On a beautiful piece of property in Emory, Virginia, just outside Abingdon and just 15 minutes from Damascus, sits a pioneer cabin of national historical significance.
n the year 1775, William Preston Edmondson (also spelled Edmisten by some) built this cabin on the middle fork of the Holston River near what is now “old” Glade Spring, only 4 miles from its present location. Mr. Edmondson became Major Edmondson (and later Colonel Edmondson) in the Revolutionary War, and in this capacity, he led the Virginia Militia from Abingdon, Virginia to the Battle of King’s Mountain in South Carolina in 1780. The combined militia of several states under the overall command of Colonel William Campbell defeated Major Patrick Ferguson and the Redcoats. Major Edmondson was wounded in the Battle, and 2 of his close relatives were killed. General George Washington referred to this victory as one of the turning points of the Revolutionary War.
In the late 1970’s, Dr. J. W. Ashworth, a “modern day pioneer” and second owner of the Emory property, purchased the Edmondson cabin and relocated it to the Emory House property. About a year later, Dr. Ashworth located a one room cabin near Saltville (belonging to the Kelly family), circa 1830, and likewise dissassembled and reassembled it as an attachment to the Edmondson cabin, creating a structure with 4 rooms, 2 fireplaces, and over 1600 square feet of fascinating space from history of our nation. Since Dr. Ashworth’s demise, Dr. Alvin E.’Rocky’ Underwood has owned, loved and preserved the cabin and the main house on the property, maintaining and improving them for future generations to enjoy. The cabin features 3 woodstoves, 2 bathrooms, a laundry room and a heat pump system for climate control. The cabin has been approved by Washington County for use as a lodge. It has 11 beds (3 rope beds!) in 4 rooms and is now available for meetings, celebrations, parties, as well as groups of as many as 14 guests for overnight stays.
Rather than rent out individual rooms in the cabin, we have elected to designate its use primarily for group lodging as well as a facility for events such as civic meetings, etc. The cabin lends itself ideally as a group lodging place for groups who come to this area to ride The Virginia Creeper Trail. Sunday School classes, civic organizations, families, Boy Scout Troops, Biking Clubs, groups of friends, etc. will find The Edmondson Lodge to be an intriguing, enchanting, comfortable, relaxing and amazingly historical place to lodge while visiting SW Virginia for any reason. The head of The Creeper Trail in Abingdon is only 8 miles from the cabin, and Damascus is a short 15 minute drive away. The Appalachian Trail crosses through Damascus, and the majority of those who come to the area to ride the Creeper Trail choose to start in Damascus with any number of bike rental shops who will take you and your group and your bikes to the top of Whitetop Mountain to begin your adventuresome and scenic ride 17 miles back down to Damascus.