History & Innkeepers

1806 – 1812

The Manor House was built in 1806 by Matthew Houston who was a cousin of Sam Houston of Texas fame. The house served as a store and tavern as well as home to the Houston family and their sprawling plantation.

In 1812, Houston expanded the house and incorporated a two-story center hall with a full arched ceiling reminiscent of the nearby Natural Bridge. Surviving the ravages of the Civil War, the house stood virtually unchanged for over a century.

1916

In 1916 the property was purchased by Ohio architect Curtis Walton and his aunt Lilly who transformed the original federal style structure into an English country manor reminiscent of Lilly’s British ancestry. The two-story center hall remained, however, the original arched ceiling was removed and replaced with stunning oak woodwork and arches salvaged from an English estate.

In addition, the Walton’s built three Greek revival cottages on the property. The largest, Vine Cottage, served as their temporary home as the Manor House was being renovated.

2011 – 2025

Chris Walker and Cliff DeVito purchased the Forest Oaks estate in 2011 and lovingly restored the property. They brought it back to its original beauty and transformed it into a remarkable bed and breakfast in the Shenandoah valley.

In addition to the restoration of the Manor House,  The Vine Cottage was also completely restored and is now a vacation rental, and the estate’s Carriage House was transformed into the Forest Oaks Bakery .

2026 – Present

Casey and Whitt purchased Forest Oaks in early 2026. Whitt’s family once owned the property, and we are so excited to be part of the next generation of Forest Oaks! We are looking forward to continuing the existing tradition of charm, hospitality and sharing the history of this property.

Elle and Bing, the current innkeepers, are ready to make you feel at home!