Once the private home of the billionaire Busch family (former owners of Budweiser and nearby Busch Gardens), The Estate at Kingsmill was recently reintroduced as a high-end vacation villa. Located on a bluff overlooking the James River, the 7,000-square-foot mansion recently underwent a $3 million renovation to convert the colonial home into a grand gathering space.
“It’s a nod to the past, while looking forward,” says architect Stephanie Kalantarians of Williamsburg-based GuernseyTingle, who designed the property’s updated look. “We wanted to make it as open as possible, by creating an impressive foyer with full-glass views of the river. We opened up the kitchen and increased the size of the second-floor bedrooms.”
The four-bedroom house sleeps eight guests, who are treated to a European-trained butler and a private chef during their stay, as well as use of the golf course and other amenities at the adjacent Kingsmill Resort. But, despite the luxury service and updated elegance, what do guests say they love the most about the updated estate? Says Kalantarians: “That incredible view of the river.” // Rates from $4,000 per night