Buckingham County, a Yogi’s Paradise
Fun Fact: Buckingham County, known as the Heart of Virginia, is located in the state’s geographical center.
We spent a long weekend exploring Buckingham County and we rated our impressions below based on the diversity and quality of each category.
We awarded 5 stars to the Recreation category.
- Accommodations ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- Dog Friendly ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- History ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- Recreation ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- Restaurants ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- Sightseeing ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Yogaville—Buckingham County’s central attraction, with its Ashram and Shrine—allows service animals only.
But great news Yoga Lovers: You don’t need to leave your 4-legged yoga partner behind on this road trip, because we created:
The Guide for Visiting Yogaville, Virginia if You Are Traveling with Your Dog.
Downward Dog Pose
Our guide is based on a 4-day stay and provides observations and perspective from my first-time visit to Yogaville.
Here are the 3 main things you will need:
1. Dog friendly accommodations: At your temporary home base, you can safely leave Fido for a few hours while visiting Yogaville.
Tip: Bring a collapsible crate with you. We purchased inexpensive ones from Facebook Marketplace. The crates keep our dogs safe if we need to leave them alone in the rental for a bit and help prevent any damage from occurring due to separation anxiety.
2. Yogaville’s day pass option: This includes meals, yoga classes, meditation sessions, tours of the Light of Truth Universal Shrine, and more!
3. Local dog friendly sightseeing: See Buckingham County while giving Fidette some exercise and fun between your Yogaville activities.
Dog Friendly Accommodations
We found these delightful options about one mile from Yogaville, and encourage you to reserve whichever one you pick for a minimum of 4-days. This allows time to experience Yogaville and other places within Buckingham County.
Photo from AirBnb
Photo from AirBnb
Day 1
Upward Dog Pose
Check in at your AirBnb rental, and after attending to Fidette, head to Yogaville and purchase a day pass.
Tip: To save time, go ahead and purchase day passes for each day that you plan attend Yogaville activities.
Find out what’s on the schedule for the days you will be in town. Attend a yoga class or meditation session today if time allows, and stay for dinner.
Lotus Temple,Yogaville, from Facebook: Satchidananda Ashram, Yogaville.
My Yogaville experience:
Today I was excited but also needed to work up my courage because I had not attended a yoga class in years. However, I soon learned that the yoga teachers provide helpful modifications for beginners while also keeping the experts engaged.
I also learned that shoes are to be removed before entering buildings and that shoe racks are located in building lobbies.
Chanting, another new experience for me, is a part of meditation and yoga but it’s okay to stay quiet (like I did).
Tip: Wear shoes that are easy to slip on and off because you will need to remove them upon entering each building.
Day 2
Dancing Dog Pose
Town of Buckingham
During the downtime on your Yogaville schedule, we recommend touring the dog friendly activities in the town of Buckingham.
Buckingham is the birthplace of Eugene Allen who inspired a book and a movie based on his service to 8 U.S. Presidents through the civil rights movement.
Different sources list Eugene Allen’s birthplace as either Buckingham County or the adjacent town of Scottsville. I tracked down a copy of his birth certificate, which is publicly available, and it lists his place of birth as Buckingham.
We suggest watching The Butler—based on the life of Buckingham native Eugene Allen—on Amazon Prime tonight.
Lee Wayside Village, 84 Lee Wayside Rd., Buckingham
Immediately following the surrender at Appomattox, General Robert E. Lee and his troops camped at this wayside village for two days. Today, visitors can bring their dogs along for walk through a bygone era.
I was thrilled when I spotted this LOVEworks sign at the Lee-Wayside Village!
Horsepen Lake Wildlife Management Area, 37.510517,-78.554236, Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources Boat Ramp, Buckingham
With its dog friendly kayaking conditions, Horsepen Lake counts as a highlight of our trip.
Tip: Bring your kayak or canoe, paddle, life vest, and fishing gear.
Jake on the lake
Mack started fishing immediately and couldn’t wait to put his boat in the water.
My Yogaville experience:
Today I felt a bit more at ease. I attended a meditation session in the shrine and an afternoon yoga class.
Meditation session in the Light of Truth Universal Shrine, from Facebook: Satchidananda Ashram, Yogaville.
I learned that lunch is the big meal of the day and breakfast and dinner are smaller, more modest meals.
Yogaville serves tasty vegetarian meals made with fresh ingredients, many from its on-site organic farm. I was already beginning to feel better from omitting processed, refined foods from my diet.
If you like stairs, you will be thrilled to take the path from the shrine to the Kailash Temple at the top.
