Rose Hill Mansion — Attraction in Town of Fayette

Disappointed. If our first visit had been on 10/6/18, it would get 1 star. We first visited during the Smithsonian Free Museum Day, and enjoyed the tour. During that visit, we were told of the behind the scenes tour and that piqued our interest. We were not told that you needed reservations, so we didn’t make any. We drove to the mansion, only to be turned away, with a rather snarky comment of “Well, there’s always next year.” We went to our car, and thought that maybe we actually did sign up and just didn’t remember. We called the museum and asked, but we had not. The kicker, it was past the tour start time, and the person on the phone said that there were 3 no-shows, but the two of us were not offered those spots. The website does say that you need reservations, but we already knew what we wanted to do, so we never checked it. You would think that 2 more people could have been squeezed in, especially considering that there were three no-shows. Highly doubt that there will be...

Our tour guide Cindy was knowledgeable and friendly. She grew up in the area so this was an added bonus ! The boxwoods have been removed from the south side of the mansion and the landscape is inviting . I discovered that the ancient breed of rose bushes - Rosa Centifolia had been removed from the south side of the mansion . My grandmother and I used to gather the rose hips and petals from these bushes ,dry them and make sachets , rose water & bath salts for Christmas gifts . I realize repairs are necessary but am hoping the bushes were saved ? The gift shop was well stocked with unusual items beautifully displayed.

(This review...

Its been a while but some of our family furniture and oils are in Rose Hill. Martin Smith owned Rose Hill in the early 1900's. He was my Grandma Cook's father. There is much to make me nostalgic ... I grew up in Geneva, in a home that is now Hobart and William Smith's Admission Offices, I believe, 616 South Main Street. When May Martin Cook (who grew up at Rose Hill) married Edward John Cook...this was their family home.

The tour through Rose Hill has always been wonderful. Makes us all go back to years before we were born. To a day of sea captains and gentlemen farmers.

Carol...