Aerial view southwest along the private lake and forested valley at Wild Mule Reserve
Bastian, Virginia

Your own lake. An estate to yourselves.

Past the farms and the cattle, a private gate, and a mile of forest. The road ends above a private lake, with the Lake Hall on the water and the lodge on the rise. The estate is yours while you are here.

The estate

580 acres, bordered on three sides by national forest.

You drive through farmland, past barns and cattle, and stop at a gate that opens to your own code. A gravel road runs a mile through the woods. Then the valley opens: the lake, the hall, the lodge.

Jefferson National Forest borders the property on three sides, more than 40,000 acres of it. The creek that feeds the lake begins four miles up the valley and is untouched above you. The Appalachian Trail runs along the boundary. Trails continue through the property if you want them.

A private lake, this much land, and national forest on three sides are not things you can simply build into a venue. They come together here. For your stay or wedding weekend, you get to make this rare setting your own.

Secluded in nature, not cut off from the world. High-speed fiber internet lets you stay connected when you need to. The rest of the time is yours.

The land, the lake, the arrival

Campus view across the lake, with a rendering of Lake Hall below the lodge
The campus from across the lake. Lake Hall is shown as a rendering; construction is nearly complete.
Two ways to be here

A stay, or a celebration.

Lodge porch over the lake

Stay

Alexander Lodge and the cottage, together. Four bedrooms in the lodge, the couple’s cottage apart, the lake to yourselves. Nightly rates range from $800 to $1,200, depending on the season.

A bride and groom walking beside the lake with autumn forest behind them

Weddings

The whole estate, from Friday afternoon through Monday morning. Rehearsal, wedding, and time together by the lake. Lodging for 24, or up to 28 using the lodge and cottage pullout couches. Celebrate with up to 150 guests.

Alexander Lodge great room

Alexander Lodge

Timber, stone, and a grand fireplace. The house above the lake, with 4 bedrooms and 2 baths. Sleeps 10, or up to 12 with the pullout couch.

The cottage

The cottage

1 bedroom, 1.5 baths. Ideal for 2, up to 4 with the pullout couch. A separate door in the trees.

Lake Hall reception tables beneath vaulted beams, with windows facing the lake

The Lake Hall

Dinner on the water. Seating for 150 and room to dance. Sleeps 12 more when the weekend includes it.