Afton: History, Nature and Local Flavors

Afton lies in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

History and Architecture

The Greenwood-Afton Rural Historic District includes the village of Afton, dating to the mid-19th century. Afton Chapel was built in 1898 as a non-denominational church. Swannanoa in Afton offers a different architectural note: the villa is a marble Italianate-style building from 1912. Built as a 52-room marble palace, it was modeled after the Villa de Medici in Rome. Its features include a Tiffany stained-glass window made of 4,000 individual pieces and a vaulted ceiling depicting Mrs. Dooley. At Swannanoa, therefore, architectural form, material, and the Roman model come together—three specific points of comparison for architecture.

Trails and History at the Blue Ridge Tunnel

The Blue Ridge Tunnel opened on April 13, 1858. At the time of its opening, it was the longest railroad tunnel in North America. A 2.25-mile gravel trail runs along the tunnel, connecting Afton with Rockfish Valley. Cyclists have a separate option: a 40-mile ride along the Blue Ridge Parkway. It leads to Milepost 0 at Afton Mountain; a loop through Afton is optional. The two routes differ considerably in length: 2.25 miles for the tunnel trail compared with 40 miles for the bike ride. For the latter, the loop through Afton is an additional option.

Fall Raptor Migration

From August 15 through November 30, Rockfish Gap Hawk Watch conducts a daily fall raptor count. An average of nearly 30,000 raptors pass through each fall. The main count site is on the grounds of the Inn at Afton. Unlike the permanent structures, the count takes place within a specific fall window. Check the schedule before your trip if you would like to include the count in your plans.

Harvests and Regional Food and Drink

Critzer Family Farm offers seasonal pre-picked fruit as well as fruit for visitors to pick themselves. Before your trip, check which options are available at your preferred visit time. The Nelson 151, a food and drink trail featuring wineries, breweries, cideries, and distilleries, begins in Afton. It includes a digital passport for 15 stops along a scenic 15-mile route; the number of participating stops may change. The similarly named Virginia Route 151 also begins in Afton and is designated a Virginia Scenic Byway. Nelson 151 is the beverage trail, while Virginia Route 151 is the designated Scenic Byway—this distinction helps keep the names straight when planning your trip.

Afton Mountain Vineyards is one of Virginia’s pioneering wineries; its vines date to 1978. The winery grows 11 grape varieties on 26 acres at an elevation of 1,000 feet. At Wild Man Dan Brewery, visitors can learn how ale is made while tasting Chai-Laxin or Dark Matter IPA. Blue Mountain Brewery is a brewpub on Route 151 with its own standard and seasonal beers, a kitchen serving freshly prepared food, and views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Brewing Tree Beer Company also offers freshly prepared food, a beer garden by the creek, and rotating small-batch Virginia beers. The number of varieties grown and visitor offerings may change; check ahead if a specific detail is important to your plans.

Explore more destinations: Rockfish, Nellysford, Lovingston

For the broader travel overview: Nelson County.