Birdwood Mansion opens its doors once more

Birdwood Mansion, which sits just west of the University of Virginia, has been part of the UVA family since 1974.

The approximately 12,000-square-foot historic residence was originally built between 1819 and 1830 by the Garth family and passed through the hands of several prominent Albemarle County owners in its early years. Birdwood recently underwent an extensive restoration and just opened as a boutique hotel and event venue.

Officials held a ribbon-cutting ceremony June 11 to celebrate the work, which spanned seven years from concept to completion.

Birdwood’s refurbished entryway has the same bones as the old house. (Undated contributed photo; new photo by Lathan. Goumas, University Communications)

“Few places truly embody the connection between the University’s past, present and future quite like Birdwood,” Jennifer “J.J.” Wagner Davis, the University’s executive vice president and chief operating officer, said. She thanked UVA’s Board of Visitors and the board members of the UVA Foundation, which has owned the property since the 1980s.

“Throughout this effort, there has been a commitment not only to preserving the historic physical nature of the Birdwood Mansion, but also to ensure that its full history is understood and shared,” UVA Foundation Chair Daniel Abramson said. “That includes recognizing and honoring the lives of the enslaved individuals and families whose stories are inseparable from Birdwood’s history.”

The study’s built-in cabinets have subtle updates. The molded ceiling shines with new, built-in lighting. (Undated contributed photo; new photo by Lathan. Goumas, University Communications)

“We have sought to ensure the stories told here are more complete and more reflective of all of those who are part of Birdwood’s history,” said Jessica Harris, board president for the Descendants of Enslaved Communities at UVA and a descendant herself. Officials will install a memorial at the home this fall.

The hotel, a new feature at the Boar’s Head Resort, invites visitors onto its portico with four huge Doric columns, its architecture echoing that of UVA’s Academical Village, home to the Lawn. Most of the interior woodwork and fireplaces date to the Colonial Revival period. Guests can reserve one of four spaces in the main house or in one of three cottages.

The home’s former porch is now a full-service dining room seating up to 42 people. Guests can reserve tables for dinner, afternoon tea or breakfast. (Undated contributed photo; new photo by Lathan. Goumas, University Communications)