Grottoes is known for caves, natural beauty and a rural setting
Named after the cave tourism that began here in the 1800s, Grottoes — which means caverns in Italian — is a small town in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley that’s bordered by farms to the west and Shenandoah National Park to the east. Grand Caverns, a National Natural Landmark, sits on the edge of town, and while cave tours are a big attraction for tourists, the surrounding park is a free community space popular with locals. Proximity to Harrisonburg and Staunton, which are both within 30 minutes, is also part of the appeal. “The location’s great, and there are a lot of parks. It’s just a quaint little town,” says Colton Mitchell, a Realtor with Old Dominion Realty who’s sold homes in the area for around 13 years. “It has that small, tight-knit community vibe that I think a lot of people really like.”
Ranch-style homes in town or with more privacy
Grottoes’ town center is a flat grid of streets with mountains visible in the distance. “The area has definitely grown over the past few years. It’s a lot of affordable and entry-level housing,” Mitchell says. The ranch-style and Cape Cod homes here are on at least a quarter of an acre and feature grassy lawns and paved or gravel driveways. Outside of town, ranch-style and manufactured houses are surrounded by farmland, and some are on multi-acre lots.
Most homes range from around $230,000 to $430,000, though houses on more than 3 acres or with views can range from $490,000 to $750,000. Manufactured houses range from $150,000 to $350,000, and undeveloped properties with 10 or fewer acres range from $50,000 to $230,000. Townhouses are near U.S. Route 340 and range from around $210,000 to $270,000, plus monthly homeowners association fees between $50 and $90. Properties near the South and Middle Rivers might be at risk for flooding.
Town parks, a show cave and Shenandoah National Park
Grand Caverns Park is Grottoes’ biggest attraction and the United States’ oldest operating show cave. There’s a fee for cave tours and spelunking expeditions, but access to the park’s trails and river access is free. The park is also home to Grottoes Pool, where families can purchase an annual pass or pay the daily rate to swim. Each May, the Grottoes Bluegrass Festival attracts music fans to Grand Caverns Park for three days of music. John E. Painter Park also has river access for kayaking and fishing, as well as a playground, tennis courts and baseball fields. In June, Party in the Park brings crowds here for music, food trucks and local beer and wine. Shenandoah National Park is nearby. Drivers can access the park at entrances near Waynesboro or Elkton, both within 23 miles, and hikers can walk into the park along the 10-mile-long Madison Fire Road.
Two public school districts serve the area
Kids in town attend Rockingham County Public Schools, while kids in the rural areas to the south go to Augusta County Public Schools; both districts earn a B from Niche. Kids on the Rockingham side can start at South River Elementary and then go to Elton Middle; both earn a B-minus. At the B-plus-rated East Rockingham High, students can join the esports team, where they can learn about competitive video gaming and play casually with friends.
A few restaurants and stores in town
Lil’ Guss’ Restaurant has been a family-owned Grottoes staple for three generations. The restaurant serves American and Greek comfort food and has regular live music. Woodfired Oven offers pizza and other Italian dishes in a casual atmosphere. Most of the area’s shopping is along Third Street and Augusta Avenue. Here, Ace Hardware offers home and farm essentials, and grocery stores include Food Lion, Family Dollar and Dollar General.
A car-reliant area between Harrisonburg and Staunton
U.S. Route 340 is the main north-south route through Grottoes. Harrisonburg is a 14-mile drive on state Route 253, and Sentara RMH Medical Center is an 11-mile trip. Staunton is 21 miles away, and drivers can get there by taking state Route 256 to Interstate 81. Houses of worship here include Grottoes United Methodist Church and First Baptist Church of Grottoes. Shenandoah Valley Airport, which has flights to Charlotte, North Carolina, is about 5 miles away.
Written By
Annie Franklin
