Chester House is an architectural gem. Built in 1905 by an international lawyer who participated in drawing up the Treaty of Versailles, the stately Georgian mansion has thick walls, exquisite dentilmolding, and an incredible carved Italian-marble fireplace in the dining room. Dogwoods, wisteria, a formal English-style boxwood garden, a goldfish pond with fountain, and statuary grace the 2-acre grounds. The huge Royal Oak Suite has a queen-size poster bed, fire-place, sitting room, and 6-foot bath tub. The Blue Ridge Room is also spacious, with a wrought-iron king-size bed and light floral prints. The suite in the revamped carriage house offers a kitchen (including microwave oven and refrigerator/freezer stocked with beverages), living and dining rooms, and a wood spiral staircase leading up to a loft with skylights and a whirlpool tub.
The town of Front Royal sits at the foot of the Blue Ridge, and the house is a short walk from Main Street’s antiques and crafts shops and from summer concerts at the Village Common’s gazebo. Hospitality is Bill Wilson’s seventh career; along with his wife, Ann, he’s adding it to his list of successful ventures.
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