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Copper Hill in Virginia may be unfamiliar to most travelers. Still, this small up-and-coming tourist destination has much to offer visitors who are surprised by the unique activities and places to discover in this remote area. Copper Hill, an unincorporated community located southwest of Roanoke in Floyd County, Virginia, United States, is home to vineyards, farms, and unspoiled natural areas worth visiting.

Guests can also stay in two exciting Caboose Cabins that add a touch of time travel to the experience. The cabins stand on Apple Ridge Farm, a non-profit organization that transforms the lives of underserved children and families through participation in educational, cultural, and outdoor activities.

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The Beginnings Of The Copper Hill Farm in Virginia

Since its founding in 1978, Apple Ridge Farm has offered more than 80,000 young people, many of whom come from inner-city communities and public housing projects, the opportunity to participate in environmental education programs and summer camp activities. Peter Lewis, the visionary who started the farm, firmly believes that all adults should share the duty of assisting children and teenagers in achieving their goals. Peter put his thoughts into action by purchasing his Copper Hill farm in 1975 to establish a mountain retreat center that would provide disadvantaged youngsters with the opportunity to get an education in a natural environment.

After another three years, Apple Ridge Farm became an official non-profit organization. Both children and adults living in the city find the wooded mountain and natural areas on the farm enchanting. The farm's educational activities guide many young campers in their development as individuals and as students by instructing them in fundamental topics such as science and mathematics and essential life skills such as healthy self-esteem and positive values.

The Caboose Cabins

The red and blue caboose cabins allow guests to travel back in time before 1984 when cabooses were retired. The first cabin is a red, tastefully refurbished 1978 Norfolk Southern Caboose Car with a queen bed, sleeper sofa, table for two, and a connected outdoor deck. This charming Caboose, designated as number 1, features a complimentary breakfast with overnight stays.

The second cabin, blue in color, appears slightly larger on the exterior and more spacious on the interior. Caboose number two, as it is known, has also been elegantly renovated and features a queen-sized bed, a sitting space, and a table for two. This roomy cabin's overnight accommodations feature a complimentary breakfast and breathtaking mountain views.

During their stay, guests of both caboose cabins enjoy breathtaking mountain vistas and more than four miles of hiking trails. The red and blue caboose cabins are pet-friendly, one-of-a-kind, and unforgettable. Guests contribute to Apple Ridge Farm's charitable efforts to help children develop by staying in these two rentals.

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How To Get To Apple Ridge Farm

The 96-acre rural education and retreat center of Apple Ridge Farm is located near Copper Hill, Floyd County, Virginia, in the center of the Blue Ridge Mountains, exposing guests to southwest Virginia's natural beauty and distinction. The farm's remote location and plenty of rural charm and natural habitats make it a tranquil and enriching vacation.

Apple Ridge Farm is situated on rocky terrain with a one-mile driveway through its property, and it requires a half-mile drive on the farm's dirt road to reach the cabooses. Although not required, the proprietors recommend AWD and 4WD cars for accessing the cabooses. Low-riding vehicles, such as sports cars, will have difficulties accessing the caboose area. The education and retreat center at Apple Ridge Farm features almost four miles of hiking trails, a baseball field, basketball and tennis courts, a picnic area, and more.

What Else Is In The Area

In addition, visitors visiting Floyd County have the opportunity to see The Blue Ridge Parkway, a picturesque National Parkway in the United States. The parkway spans 469 miles across 29 Virginia and North Carolina counties, connecting Shenandoah National Park and Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Visitors can also enjoy FloydFest international music, and arts events held yearly near Floyd, Virginia, in the magnificent Blue Ridge Mountains just off the Blue Ridge Parkway, where visitors can enjoy live music. The festival has been held annually for five days since 2002, with camping and numerous stages showcasing rock, bluegrass, reggae, folk, Yiddish, Cajun, or Zydeco, African, Appalachian, and world music artists. The event incorporates local arts and crafts, dance workshops, morning yoga instruction, storytelling, poetry readings, and a "Children's Universe" tent in addition to music.

Chateau Morrisette, a gorgeous winery near the Blue Ridge Parkway, is a destination for wine-loving travelers. The Chateau sells wine by flight, bottle, and glass, and when the weather is beautiful, guests can take a bottle out to the courtyard to enjoy the scenery. In the summer, on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, their HUT serves meat-and-cheese platters, hotdogs, hamburgers, and other dishes.