There is a very interesting history of the structure near this cache. See the signs near the parking spot.
Captain John Cussons, a native Englishman, confederate scout, author, and entrepreneur married Mrs. Benjamin Allen (after whose family Glen Allen was named). He settled here after the Civil War and established a printing company. In 1881, he built a six story fashionable resort hotel with over 100 elaborately decorated rooms known as Forest Lodge adjacent to the railroad tracts. The resort hotel occupied 1000 acres, which also boasted a hunting preserve, lakes, boathouses, gardens, parklands, and an amphitheater. Forest Lodge was never the success it was hoped it would be, and in later years served first as a boarding house, and later as apartments. The parklands reverted to woods. Forest Lodge was demolished in 1989 due to development plans.
The County of Henrico preserved this cupola, which now stands on the corner of Mountain Road and Old Washington Highway
This cache is located between the Coastal and Piedmont Trails of the Virginia Birding and Wildlife Trail. If you are a birder following these trails you will pass a short distance from this cache on each trail.
Just to the east of this cache is the Richmond Loop of the Coastal Trail, - stop CRI03 - The Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen/Walkerton.
Site CRI03: The Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen/Walkerton Along the Cultural Arts Center's entrance driveway are manicured grass strips, red cedars and loblolly pines. The dense understory along the drive can produce sightings of several woodland bird species. A small, wet, vegetated depression on site is a magnet for sparrows in winter, and the adjacent patch of standing water may attract waterfowl on occasion. The remnant loblolly pine stand is a likely spot to listen for pine warblers in spring.
The Richmond Loop offers a variety of habitats, supporting a diversity of wildlife, just a short commute from Virginia's capitol. The loop begins northeast of Richmond in the typical eastern arboreal forests of Pole Green Park, proceeding to the wetland areas along Upham Brook at Three Lakes Park, to Vawter Street Park's riparian woodlands along the Chickahominy River. The Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden is a wonderful stop for the inquisitive naturalist, in particular the native gardens which educate visitors on the natural flora and fauna of Virginia. Two battlefields, as well as the adjacent Chimborazo City Park, are situated on bluffs, pertinent to the function of forts that once stood on the grounds. From these hillsides, enjoy expansive views of the city and hike the downward trails into remote woodland for an afternoon of naturalizing. All three of the James River Park's sites are situated just south of the heart of downtown, but the wildlife doesn't seem to be bothered by the metropolitan surroundings.
Just to the west of this cache is the Henrico Loop of the Piedmont Trail - Site PHE03 at Meadow Farm Crump Park.
Site PHE03: Meadow Farm/General Sheppard Crump Memorial Park The Meadow Farm Museum was left to Henrico County by the Crump family, which had farmed it since before the Civil War. Still standing, this historic farm holds an assortment of animals and serves as an educational tool for people of all ages to learn about the agricultural history of the area. In addition to the farm, there are numerous stands of deciduous and some coniferous woodlands interspersed among the open fields. Check the utility lines along the park entrance for the resident eastern bluebirds that serve as the farm's welcome committee. These lines are particularly interesting in late summer and fall when they can be lined with small groups of parents showing their newly fledged chicks the bluebird ropes. Once you wander into the forest, listen for Carolina wrens and downy woodpeckers along with the wheezing of pine warblers. Gray squirrels won't be far away and can usually be heard scampering up trees just out of view. Along the western edge of the park a small pond regularly hosts Canada geese and mallards of unknown providence. Great blue herons sometime drop in to dine here, leaving their massive footprints in the mud along the shoreline. Thankful to have made it another day without being someone's prey, eastern painted turtles bask along the pond's shores and green frogs make their presence known with a loud plop as they disappear into the muck at the bottom of the pond. Very early in the morning or just as twilight begins to fade, check for raccoons out in search of frog snacks.
Henrico Loop Description: The bustling metropolis of Richmond does not at first spring to mind when you think of wildlife. However, this impression will change after exploring the Henrico Loop. This loop weaves its way through the outskirts of the city to several impressive sites hosting ponds, marshes and acres of forest. These parks are home to an impressive variety of wildlife ranging from red-tailed and red-shouldered hawks to eastern bluebirds and eastern phoebes as well as eastern painted turtles and five-lined skinks. The parks truly shine during migration when almost anything found east of the Mississippi could pop in for an impromptu performance. Scotchtown, the childhood home of Dolly Madison and former home of Patrick Henry begins this loop. Henry's "Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death" speech may have been conceived within these walls. As you walk through the open landscapes of this beautiful house, see if you can still here the echoes of Henry's passionate address.