Luray, Virginia
The Sparrow: 1,000 square feet under a cathedral ceiling, a wood stove at its centre and a private hot tub on the deck. Ten minutes from Luray.
The short version
The roof is the walls. Inside, that means one soaring room with glass from floor to peak, and a loft tucked under the ridge.
Cathedral ceiling, floor-to-ceiling windows onto the forest, and a wood-burning stove at the centre of the living space.
A wraparound deck with a private five-person hot tub, a gas fire-pit table and an electric grill, steps from the living room.
Out front, a stone wood-burning fire pit under a pergola, with a hanging swing and Adirondack chairs facing the valley.
Inside
Most A-frames in the valley follow one look: white walls, Edison bulbs, barn doors. The Sparrow’s shell is clean Nordic architecture, but the inside is West and North African design: rich textures, bold patterns and warm earth tones, down to a Moroccan-inspired bedroom with a floor-pillow lounge.
Sleeping: a queen bed in the loft bedroom upstairs, open to the living room below, and a full bed in the main-floor bedroom. One bathroom, with a tiled walk-in shower. It sleeps four, which suits a couple with children or two friends better than two couples wanting separate floors with doors.
Working: Starlink internet averaging around 180 Mbps, and the loft doubles as a workspace with an all-in-one computer and printer. There is a 65-inch 4K TV and a PlayStation 5 for the evenings.
How it was built
The Sparrow was the first of the three cabins, built from DEN Outdoors A-frame plans on a lot just outside Luray. Morry, who owns and runs Kamara Cabins, managed the build alongside an experienced builder and chose the wood stove, the floor-to-ceiling glass and the interior. Morry has since earned a Virginia Class A contractor’s licence.
The whole story, from a post-deployment cabin trip to three cabins on one hillside, is in how a veteran built an A-frame in the Blue Ridge.
“We went for our first of many Christmas vacations! We absolutely LOVED IT! We actually stayed in the house more than we originally planned because we were in awe of the surroundings. Beautiful A-frame home and beautiful surroundings. Even the kids had a blast!”
See every room on The Sparrow’s page, or read more guest reviews.
A weekend here
Here for the trails, not the hot tub — though the hot tub helps
Friday evening
Arrive, light the wood stove, and get the boots by the door. Sort the Old Rag ticket now if you have not — it is required 1 March to 30 November.
Saturday, early
Old Rag. Nine and a half miles, a real scramble, and a full day — start at first light for the car park and the summit both.
Saturday night
The hot tub, the fire pit, and an early one.
Sunday morning
Something kind to the legs: Dark Hollow Falls is 1.4 miles, or Hawksbill is 1.7 to the highest point in the park. Neither takes the morning.
Where it is
The Sparrow sits on a wooded hillside outside Luray, beside The Turtle and The Stag. Downtown Luray, Luray Caverns and the Shenandoah River are each about ten minutes away, and the Thornton Gap entrance to Shenandoah National Park about fifteen.
Book it
Live availability and the full price before you pay, fees and tax included.
Modern A-frame getaway · Sleeps 4
Sleeps 4 · 2 bedrooms · 1 bath
From $275 / night · plus $100 cleaning and tax
Questions
1,000 square feet, with two bedrooms and one bathroom. It sleeps 4.
A queen in the loft bedroom upstairs, and a full in the Moroccan-inspired bedroom on the main floor.
Not fully. It is open to the living room below, which is what gives the A-frame its height. It suits a couple with kids, or friends who don't mind that, better than two couples wanting closed doors.
Yes, a private five-person hot tub on the wraparound deck, next to a gas fire-pit table and an electric grill.
Yes. Up to 2 pets for a $50 cleaning fee per stay, declared at checkout.
About 15 minutes to the Thornton Gap entrance and Skyline Drive, and about 10 to downtown Luray and Luray Caverns.
