Friends of Bluemont

Be a Part of Preserving Old Bluemont . . .

Loudoun County is being increasingly built up into modern subdivisions and malls--but the little village of Bluemont remains relatively untouched.

In November of 2002, a small group of Bluemont neighbors met to organize a community group that would work to preserve the village character: to preserve and protect the natural beauty and uniqueness of the village of Bluemont.

This was the beginning of Friends of Bluemont.

Friends of Bluemont is a publicly supported organization under Section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code and is able to accept tax-deductible contributions. This is particularly important in light of the property aquisitions that we hope to make. The organization is managed by a board of directors with a number of prominent local citizens and business owners as advisory members.

The organization works to preserve historic structures and open lands within and nearby the village of Bluemont and addresses public policy questions of local concern. The Friends of Bluemont also joins efforts with like-minded groups and local businesses for village conservation and preservation.

What makes Bluemont special?

Located on the eastern slope of the Blue Ridge, Bluemont is unique--one of the only old villages off Route 7 in western Loudoun County that still retains the character of the late 19th century.

Bluemont is also special for its annual fair. The Bluemont Fair, held every September for the past 35 years, is a not-to-be-missed weekend of fun, as the entire village becomes the fairgrounds. Visitors wander the tree-lined streets graced with early homes and businesses, find arts and crafts treasures, admire antique cars, listen to country music, and enjoy a day in the country.

Bluemont is also unique as the last stop on the now-dismantled Washington & Old Dominion Railroad (1900-1930). Once a trendy summering spot for people escaping the sultry heat of summer Washington, the village is a treasured memory of a simpler time gone by.

Bluemont is also special for its links to the history of Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley. Bluemont is Snickersville, a settlement at Snickers' Gap on historic Snickersville Turnpike. Gap, turnpike, and town were named for Captain Edward Snickers who operated an inn and a ferry (about 1760) across the Shenandoah River. And, yes, George Washington probably slept here (or at least at Snickers' inn) on his surveying treks into western Virginia, including part of what is now West Virginia.

Today, Friends of Bluemont is working to preserve the village's natural charm and uniqueness. When you join Friends of Bluemont, you become a part of Bluemont's past, present, and future. With your help, this unique village at the foot of the Blue Ridge can remain a special spot for generations to come.

How to JOIN Friends of Bluemont

Special Places In and Around Bluemont

  • The E.E. Lake store, built before 1905 as an ice cream parlor and general store, is being restored by the Bluemont Citizens Association with local and federal grants.
  • The Bluemont Community Center, a 1921 school building, recently used as a setting for the TV series West Wing.
  • Clayton Hall, built around 1797, a gracious stone family manor house.
  • Nielson's Bluemont Village Center, recently Cochran's Mill Works and once a dance hall, now being renovated as a center for offices and shops.
  • The Snickersville General Store, opened around 1846 and still in neighborly operation.
  • The Bluemont Mill and Railway Museum. next to the grain elevator, now being restored by owner Rosemary Stanger.
  • Snickersville Academy, a log structure at the edge of the woods, built around 1825, not restored.
  • Bluemont Methodist Church, built around 1851.
  • Great Country Farms, Bluemont Vinyards, and the Stable, a working farm that welcomes pick-your-own visitors, and hosts weddings and other special events, on nearby Foggy Bottom Road.
  • Bears Den on the nearby Appalachian Trail-massive stone outcroppings and a vista westward across the Shenandoah Valley--enjoyed by Blue Ridge visitors for hundreds of years.

See images of Special Places . . .