- Star Tannery
Nicholson’s Wonder Forest
Hosted by Mark · Star Tannery, Virginia
4 sites · Tent, Lodging · 15 acres
Near Shenandoah National Park
Within a 60-minute drive from the Front Royal.
Mark is a Star Host
Star Hosts are highly rated, responsive, and committed to providing incredible experiences.
Private sites
100% of recent Hipcampers say the sites felt private.
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3 sites
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Wonder Forest
100%
(14)Short walk to site
Campfires allowed
Toilet
Pets allowed
Instant book
The Outpost
100%
(13)Short walk to site
Campfires allowed
Toilet
Pets allowed
Instant book
The Bend
100%
(1)Short walk to site
Campfires allowed
Toilet
Pets allowed
Lodging
1 site
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Sycamore Shadow
100%
(1)Short walk to site
Campfires allowed
Toilet
Pets allowed
Reviews
100% Recommend29 ratings · 21 reviews
Recommends
· April 2026
Tent · With pets ·
The Bend
I loved tent camping at the site, the creak running by the site, the frogs at night, the cows mooing away in the field nearby, basically everything about the site was perfect for my husband and I with our two dogs. 10/10 Experience and would 100% recommend and stay again.
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Raven T.
1 month on Hipcamp
Mark and his son Sidney were great hosts. My husband and I joked that we got the honeymoon suite. Hot tub under the stars with the sounds of running water close made it romantic There are a few small cooking utensils provided but I would recommend bringing your favorite cook wear for camping. We will definitely be back.
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Tracy E.
3 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· April 2026
Tent ·
The Outpost
Mark is a fantastic host, very friendly and communicative. The space was set a good distance from other sites and right next to a creek.
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Kara T.
6 months on Hipcamp
Excellent time as usual, camp site was well maintained but still rustic enough to feel like you're camping. It's far enough in the woods to hear all manners of woodpeckers and owls and whippoorwill and close enough to a town that you can run out 25min to a walmart if you forgot something. Mark and the family were great hosts and went out of their way to make us feel welcome and provide us with everything we needed to have a great weekend. We will definitely be back again!
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Brandon A.
8 months on Hipcamp
Mark has a great property. Perfect for the nature enthusiasts. Very accommodating. The symphony of wildlife you hear at night is so peaceful. Highly recommended. A nice pond stocked with fish and some cut chickens that are friendly.
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Curtis S.
4 reviews
Mark has a beautiful property. He was very welcoming and accommodating. Really nice pond stocked with good fish. Short walk to camp from the parking area but if you love nature this is the place to be. Last night under the full moon we had a symphony of wildlife, owls, tree frogs, bull frogs, and turkeys in the morning. Highly recommend and we will be staying again sometime for sure.
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Curtis S.
4 reviews
We had a lot of privacy on the site, it was really nice with the small creek nearby. Mark was super helpful with helping move all of our stuff over to the site, which is about a few hundred feet away from parking. He gave restaurant/grocery/supplies recommendations. We had a great experience for winter camping.
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Ryan V.
3 months on Hipcamp
Recommends
· October 2025
Tent ·
Wonder Forest
My friend and I had a great time staying here! Mark was very hospitable and made things very easy for us. The area is stunning with the fall leaves. Other than some cows and a rooster far off on a different property, it was very quiet and peaceful the whole time. The bed was very soft, and the coffee Mark gave to us was the best I've had in awhile! Be sure to use smaller pieces of wood for the hot tub so it heats up faster. A relaxing and lovely time, highly recommend!
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Lindsay K.
2 reviews
Recommends
· September 2025
Tent ·
The Outpost
This is a great location close to George Washington National Park.
The campsite itself is shaded and nicely laid out with a picnic table, fire pit and privacy
The family is warm, welcoming and very knowledgeable about the area.
There are friendly goats, pigs and chickens.
Strasburg is a cute town with a nice river walk and good local brewery.
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Alisa S.
2 reviews
The wooded campsite, quiet seclusion, and natural beauty were wonderful! My family of two adults, two teens, and a dog had an amazing time. We hiked the property. And Mark and his family were fantastic hosts! They were responsive to all questions before we arrived and during our stay. They met us with an ATV, trailer, and wagon to transport our cooler and vast amount of equipment to our site. Mark shared a list of activities in the area. And Mark's family was very generous with their time during our stay. They gave us fishing tutorials, supplied the fishing equipment, and invited us to fish their well-stocked pond. Both my son and I caught our first fish! Mark gave us guidance on how to clean the fish and cook them up. They were delicious! Mark and his wife Emily also offered equipment that we had forgotten (e.g., oven mitts). Plus, the site had nice amenities for a family who likes true camping but also enjoys some extras. It had a lovely, large tent with a bed that sleeps two. We brought an additional 3/4-man tent that we erected. Although we brought our own cast iron pans, utensils, etc., Mark provided some of those too! Plus, there was an abundant supply of long roasting forks (for hotdogs, s'mores). The firepit was lovely, and Mark provided plenty of firewood. The toilet was very rustic/basic, but it was nicely enclosed in a tent for privacy. Mark had run a water line and electric cord to the site, which helped with cleaning, washing up, & charging phones. A great time!!
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Lasagne W.
