A weekend getaway doesn’t have to mean traveling for hours or staying at a fancy hotel. In fact, it could mean the complete opposite. Pack your bags and head about two hours south to Louisa for a relaxing getaway that will feel just far enough away from reality.
Ashleigh and Mike Furcron live on a private lake in Louisa, Virginia, where they also happen to be owners of an unusual rental property: a luxury tugboat. Originally from Northern Virginia, the Furcrons moved to Louisa in 2018 with hopes of creating an interesting and different business venture. The couple found a listing for a tugboat off Craigslist and took the chance to create a distinctive rental property.
“Our goal was to create a really unique experience for people, and because we have young children ourselves, we were kind of drawn towards something that would be a really memorable experience for families,” says Mike.
The tugboat comes with three beds: a king bed, a double bed, and twin blow-up mattress, allowing five people to comfortably sleep on the boat. There is also one full bathroom located on the main level with a full shower and flushing toilet. Of course, there is also a kitchen with a microwave, cooktop, coffee pot, and refrigerator. As for the outdoor space, there is a lakefront beach area with kayaks and stand-up paddle boards, a fire pit with a grate for all your grilling and s’mores-making needs and festive twinkling lights. And for the animal lovers out there, you might also run into some sheep, chickens, bunnies, and ducks while venturing outside.
“You feel like you are in a whole other world,” says Mike. “We’ve had people say it’s like a movie set at night because of how unique the tugboat looks with the twinkling lights and the fact that you can’t hear anything but frogs and crickets.”
What makes this rental property so appealing is the sense of remoteness and tranquility that you often don’t get when at home. However, you don’t have to be completely unplugged on your stay if you don’t want to be. The property provides Wi-Fi through a Hot Spot, as well as an A/C unit and space heaters.
With 171 five-star reviews on Airbnb, there’s no doubt that guests are satisfied with this property. But the owners are also just as keen to highlight why they love this tugboat.
“The nighttime is so magical,” says Ashleigh. “There’s very little light pollution so stargazing is amazing and you can see shooting stars all the time. And sitting up top in the pilot house is probably the best part of the tugboat since there are 360 views of the lake.”
Most guests stay on the property for the entirety of their visit, but if you want to venture out into the town of Louisa, there is plenty to see and do. Southern Revere Cellars, a family-owned winery, is 6 miles away, and the charming Frosties Rail Stop ice cream shop is just 4 miles from the property. If you are staying for a few days, Charlottesville is about a 40-minute drive and filled with restaurants and shops.
To experience everything that comes with this luxury tugboat, the nightly rate is $438 and you can book from the Airbnb website.
Feature image courtesy Ashleigh and Mike Furcron
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