Mayhurst Farm & Heritage Preserve · Orange, Virginia · Est. 1859
A Community Preservation Campaign
HOSPITALITY
"for the glory of God & the good of others"
The Foundation
Six years. Ten thousand guests. One family's impossible conviction.
A Leap of Faith
In early 2020, Jason and Casey Cashell purchased Mayhurst Estate — an 1859 Victorian Italianate manor on 37 acres in Orange County, Virginia. Three weeks later, the world shut down. What followed, they say, is a story of miracles they cannot take credit for.
A Living Heritage
Five miles from James Madison's Montpelier, Mayhurst sits at the heart of one of Virginia's most historically significant corridors. The 1859 manor has been lovingly restored as a luxury B&B, retreat center, and artisan education hub — welcoming over 10,000 guests in six years.
A Community Built
Through faithful storytelling, the Cashells have built a 318,000-strong Instagram community and 78,000 Facebook following of people who believe what Mayhurst believes: that beauty, craftsmanship, and unhurried life are worth protecting.
"Their story is one of resilience and faith. Each day at Mayhurst is a testament to their unwavering commitment to their dream — and the goodness of the God who brought them here."
— Mayhurst EstateThe Situation
What stands at the entrance of Mayhurst will shape its story for generations.
28-Day Window
The 6-acre parcel at the front entrance of Mayhurst was days away from falling to a commercial developer — a contract about to be signed, the land about to be gone. The Cashells discovered what was happening and moved immediately. They swept in with an offer and a $25,000 non-refundable deposit to secure the land before the developer could close. The contract has now been signed. Closing takes place in 28 days. The Cashells are believing for another set of miracles — and are asking the kindred souls who love and support their family's vision for Mayhurst to help them see this through.
What Happens If Lost
Commercial development at the entrance to Mayhurst permanently alters the character, viewshed, and atmosphere of the entire estate. Every future guest's first impression is shaped by what stands at this gateway. Once developed, it cannot be undone.
What the Cashells Are Doing
The Cashells refused to lose this historic gateway to commercial development. They put a $25,000 non-refundable deposit down and the contract has been signed. They are pursuing a multi-faceted approach to pay for the land — crowdfunding, online course creation, grant applications, and seeking potential conservation easements on a portion of the acres.
The Timeline
Now — July 2026
$25,000 Deposit Secured
First right of purchase held with $25,000 non-refundable deposit. Contract signed. Closing in 28 days.
Week 1–2 — August 2026
Campaign Momentum Phase
Community crowdfunding launches. Instagram documentary series begins. Private donor outreach. Press launch. Launching founding steward tiers. Launching the Mustard Seed Project.
Week 3–4 — Late August 2026
Institutional & Grant Outreach
Pursuit of Conservation, Silvopasture, Permaculture & Agritourism, and Heritage-based grants. Historic preservation foundation outreach. Montpelier corridor advocacy engaged.
September 5, 2026
Campaign Closes — Papers Sign
Full acquisition completed. The Gateway to Mayhurst is permanently preserved. The Cashells begin to cultivate the land for future use.
The Vision
Potential Land Use for: Mayhurst Farm & Heritage Preserve
Founders Meadow
The founders meadow, designed with pollinator friendly blooms, greets every guest arriving at Mayhurst — the first impression of a place built to last.
Heritage Orchard
A heritage apple and pear orchard planted for the next generation. Open to retreat guests and community visitors.
Artisan Preserve
A living demonstration of the old trades. Lincoln at the forge. Leatherwork. Woodworking. Heritage baking. The children of Mayhurst teaching the skills that built this country — on the land that is being preserved to honor that legacy.
Mayhurst Market
A Mayhurst farmers market and artisan faire — carved within the rolling hills, along the estate boundary. Local farmers, artisan makers, and Mayhurst-produced goods.
Conservation Easement
Pursuing a permanent conservation easement for several key acres for agricultural farm use with the Virginia Outdoors Foundation or Piedmont Environmental Council. Commercially restricted forever — regardless of future ownership. The legal guarantee behind the vision.
Founding Fathers Trailhead
A potential trailhead for the American people to experience a historic hiking, biking, and equestrian trail along the scenic countryside from the Town of Orange to James Madison's Montpelier. Five miles from Montpelier — James Madison's estate, the Gateway parcel has potential for becoming part of America's semiquincentennial story. A preserved Virginia heritage landscape for the nation's 250th anniversary and every generation beyond it.
"We are not merely buying land. We are preserving the atmosphere, the story, and the future of a place that has changed thousands of lives — before that entrance becomes something that cannot be undone."
— Casey & Jason Cashell, Mayhurst EstateThe Strategy
$625,000 raised through six parallel funding streams — no single point of failure.
