Andrew & Isabelle
Founders & Owners
Once, only a pipe dream - Native Charlottesville couple, Isabelle and Andrew Baldwin, have admired the little whitewashed brick cottages for years. After traveling in southern England, they returned home brimming with inspiration and a steadfast desire to to bring that gentile character, and attention to quality and detail, back home to Virginia.The property’s strip of eclectic cottages proved to be the perfect opportunity to marry the feel of England with the history and local charm of Albemarle County. They hope to offer a destination that excels in providing every comfort, feels distinctly individual and full of unparalleled character, and celebrates the best of local food, farmers, and artisans. 
The Origin Story
From: Moore, John Hammond. Albemarle, Jefferson's county, 1727-1976. Charlottesville: Albemarle County Historical Society, 1976
The Sunset Lodge Dining Room and Motel, predecessor to our present-day Ivy Cottages, began construction in the early 1900's. In 1938 it opened its doors to the public as Albemarle County’s “First Modern Hotel.” The owners, Mr. and Mrs. Hugh W. James aimed to excel in “Catering to Discriminating Clientele” - and history tells us they did just that.
From the Daily Progress, Nov. 24, 1938
From: Hines, Duncan. Adventures in Good Eating for the Discriminating Motorist. United States: Duncan Hines Institute., 1959.
Seated on our private gentle knoll just above route 250, the once semi-circular The historic collection of six brick single cottages, and two double brick cottages, faced The Sunset Lodge’s full-service dining hall, which featured a fine array of Southern-inspired dishes, including fresh seafood, specialty steaks, desserts, and cocktails, as well as sandwiches featuring Virginia’s signature hams. They touted comfortable “accommodations for parties to 100 persons,” and served tourists from all over for decades to come.
Though these small snippets of history have quickly become an enormously influential part of our story, for many locals, the influence of Sunset Lodge Motel dates back for decades. In this 1938 ad from the Daily Progress, local businesses who contributed to the Sunset Lodge's inception, such as Monticello Dairy (now known as Charlottesville's Dairy Market), encouraged the community to come out and sample the fruits of their collective labor as The Sunset Lodge Motel opened its doors to the public.
We are so proud to share the fresh and exciting beginnings of this next chapter in an already robust historic tale, and hope that the revitalization we aim to bring will be palpable among the community who helped shape it to date! Thank you for joining us on this brief stroll through time! We can't wait to share with you, in person, the relaxing ambience and the deep local roots of our historic property. From: Shackelford, Robert Baylor. The Shackelford Family, Its English and American Origins: And Some of Its Branches. United States: Jarman's Incorporated, printers, 1940.
From the Daily Progress, Nov. 24, 1938
Though much of The Sunset Lodge’s full history has been lost to time, we have been fortunate to uncover a handful of the historical records which remained tucked away within local archives. In this letter addressed to Colonel Robert Baylor Shackelford, epistolist Anthony R. Wagner, Portcullis at the College of Arms in London, England, chronicles his 1939 visit to Virginia, contributing this brief personal account to the annals of time. 