Day 3
3-Legged Dog Pose
Town of Dillwyn
We found a few treats in the nearby dog friendly town of Dillwyn.
We also found LOVE!
Lovework at Buckingham Branch Railroad, 1063 Main St., Dillwyn
Rodeo’s Mexican Grill, 15960 N. James Madison Hwy., Dillwyn
This spot features fabulous Dog Friendly seating on their spacious patio, and we vouch for the quality of the menu items—muy deliciosos!
Appomattox-Buckingham State Forest, 1685 Francisco Road, Dilwyn
At nearly 20,000 dog friendly acres, the Appomattox-Buckingham State Forest provides ample opportunities to hike as well as creeks to fish.
from https://dof.virginia.gov/wp-content/uploads/Appomattox-Buckingham-SF-General-Map.pdf
Tip: If you visit Appomattox-Buckingham State Forest during hunting season, be sure to wear blaze orange, as hunting is allowed there.
My Yogaville experience:
Today felt good. I attended an early morning 90-minute yoga class, 2 meditation sessions and a seminar about maintaining this new lifestyle at home. I learned that the relaxed state-of-mind I feel while petting my dogs is the goal. (I knew dogs were the key to happiness!)
I also learned some daily habits to achieve this goal:
- incorporate at least 30 minutes of yoga and meditation into my routine;
- replace negative thoughts, words, or actions with positive ones;
- eliminate things in my life that are not bringing me joy;
- concentrate on the NOW because the past is behind me and I can’t predict the future;
- look for ways to serve others.
& I’m definitely going to keep eating fresh vegetarian meals and avoid processed and refined foods.
Day 4
Dog Twist Pose
Town of New Canton
After completing your final Yogaville activities and checking out from your rental, we suggest stopping by New Canton.
New Canton is the birthplace of Carter Godwin Woodson, the “father of Black history,” whose legacy includes Black History Month. He is the only person born from former slaves to have earned a Ph.D.
New Canton/Bremo Bluff Boat Launch, 256 Boat Landing Rd., New Canton
Thank you Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources for providing a public boat launch on the James River.
The water is so gentle here. It’s perfect for one last bit of kayaking on the James.
Trinity Presbyterian Church Cemetery, 870 CG Woodson Rd., New Canton
The cemetery behind Trinity Presbyterian Church provides some Civil War history.
The marker, located at the back of the cemetery, states:
“According to the oral history of Trinity Presbyterian Church and this community, here are 45 Confederate and Union soldiers buried in mass graves directly behind this church. They left Appomattox after the surrender and headed for their homes north of here. Sick with disease, they died in a nearby camp. That they may not be forgotten, this plaque is placed by the Elliott Grays UDC Chapter #1877 2003″
My Yogaville experience:
I was sad to leave this peaceful place but also excited about incorporating what I learned into my daily life.
I attended the 5 am meditation session which lasts for 75 minutes and bid Yogaville a fond farewell.
I definitely want to return, especially if I need a fresh perspective or to get out of a rut, or if I just want to get away for a few days and do some yoga.
Yogaville’s Mandala (in Sanskrit, the word mandala means circle.)
Buckingham County Animal Control
9659 Andersonville Rd., Buckingham
Whenever possible, we visit the local animal shelters during our trips. However, on this trip we learned that Buckingham County does not have an animal shelter. Instead, the county Animal Control keeps strays at its kennel while seeking the owners. If the owners are not found, the dogs are transferred to other county shelters.
Know before You Go
Puppy Pose
- We found that GPS combined with seeing the entire county on this map helped us plan our trip more efficiently.
- Learning about other people’s experiences at Yogaville helps to know what to expect when you arrive. We recommend- https://thezenkat.com/a-trip-to-yogaville/
- See the Buckingham County Guide and Historic Buckingham for more information.
Road Trip Reads
These books added context for our visit and can be found on Audible for easy road trip listening.
Washington Post reporter Wil Haygood wanted to find a witness to history—particularly the evolution of the Civil Rights movement—from inside the White House. His efforts paid off when he met Eugene Allen who served 8 U.S. Presidents over a 34-year career.
Published in 1945, Paramahansa Yogananda’s enthralling autobiography helped introduce yoga and meditation to the Western hemisphere and became one of the most important spiritual books of the 20th century.
Carter Godwin Woodson, Ph.D., pioneered the study of African American History. His writings from the early 20th century detail the inequalities of African American education, track the Great Migration, and discuss the importance of the church in African American culture.
Roving through Virginia with Rover 
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