Beautiful, remote, unspoiled, and delightfully cool in summer, but a long way away from any really adequate town offering full services. Covington isn't much, you will find yourself going down to Staunton or even Charlottesville, Roanoke, or Lynchburg quite often.
And in WINTER! Winters are quite long at the Homestead. Cabin fever, no town near? So steep, so mountainous, so few towns to offer wrecker services, or a chance to ride the bus in snowy weather.
For instance, one could be almost as cool in summer, and live at Wytheville on both I-81 and I-77, and have large community hospital, fine community college, and instant transportation by car to anywhere in the East.
You are obviously someone whose remoteness and isolation preference exceeds mine, just as another poster has said mine exceeds hers.
Highlands 40 miles from I-81 & Staunton. Staunton's pop is over 25,000. Nice little town. Lots to do there. The Homestead is in W.VA. Not really very close to Highland county. Highland has a medical center now, but I think if you have something serious they fly ya to the hospital in Waynesboro. We're looking for a place to retire. I couldn't think about retiring near a big city. Costs tooo much. In Highland you can get 50 acres and a nice 3 br house for under $200k.
wrecker service? What the hells that? lol