Number of Years in Business: 
We’ve been operating the Bed & Breakfast for about 4 years but we’ve had the farm here in southern Fauquier for 25 years.

How did you come to own a B&B?
My husband Tony & I spent our honeymoon… 32 years ago… at a bed & breakfast in Cape May New Jersey.  It was small.   It was cozy.  The Inn Keeper was friendly and caring – genuinely interested in our comfort and well being.   A big, wonderful breakfast was the focal point of the day and we easily became fast friends with the other guests as we gathered around the dining room table.  It was a big, happy party in a grand house.

We enjoyed our stay so much that we talked about ” maybe someday”  having our own B&B.

“Wouldn’t it be nice?”  we’d say.  So here we are… 32 years later.

Our idea of a B&B just sort of evolved over the years. We hadn’t done any long range planning or any planning at all, for that matter.  We have always liked to entertain and always had a house full of family and friends as weekend guests so a B&B seemed the next logical step.  We loved where we lived and thought others might, too.  That’s how it started.

What made you take the leap of faith to become a business owner?
The opportunity presented itself and the timing was right so, we thought, why not.  Although we did have start-up expenses, we figured that if it didn’t work out we’d be living here any way with the same basic bills. That was a pretty good safety net.

And, we’d had a pretty good dress rehearsal entertaining friends and relatives as weekend guests for years – only for free.

Proudest moment in business:
This is a tough question……  I guess my proudest moment(s) come every Sunday as the guests depart and say their goodbyes.

They arrived on Friday as strangers not knowing what to expect on a farm in tiny little, off the beaten path Sumerduck.  By Sunday, they’re hugging, bemoaning leaving and planning their next visit.  They return home refreshed, relaxed and energized… ready to face the outside world.

All it took was comfy accommodations, some newly made friends, and a little Cheesecake Farms magic.

Even though the weekends are a lot more work than you’d think, I really feel good (should I say proud?) that I am able to turn tensed-up urban folk into happy, relaxed smiling-faced guests. We all need a break – down time when someone else takes care of us even for only a short while.  And that’s what happens here at Cheesecake Farms.  Our guests really have, for a weekend, very little to concern them. They get comfortable accommodations, good food and meet friendly people. They can relax, reconnect and refresh. How wonderful is that?

Favorite places to go in Fauquier to have fun:
OMG…. There are so many!!
Although we have guests from all areas and walks of life, most of our guests are 30-something professionals from the metro D.C. area.  They come to Fauquier because they love the naturalness of the area.  They frequently comment about how the area is so “real” with “real” people…   not like the contrived, built up urban areas they have escaped for the weekend.  They marvel at how easy it is to get around and to park.  They love that we have fresh air and a glorious night time star show.  They love the color and pomp of hunt country and the refreshing relaxation of wine country.  They shop till they drop at our farmers markets and farm stands always taking home fresh produce and country eggs.  They feel safe and secure.  They are amazed at how often strangers speak to them just to pass the time of day.

Visiting wineries is the number one reason for people to visit our area and stay at our B&B.  Since we only serve breakfast, dinner out at one of our area restaurants always caps the day.

Hiking, walking and other outdoor activities is next on the list of what our guests love.  Favorite places are Phelps Management Area in Sumerduck and Whitley Forest in Warrenton.  Our own Cheesecake Farms Walking Trail gets lots of use, too!  Sometimes our guests just want to stay right on the farm!

Our guests love the Gold Mining Museum at Monroe Park in Goldvein and are amazed when we tell them that this area is loaded with gold!  Polo at the Great Meadow is another favorite.

For More Information Contact:

Karla Seidita
4085 Sumerduck Rd
Sumerduck, VA 22742

Phone: (540) 439-2188
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.cheesecakefarms.com/

How did you come to own a brewery?

I opened Forge Brew Works in Lorton in 2012 after deciding I wanted to change careers from Aerospace Engineering.  The law in Virginia had just changed to allow in-house tap rooms, which made opening a smaller brewery feasible.   I had been brewing as a home brewer for 10 years before opening Forge, and had always daydreamed about opening a brewery, so it was an easy decision.  About  5 years ago I moved to from Alexandria to Warrenton, and Ashley and I decided to move the brewery to Warrenton after the lease was up, so we bought some land, built a barn, and changed our name from Forge Brew Works to Barking Rose to better represent the new farm location.  We got the name from our last name – Rose – and Ashley’s maiden name – Barker.

What made you take a leap of faith to be a business owner?

I really wanted to work with my family, and I wanted to make beer that I wanted to drink.  Having a small business I get to do lots of things, and I get to take my kids to work with me.  The benefits of having a family business are just incredible, but I wouldn’t have ever been able to contemplate it without the support of my immediate family, my extended family, and all of my friends.  It isn’t a small thing to do, and without them I wouldn’t have ever been able to open a small business.

Why Fauquier County?

We live here, our kids are growing up here, and we love it.  The county is full of incredible people who are huge supporters of small businesses, we have other people nearby in the same industry who are a blast to hang out with and collaborate with, and the county just has the right feel for a relaxing farm brewery.

Proudest moment in business?

Winning 2 medals at the Virginia Craft Beer Cup our very first year in Fauquier (2020).

Favorite place in Fauquier County?

Other than the farm?  Old Town Warrenton is just a delightful, fun place to relax and have a great time.

Favorite place to take out of town guests?

I enjoy taking them to all of my friends’ breweries and wineries in the area, and getting to show off how great the people are around here.  Also I get to show off my friends’ places at the same time, which I enjoy almost as much as I love giving tours at Barking Rose.

For More Information Contact:

Matt Rose
9057 Old Culpeper Road
Warrenton, VA 20186

Phone: 5409356206
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.barkingrose.com/