Glen Allen in Henrico County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Forest Lodge
Opulence in Glen Allen
John Cussons built Forest Lodge as a resort along the Richmond, Fredericksburg, & Potomac Railroad where it intersects with Mountain Road in Glen Allen. The luxurious hotel had 125 rooms and stood six stories high. It took six years to build and was completed in the early 1880s.
Cussons, a successful entrepreneur, spared no expense for the construction of the building. The Victorian structure featured elaborate woodworking and handpainted murals of landscapes and portraitures throughout the interior. Each room had large windows to let in light and provide a pleasant view of the countryside. Visitors lounged on a wide porch that extended around the building on several floors. There was a grand dining room, a music room and an amateur theatre for entertainment.
Cusson’s vision included a 1000-acre park surrounding the lodge, which included trails and three lakes for canoeing and fishing. Throughout the park, deer, partridges, peacocks, turkeys and other wild game roamed freely.
Cusson’s dream was to entice travelers en route from Florida or New York to stop at this halfway point. Among Cussons’ visitors to the lodge were Buffalo Bill and members of the Sioux tribe whom he lived with out west in the 1850s. He also organized a shareholder’s group, the “Forest Lodge Association,” whom jointly benefited and enjoyed the many features of the facility. While there was local success, the traveling public never made the resort a regular stop. The lodge remained open until 1912 when John Cussons died. The property went through a number of different owners and by 1932, half of the lodge was torn down. It was used sporadically as office space and apartments until it was razed in 1992.
Erected by County of Henrico.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Notable Buildings • Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical year for this entry is 1912.
Location. 37° 39.94′ N, 77° 30.151′ W. Marker is in Glen Allen, Virginia, in Henrico County. Marker is at the intersection of Old Washington Highway and Mountain Road, on the right when traveling south on Old Washington Highway. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Glen Allen VA 23060, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. John Cussons (here, next to this marker); Forest Lodge Belvedere (within shouting distance of this marker); Walkerton (about 800 feet away, measured in a direct line); Glen Allen School (about 800 feet away); Glen Allen (approx. 0.2 miles away); Mountain Road (approx. 0.3 miles away); Glen Allen Baptist Church (approx. 0.4 miles away); American Legion Post 244 (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Glen Allen.
Also see . . .
1. Brookland District Historic Sites - Forest Lodge Cupola. Henrico County Historical Society website entry (Submitted on November 15, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.)
2. Henrico Plaques. Henrico County Historic Preservation Roadside Marker & Building Plaque Programs (Submitted on November 15, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.)
3. Lost Architecture - Forest Lodge. Henrico County Historical Society website entry (Submitted on November 16, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.)
Credits. This page was last revised on August 9, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 15, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 3,215 times since then and 57 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on November 15, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. 6. submitted on June 7, 2019, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia. 7, 8. submitted on November 15, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.