9 months on Hipcamp
Another fabulous stay at the Nicholson Camp! Mark was, again, such a friendly and gracious host. He and his son helped us move our stuff back to the camp site (just a few hundred feet away) and made sure we had everything we needed. The property is so peaceful and we had a great time stargazing, listening to the birds, and enjoying the summer days. We will be back in the fall!
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Melissa H.
4 reviews
Recommends
· September 2025
Tent ·
Wonder Forest
Great little camping spot with everything you need. Hot tub gets very hot, enjoyed it very much. Tent and bed are comfy. One other campsite nearby but barely noticed. A couple of little trails to wander around and a hammock to read a book in. The creek wasn’t running this time around but I imagine it’d make it even better. Mark is super kind and easy to reach if needed. Helped bring things to campsite with cart also. Would recommend/come back :)
Natalia G.
5 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· August 2025
Tent ·
Wonder Forest
Absolutely loved the copper hot tub 🛀 ♨️ 🔥
Host was attentive and property was well kept. Site was far enough away from everything to be able to be completely private yet still connected if you wanted to be. Host provided a cart for transporting supplies to the campsite and checked in the first night to make sure we didn't need anything else. We will definitely keep the site in mind for when we go camping again.
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Heidi G.
9 months on Hipcamp
Had such a wonderful stay! The property is peaceful & relaxing (felt very secluded/private but not secluded enough you’re afraid lol), and the wood-fired bath was a unique highlight. Mark is a fantastic host- friendly, kind, quick to reply, and very helpful with local recommendations. He even helped us get our gear to the site with his four-wheeler, which was much appreciated. Both sites are walk in as mentioned. It’s a maintained trail that’s not difficult. A few roots here and there to step over but no inclines.
We stayed at the campsite with the yurt which had a bed/ bedding provided and extras like basic cookware, a pop-up toilet tent with a camp toilet, and a wagon for hauling gear. We packed out on our own at the end, but based on our interactions, I’m sure he would’ve happily helped us load up if we’d asked.
The location is also fantastic- there are a couple of nice wineries close by (with even more we’re excited to try next time), some really charming small towns nearby worth exploring, and a national park not too far away. Overall, this is such a great spot and we’re already looking forward to coming back!
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Kayti S.
10 reviews
Recommends
· August 2025
Tent · With pets ·
The Outpost
Beautiful property and a wonderful sleep to the chorus of frogs 🐸!!
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Lauren W.
4 reviews
From the moment we booked, Mark’s communication was top-notch—prompt, friendly, and helpful. We arrived later than planned, but he greeted us with a warm smile and handshake, immediately making us feel at home. Not only did he welcome us, but he also went above and beyond by helping carry all of our gear to the campsite.
The property itself is peaceful, scenic, and perfect for a weekend getaway. This was my first time using Hipcamp, and I couldn’t have picked a better host or location. Thank you, Mark, for making our trip stress-free and memorable. We’ll definitely be back!
Craig F.
2 reviews
Lovely site near the stream! Peaceful and private, we slept so well. About 5 min walk from parking spot and they provided a nice wagon to help haul stuff. Easy drive from DC.
Nice amenities like a picnic table, a citronella candle, Coleman lantern, and portable toilet with wag bags provided - just BYO toilet paper.
The site also had some trails and a pond where you could fish or kayak and some cute chickens!
Mark was out of town but even from afar he was very helpful with recommendations for hikes and things to do and helping us get our bearings at the site.
After all the rain we’ve had lately, was a bit muddy so bring boots. It is in the woods in the summer, so of course be vigilant about checking for ticks - i found a few on my dog and myself but nothing out of the ordinary.
Shelby P.
12 reviews
Recommends
· June 2025
Tent ·
Wonder Forest
Great site lots of fun. Running creek, fire pit, fire wood hot tub
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Amy Lynn A.
1 year on Hipcamp
This campsite is wonderful!! Mark was a gracious and flexible host when I changed the arrival plan around a little, and was so kind to offer us camping gear if we needed some. I loved the table and chairs that was set up for us and the fire pit was awesome. The real gem was the location! It is very secluded and right next to a babbling brook. There were so many birds and we slept so soundly listening to the trees and running water. Mark provided tons of firewood for us too! The campsite had a compost toilet available but we were only there one night so we didn’t have to use that amenity. I can’t wait to come back and bring family and friends! Thanks Mark!!
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Melissa H.
4 reviews
Remote camp site on Mark’s 15 acre property right alongside a nice creek. This was his newest site which had a nice picnic table, camp chairs, fire pit, camp toilet and privacy tent.
You can’t drive directly to the site as the road is being improved, but Mark & his son will certainly help hauling your camp equipment to the site via an ATV. Easy 100 yard walk, well worth it for the remoteness of the site.
Would be a great spot with friends as the second camp site is about 50 yards away, enough privacy, but close enough to camp with others.
We walked the little trail up to the rock outcrop which has the potential for some really nice views in the fall when the leaves start to fall.
Overall we would definitely stay here again, and Mark & his son were great hosts.
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Andrew T.
1 year on Hipcamp
Mark’s land made for a great, quiet, weekend. Campsite is by a small stream, nice little pond for fishing, and plenty of shade (and sun if that’s what you want).
Rob R.
7 reviews
Location
Star Tannery, Frederick, Virginia, United StatesTo respect the Host's privacy, the precise address of this land will be provided after booking
Hosted by Mark N.
Joined in March 2025Things to do nearby
Similar campgrounds nearby
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