Displaying dramatic sunsets surpassed in brilliance only by the sweeping vistas from an alluring additional building site to the rear, Briar Hill draws its name from the summer boys' camp that once stood there, closely linking the property's history with the remarkably well-preserved village of Brownsburg, established in 1793 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the Virginia Landmarks Register. Historic log homes and brick residences line the village's main street, where a small local museum and an operating post office remain part of the community's timeless character.