Crockett Springs Cottage
Also known as: Camp Alta Mons Cottage; 60-487
Why it's listed
This small frame cottage near Piedmont, Virginia, dates to about 1889 and is the main survivor of the Crockett Springs resort. It has two rooms, four bays, weatherboard walls, a tin roof and brick piers. A central partition holds a chimney with bracketed mantels. Paired doors with transoms sit between six-over-six windows, and reeded trim and beveled rafter ends add decoration. Porches shelter the front and one end. Crockett Springs opened in 1889 under the Virginia Arsenic Bromide and Lithia Springs Company and advertised its waters as a remedy for skin diseases, rheumatism, kidney ailments and nervousness. It was the last of Montgomery County's major springs resorts to open and closed in 1939. The hotel is gone, leaving the cottage and a modern privy on land now part of a Methodist camp. The cottage was recognized for its architecture as a rare example of late nineteenth-century resort design in the county. It has not been used for decades but remains sound.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the cottage is a rare surviving example of late nineteenth-century resort architecture and one of few structures left from the many springs resorts once in the county. It follows a familiar double-cell form and keeps its form and decorative elements. It is described as structurally sound.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 89001814, listed November 13, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1 mi. S of jct. of VA 637 and 609, Piedmont |
|---|---|
| County | Montgomery County |
| Listed | November 13, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89001814 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca. 1889 |
| Architect / builder | unknown |
| Architectural style | OTHER: double-cell cottage |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in reasonably good condition and structurally sound, but not used for several decades; the site is now part of a Methodist-operated camp. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 37.09362, -80.25351 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 89001814.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14712213
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.