A Study In Fall Velvet: On Location at The Red Fox Inn & Tavern

When it comes to celebrating our rich American heritage, the Red Fox Inn & Tavern certainly lives up to the hype. Built in 1728, this historic retreat in Middleburg, Virginia has housed its fair share of visitors who helped shape our society and culture, including George Washington, U.S. Senator John Warner, Elizabeth Taylor, Paul Newman and John F. Kennedy; who once held a press conference in the Jeb Stuart Room while visiting.

For those who call Middleburg home, there are ample activities for lovers of golf, history, equestrian sports, breweries and wineries – along with plenty of nearby parks and trails for those seeking outdoor adventure. Known as the “Nation’s Horse and Hunt Capital,” Middleburg was a popular destination for fox hunting and steeplechasing at the turn of the 20th century. Drive down picturesque Route 50 and you’ll pass by horse farms, vineyards and grazing cattle before reaching its charming historic district brimming with high-end shops, art galleries and clothing boutiques. The original tavern sits right in the heart of town – its stately stone structure adorning the corner of East Washington Street and Madison Street.

The refined setting, along with a warm touch of classic Southern hospitality make it the perfect destination for any occasion, from corporate retreats to private dinners to wedding weekends, offering a range of event spaces both indoors and out.

We partnered with Matilda Reuter Engle, General Manager at The Red Fox Inn & Tavern, along with Wild Green Yonder and Curious Fox Press to capture the essence of a boutique event experience in Virginia’s Hunt Country.

“Each of the looks had a central theme.” Matilda told us. “We wanted to do a study in Fall velvet to showcase how such rich and luxurious textures could translate between indoors and outdoors, and how a bold color could really set a backdrop for a traditional, sophisticated look – outside of ‘white on white’. Changing the base colors significantly transformed these looks.”

Look One: Intimate Dinner for 12

Embellished with 18th and 19th century sporting art from the U.S. and the U.K., the Sporting Gallery is the perfect intimate private dinner party setting for 10-12 guests. “We are blessed to have the entire collection of Red Fox Fine Art, making us the leading Animal and Sporting Art Gallery in the nation,” Matilda said, “The room itself feels like a private dining room in somebody’s house in Middleburg – very personal and cozy.“

Get This Look: Navy Velvet Tablecloth, Xavier Chair Gold, Velvet Cushion in Navy, Dolores Votive Clear, Eleanor Etched Flute 6 oz., Eleanor Etched Red Wine Glass 12 oz., Eleanor Etched White Wine Glass 8 oz., Baldwin Dinner Plate 10.75″, Baldwin Lunch Plate 9″, Maeve Blue and White Charger 12″, White Coupe Gold Border Salad/Cake Plate 7.5″, White Church Linen Dinner Napkins, Brushed Gold Napkin Ring, Vanderbilt Gold Flatware Collection

Look Two: Sweetheart Table

Surrounded by lush greenery and stone walls, The Courtyard Gardens capture a timeless, intimate feeling – making it the perfect location for outdoor ceremonies. The sweetheart table was set up in front of a small, serene pond housed at the bottom of the stone wall from Middleburg’s original Smokehouse.

Get This Look: Marsala Velvet Tablecloth, Capri Bone Chair, Stockholm Crystal White Wine Glass 14 oz., Stockholm Tinted Smoke Glass 15 oz., Smoke Glass Charger 12″, Brighton Blush Dinner Plate 10.75″, Campbell Lunch Plate 9″, Brighton Blush Lunch Plate 8.5″, Blush Satin Dinner Napkins, Vanderbilt Black Flatware Collection, Dolores Votive Clear

Look Three: Garden Table

The versatile Garden Terrace is an empty canvas for a variety of looks, featuring a flagstone patio that accommodates between 150-200 guests. The space can either be open or tented to suit a cocktail hour before dinner indoors, or a large seated dinner on the patio. Garden bistro lighting creates a warm, inviting evening atmosphere. To showcase an alternative private setting, this look was also shot outside of the Garden Terrace area in front of one of the cottages.

Get This Look: Alexander Elmwood Chair, Hunter Green Velvet Tablecloth, Chatham Charger 12″, Loom Gold Dinner Plate 11″, Loom Gold Lunch Plate 9″, THE ONE Crystal Red Wine Tasting Glass 19.5 oz., THE ONE Crystal White Wine Tasting Glass 15.5 oz., Stockholm Crystal Flute Glass 6.5 oz., Horizon Sand Texture Essential Dinner Napkins, Vanderbilt Gold Flatware Collection

Look Four: Holiday Dinner Al-Fresco

Also shot on the Garden Terrace, this look showcases two areas, using the stone wall and the gardens as separate backgrounds, both creating unique atmospheres.

Get This Look: Market Bistro Chair Bronze, Ivory Velvet Tablecloth, Brighton Blush Dinner Plate 10.75″, Brighton Blush Lunch Plate 8.5″, Elan Flute Glass 7 oz., Elan Red Wine/Water Glass 12 oz., Elan White Wine Glass 8 oz., Chatham Charger 12″, Brushed Gold Napkin Ring, Vanderbilt Gold Flatware Collection

Events at The Red Fox

The layout of the Red Fox’s five acre complex is easily navigated, with all of the cottages and buildings surrounding the centrally located parking area. The Inn’s 22 guest rooms feature traditional Virginia Country decor, all with views overlooking different areas of the property, from the lively and historic center of town to the secluded Courtyard Gardens.

“What makes wedding weekends at The Red Fox so unique is the feeling that the bride and groom have rented a Middleburg estate for the weekend instead of a hotel, with all of the amenities of a boutique inn and tavern,” Matilda said, “A typical couple checks in on Thursday evening, has the rehearsal dinner on Friday, and the ceremony and reception on Saturday, leaving time to take in the rest of the weekend with family and friends.”

The culinary team prepares Southern Virginia Piedmont cuisine, featuring seasonal dishes sourced from local produce, game and seafood.

From Left to Right: The Parlor, The Jeb Stuart Room, and The Night Fox Pub. Photos courtesy of The Red Fox Inn & Tavern.

History of The Red Fox Inn

Built in 1728 from local fieldstone by Joseph Chinn, the tavern (which had been named Chinn’s Ordinary) was once a popular stopping point for traveling colonists. In 1812, years after the property was purchased by the town of Middleburg, Chinn’s Ordinary underwent an expansion to include 35 guest rooms and a wine cellar along with a new name, the Beveridge House.

Throughout the Civil War, The Beveridge House was often used by the Confederates and was later renamed the Middleburg Inn in 1887. In 1937, after nearly being torn down, the historic structure’s fate was saved by a local citizen, remodeled and renamed The Red Fox Inn & Tavern.

The property was purchased by the Reuter family in 1976 and continued to expand as new properties surrounding it became available. Today the Inn, which features 22 guest rooms is managed by husband and wife team Matilda Reuter Engle and Jonathan Engle.