Funding Sources
Capital stack composition by source
Projected Raise by Week
28-day campaign momentum curve
The Invitation
Every person who gives becomes permanently woven into the story of this land.
| Tier | Amount | What You Receive | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🌱 | Seed Sower | $100 | 5×7 art print of Mayhurst + a personal letter from Casey & Jason Cashell mailed from the estate |
| 🏡 | Founding Family | $300 | Mayhurst thermos + 5×7 art print + personal letter from the Cashells |
| 🕯 | Candlelighter | $500 | A wooden candlestick holder handmade by Lincoln from timber harvested on Mayhurst land — numbered, signed, and strictly limited. A piece of this land, made by hand. |
| 🏛 | Heritage Steward | $1,000 | Framed 8×10 architectural sketch of Mayhurst + name permanently archived in the Mayhurst Preservation Book kept at the estate in perpetuity |
| 🗝 | Gatekeeper Circle | $5,000 | Limited-edition charcuterie board handmade by Jason & Casey from trees harvested on Mayhurst land + name in the Preservation Book + invitation to the first Founders Gathering at Mayhurst |
| 🌳 | Legacy Circle | $10,000+ | Private dinner at Mayhurst with Casey & Jason · Founders plaque · VIP retreat invitations · Permanent, named place in the founding story of Mayhurst Farm & Heritage Preserve |
Projected Giving Distribution by Tier
Estimated donor volume and revenue contribution per founding steward level
The Mustard Seed Project
A 4-week journey for dreamers — launched in real time as the Cashells pursue theirs.
"What if, as we pursue the next impossible dream, we invite others into pursuing theirs — in real time, together, anchored in the faithfulness of God?"
— The Mustard Seed ProjectWhat It Is
The Mustard Seed Challenge is a 4-week mentorship journey — $275 — in which Casey and Jason Cashell walk alongside dreamers who have a God-sized dream they cannot yet see how to reach. Launched in real time as the Cashells pursue the preservation of Mayhurst, participants read George Müeller together, receive a curated snail mail package, and are mentored through the very framework that has shaped the Cashells' own 10-year journey toward their dream of an "old world estate for the glory of God and the good of others." The income from every enrollment goes directly toward the Gateway purchase.
The Four-Week Journey
Week 1 — Clarify the dream. Work backwards from the grave. Clear the fog.
Week 2 — Foundation: Jesus as your great treasure, not the dream itself. How to build your dreams on the right foundation.
Week 3 — The pathway. How your gifts, story, and suffering shape the dream. How to build and monetize faithfully.
Week 4 — How to journey forward. Faithfulness in the present. Living with open hands.
The Unique Opportunity
The Mustard Seed Challenge is not a pre-recorded course. It is a live, real-time journey — participants walk alongside Casey and Jason as they pursue the preservation of Mayhurst in the very same 28 days. The miracle they are believing for becomes the classroom. Every update from the Gateway campaign is also a lesson in what it means to trust God with an out-of-reach dream. This is mentorship at its most authentic — not polished hindsight, but live, unscripted faith.
The Stewards
The people who have already put everything on the line for this land.
Casey Cashell
Co-founder and Executive Director of Mayhurst Estate. Professional photographer, content creator, and online educator with 318,000 Instagram followers and 78,000 Facebook followers. Founder of the Teapot Society, Storyteller's Academy, and Artisan Kids Hub. Speaker at homeschool conferences across Virginia and Florida. Her warmth and storytelling are the voice of Mayhurst to the world.
Jason Cashell
Founder and CEO of Mayhurst Estate. Fifteen years of pastoral and biblical counseling experience. A love for history, architecture, and culinary arts finds its fullest expression in the daily life of Mayhurst. His meticulous attention to historic detail — and his infectious enthusiasm — make Mayhurst a place of laughter, beauty, and joy.
Lincoln Cashell & The Artisan Kids
The Cashell children — Lincoln, Chamberlain, Holly, and Athans — are homeschooled at Mayhurst and deeply woven into its daily life. Lincoln is a skilled leatherworker, woodworker, and blacksmith who has taught himself the old trades on the estate property. Lincoln and his family have created a vibrant online and in-person educational hub that is actively inspiring minds, instilling character, and preserving the artisan trades for the next generation.
"You'll arrive as a guest, but you'll leave as family."
— Mayhurst EstateJoin the Story
The gateway to Mayhurst will be shaped by what happens in the next 28 days.
"What stands at the entrance of Mayhurst will shape its story for generations. Help us make sure it is something beautiful."
— Casey & Jason CashellFor Investor & Major Donor Inquiries
Legacy Circle and major gift conversations are welcomed personally by Casey and Jason Cashell. For discussions about the $5,000+ Legacy Circle, conservation partnership opportunities, or institutional giving, please reach out directly.
@thecashells
Campaign Closes
September 5, 2026
