From the Stevenson Ridge website (link)- Debbie and Dan Spear purchased the property now known as Stevenson Ridge in 2001. They have spent the last 20 years re-homing antique structures to the property, restoring them, and transforming them into guest cabins and cottages. Such buildings include a post office, tobacco hanging barn, and a house once lived in by family of President George Washington. Most of the structures pre-date the Civil War—the oldest dating back to 1732.  The Spears have focused on retaining each building’s original character while incorporating the modern conveniences that guests expect. In 2008, the Spears’ daughter, Jennifer Mackowski, returned from San Diego to coordinate the start-up of the business and the integration of special events. Stevenson Ridge saw its first guests in December 2009 and first wedding in April 2010. By 2011, Dan completed work on the Lodge, which became Stevenson Ridge’s primary event facility. Built around the post-and-beam framework of an old chapel, the Lodge combines Dan’s love of antique structures with the modern amenities to accommodate hundreds of guests. Stevenson Ridge began offering catering services in 2013 and has since expanded into off-site catering at other local venues. Today, Stevenson Ridges consists of eleven lodging cabins, enhanced by a thriving event and catering business, nestled on 90 beautiful acres of the historic Spotsylvania Court House Battlefield.

Inside the lodge the doors below came from a house once owned by the Grants at 205 I Street in Washington, DC. It was a four story row house that was demolished in 1965 for the construction of Interstate 395. The doors were acquired by William Newell from workmen at the site. He donated them to the St. Stephen’s Dad’s Club but because of their unique size, double doors each 3 feet wide by 12 feet tall, they could not use them. They were placed in storage where they remained until 1988 when the church auctioned them. In 2011 a guest staying at the Spy Hill House on the property, who had won the doors at the auction, was taking a tour of the Lodge while it was under construction. She mentioned the story of the doors to co-owner Dan Spears and that they would make a perfect addition to the property.

The right side of the battlefield which is on the Stevenson Ridge property (private property) is shown below (images taken facing Courthouse Road at 38.2151347, -77.5741578, from left to right). This was the ground that the 50th PA, the only regiment on the right side of the Fredericksburg Road, advanced over and held utilizing a bayonet charge led by Captain Samuel Schwenk.

We walked up to the top of the ridge near the area of the stop sign (38.2132509, -77.5737266). We then looked across Courthouse Road away from Spotsylvania Court House and down the ridge. The ground on the other side of the road also falls off, confirming that there was no direct line of sight between the General and Confederates on the opposite slope of the ridge. This indicates that Stevenson was not killed by a sniper but rather the victim of a stray bullet.

Pond behind the lodge

There are several buildings on the property that have been moved from other locations, were renovated and are available for overnight stays. A few which we walked past on the tour are shown below, many are pet friendly, see the link.

Next- Myer’s Hill Tour