Just outside Charlottesville, Virginia, on ten quiet acres in Scottsville, a new bed and breakfast is taking shape inside one of Albemarle County's most distinctive buildings. Monticello Inn & Cottage occupies a thoughtfully restored 19th-century church, once known as Slate Hill Church, reimagined as an intimate retreat for travelers drawn to history, wine country, and the rolling landscape of Central Virginia.
If you're searching for a bed and breakfast near Charlottesville that offers something beyond a standard hotel stay, here's a first look at what's coming, the story behind the property, and the surrounding area that makes Scottsville, Virginia, such an underrated home base for exploring Albemarle County.
A Sacred Space turned Historic Inn
The land at Monticello Inn & Cottage carries more history than most travelers realize. Originally part of the neighboring Morven Plantation, it was donated in the 1830s to build the Slate Hill Meeting House. By 1868, the building had become Slate Hill Church, and for well over a century it welcomed Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian, and Christian congregations who shared the space and held services in rotation. The church saw its most active years from the 1950s through the 1990s, with expansions added in 1958 and 1979, before a shrinking congregation led to its closing in 2018.
In 2023, owner Mary purchased the property with a vision for honoring that history while giving it new purpose. A formally trained pastry chef with a deep love of historic architecture, Mary set out to create a boutique inn that preserves the building's original character rather than erasing it. Today, the restored structure, referred to on-site as the "Sacred Space," serves as the main inn, with original architectural details intact alongside modern comforts designed for couples seeking a romantic, distinctive stay.
Inn Rooms and Private Cottages
Monticello Inn & Cottage offers two distinct types of accommodations, designed for different kinds of travelers. Inside the historic Sanctuary, guest rooms are intimate and designed especially for couples looking for a quiet, romantic retreat. Along the wooded edge of the property, newly constructed private cottages offer a different experience entirely: more space, more privacy, and a setting suited to individuals, families, or guests traveling with pets. Despite their seclusion, the cottages remain just a short walk from the Sanctuary, so guests can move easily between the two depending on the day's plans.
Each morning, guests gather in the Sanctuary for a seasonal, chef-curated breakfast, prepared with ingredients sourced from neighboring farms and local purveyors. Given the owner's background as a pastry chef, breakfast here is treated as its own experience rather than an afterthought, and vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and other dietary needs are accommodated with advance notice.
Why Scottsville, Virginia, Is a Smart Home Base
Scottsville sits a short drive south of Charlottesville, close enough to access everything the city offers while remaining quiet and largely free of the traffic and crowds that can come with staying directly downtown. For guests of Monticello Inn & Cottage, that location translates into easy access to three major categories of experience: history, wine, and the outdoors.
History and heritage. As the country marks its 250th anniversary, Central Virginia offers an unusually rich window into the early republic. Guests can visit the homes of three U.S. presidents within a reasonable drive: Thomas Jefferson's Monticello and James Monroe's Highland are both just minutes away, while James Madison's Montpelier makes for a rewarding day trip through the Virginia countryside. The University of Virginia's Rotunda and historic Lawn, both reflecting Jefferson's architectural vision, round out the area's significance for travelers interested in early American history.
Wine, cider, and craft beverages. The Monticello Wine Trail is one of the most respected wine regions in the country, and guests staying in Scottsville are ideally positioned to explore it. Nearby options include Jefferson Vineyards, Blenheim Vineyards, Gabriele Rausse Winery, Keswick Vineyards, Potter's Craft Cider, and Thistlerock Mead Company, each offering its own take on the region's terroir. For a full day of tasting without the need to drive far afterward, a Scottsville base is hard to beat.
Outdoor recreation. Central Virginia's countryside rewards both quiet reflection and active exploration. Biscuit Run State Park offers a growing network of trails, including some of the region's newer mountain biking routes, while the Saunders-Monticello Trail provides a stroller-friendly path through forest and meadow for a more relaxed outing. Highland's rustic walking trails offer open fields and wooded paths reflecting the pastoral character of the area. For time on the water, the James River runs through Scottsville itself, with gentle stretches well suited to kayaking or floating and easy river access right in town.
Culinary exploration. Many of the area's most sought-after dining venues are small and highly curated, which means advance reservations are worth planning ahead. Between the region's wineries, cideries, and breweries and the inn's own seasonal breakfast service, food becomes part of the experience of visiting rather than just a logistical detail. Future offerings at Monticello Inn & Cottage may also include hands-on cooking classes led by Mary, drawing on her pastry background.
Following Along Before Opening Day
Monticello Inn & Cottage is still preparing to welcome its first guests on September 1st, 2026, with renovations and finishing touches underway throughout the property. For travelers planning ahead, Scottsville's combination of presidential history, acclaimed wineries, and easy river access makes it one of the more compelling, lower-key alternatives to staying directly in Charlottesville, especially for anyone who wants a quieter retreat to return to after a full day of exploring.
We'll be sharing more about the building's restoration, the cottages, and the breakfast experience as opening day approaches. In the meantime, follow along on Instagram @monticello_inn, Facebook, or YouTube @Monticello_Inn for behind-the-scenes updates, or explore more about the property's history and accommodations on our website.
Monticello Inn & Cottage
There's something about waking up inside a restored 19th-century church on ten quiet Virginia acres that puts the rest of the world at a comfortable distance. If that sounds like exactly what you need, we invite you to come stay with us. Monticello Inn & Cottage offers intimate inn rooms in the historic Sanctuary and private pet-friendly cottages, each with easy access to Charlottesville, Monticello, and Virginia wine country. Check availability and book your stay today.
About the Author: Mary Krumbein
Mary is the owner and innkeeper of Monticello Inn & Cottage, the boutique bed and
breakfast she opened inside a restored 19th-century church in Scottsville, Virginia. A formally trained pastry chef with years of experience in professional kitchens, Mary brought that same precision and warmth to the restoration of the property, overseeing every detail from the preservation of the Sanctuary's original architecture to the seasonal breakfast menu served to guests each morning. Hospitality, for Mary, isn't a second career: it's the natural extension of a life spent thinking about how food, space, and care come together to make people feel at home. When she's not in the kitchen or welcoming guests, she can usually be found exploring the farms and purveyors of Albemarle County that stock her breakfast table.