National Register of Historic Places

Vine Forest

Natural Bridge, Rockbridge County, Virginia
Listed
August 22, 1991
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
91001084

About this property

Vine Forest, also known as Forest Oaks, Forest Tavern, and The Inn at Forest Oaks is a historic home located near Natural Bridge, Rockbridge County, Virginia. The original section was built in 1806 by Matthew Houston, the cousin of famous Texan, Sam Houston. The original house served as a store, tavern, and home for the Houston family, the primary dwelling on their sprawling plantation. In 1812, Houston expanded the house with substantial Colonial Revival additions, adding a two-story center hall with a full arched ceiling, reminiscent of the nearby Natural Bridge. Surviving the ravages of the American Civil War, the house stood virtually unchanged over the following century. In 1916, the property was purchased by Ohio architect Curtis Walton and his aunt Lilly who transformed the original federal style structure into an English country manor reminiscent of Lilly's British ancestry. The two-story center hall remained, however the original arched ceiling was removed and replaced with stunning oak woodwork and arches salvaged from an English estate. Two-story frame wings and a two-story rear verandah were also added. In addition, the Walton's built three Greek revival cottages on the property. The largest, Vine Cottage, served as a temporary home as the Manor House was being renovated. Vine Forest was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987.

Location

Natural Bridge, Rockbridge County, Virginia
37.62526, -79.57836

Categories

ARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Overview
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The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
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Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
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Nearby Historic Sites

Natural Bridge
Listed
1.8 mi
Annandale
Industrial
2 mi
Varney's Falls Dam
Industrial
3.1 mi
Rockbridge Inn
Industrial
3.1 mi
Poague, Margaret E., House
Industrial
4.5 mi

Nearby Battles

Engagement at Natural Bridge (1864)
1864Civil War
1.9 mi

Questions about this property

When was Vine Forest listed on the National Register?

Vine Forest was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on August 22, 1991.

What type of historic resource is Vine Forest?

Vine Forest is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Vine Forest?

The period of significance for Vine Forest is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Vine Forest?

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