Bluemont has maintained its Blue Ridge connection and rural tranquility over centuries
In the foothills that fall between northern Virginia’s Clarke and Loudoun counties, sunrises and sunsets paint the Blue Ridge Mountains that tower over the rural community of Bluemont. More than a century ago, railroad tracks shuttled weekend tourists seeking fresh air outside of Washington into a burgeoning resort village. In the modern day, day-trippers are still coming to hike the Appalachian Trail and float up the Shenandoah River, though they’re now relaxing at modern vineyards and picking their own produce at local farms. According to Wesley Smith, a Realtor and Northern Virginia specialist with Pearson Smith Realty, Bluemont has retained its old-fashioned charm intentionally, crafting a scenic, spread-out countryside that makes year-round residents choose to root themselves in the mountains and travel the opposite direction to the nation’s capital for work: “There are some places like Round Hill, the next town east of Bluemont, that are super growth-positive, where they’re putting new construction up on every piece of dirt they can find. Bluemont is super anti-growth. They shut down as many developments as possible, which preserves a much lower density. As a result, it has a lot of trees and a slower pace.”
Homes that range from horse-ready acreages to forested cabins
Single-family homes set on dozens of acres mingle with active farmland throughout Bluemont, as do properties that blend the two aesthetics with fenced pastures and backyard stables. “Middleburg is the main horse country in Loudoun County, but Bluemont is sort of an overflow. Maybe a third of the houses have a barn with horses or alpacas in it,” Smith says. The highest priced homes in the area range from 19th century estates to sprawling New Traditional construction from the 20th and 21st centuries, with prices that can reach over $2 million. There are also many smaller, simpler homes set in limited denser developments and simple, remote cabins deep in wooded hillsides that can go in the low $300,000s. Bluemont’s median single-family home price is about $780,000, close to double the national median of around $400,000. Smith also notes that depending on what side of Blue Ridge Mountain Road they fall along, homeowners might pay double the property tax in Loudoun County than they would in Clarke County for near identical properties.
Recreation on the A.T., on the Shenandoah and at Bluemont equestrian hubs
The village of Bluemont is a recognized Appalachian Trail Community, showcasing its dedication to welcoming visitors that come through the Blue Ridge Mountains on the way to popular overlooks like Bear’s Den and Raven Rocks. “Thru-hikers on the Appalachian Trail call this part ‘The Roller Coaster.’ It’s considered one of the prettiest parts of the A.T., but there are some pretty laborsome ups and downs. You could basically drive all the way to the Bear’s Den overlook. Getting to Raven Rocks is going to be about a 3-mile hike, though,” Smith says. To spend some time fishing or boating on the Shenandoah River, residents might launch from private backyard docks or head to publicly accessible points like the one under Castleman’s Ferry Bridge. Many equestrians gallop around paddocks on their own properties, but there are also plenty of businesses like Red Gate Farm that offer boarding services and riding lessons. Bluemont Community Center is set inside a former schoolhouse; today, it still supports the community’s youth through summer camp and after-school programs, as well as serving as a venue for adult fitness classes and outdoor summertime concerts.
Attending Clarke County or Loudoun County schools
Bluemont is split between two school districts: Clarke County Public Schools, which earns a B from Niche, and Loudoun County Public Schools, which earns an A. Clarke County High School earns a B-plus and offers dual enrollment courses through Laurel Ridge Community College and Shenandoah University. A couple of Loudoun County high schools serve Bluemont, including the A-rated Woodgrove High School. Woodgrove offers career and technical education pathways that provide accreditation and hands-on experience in fields from architecture and construction to programming and software development.
Shopping and dining in Bluemont and Purcellville
Before Bluemont rebranded into a Blue Ridge resort town, it was a rural village called Snickersville; taking a trip to the century-old buildings along the main drag of Snickersville Turnpike takes residents and weekenders back to the time of that name change. Down the road from the post office and historic Bluemont United Methodist Church, the Bluemont General Store advertises fresh eggs, pies and ice cream. Vineyards and breweries serve drinks and meals with a view in the more rural hills away from the village center. “The Bluemont Vineyard is very successful. They have views so good that on clear days, you can just see the top of the Washington Monument,” Smith says. For grocery stores like Harris Teeter, residents drive less than 10 miles to the more highly developed Purcellville.
The Bluemont Fair and other agritourism events
On the third Saturday of each September, the Bluemont Fair draws crowds to browse vendor booths, drink some local wine and enjoy family fun activities like a petting zoo outside the community center. Many of the area’s wineries, breweries and farms hold live music nights and holiday events of their own, with especially large ones at Great Country Farms drawing enough out-of-town attendees to cause mild traffic disruptions on Bluemont’s country roads. “Way back in the day, Bluemont was the end of the Washington and Old Dominion Railroad. It was known as a rural getaway for people in the city. Through the winery, agritourism industries today, in many ways, it’s still the same as it always was,” Smith says.
Driving around Bluemont and commuting to D.C.
“There are a lot of back gravel roads in Bluemont. They can get rough, but locals prefer it – it makes you drive slower,” Smith says. While there’s a Federal Emergency Management Agency operation in the Mount Weather area, most residents leave Bluemont’s back roads for their government jobs. Washington is about 60 miles away via state Route 7. Inova Loudoun Hospital is nearly 25 miles away, and Washington Dulles International Airport is more than 30 miles from home. Beyond heading to Purcellville to access limited commuter bus service through Loudoun County, residents rely on personal vehicles to get around.
Increased flood risk along Bluemont’s waterways and icy mountain roads
The Shenandoah River, and smaller waterways like Morgan Mill Stream, may flood after unusually heavy rain. Buyers can consult maps to understand their potential risk and need for flood insurance. A more common environmental concern will be waiting for mountainous roads to be safe to drive on when they become ice or snow-covered in the winter.
Written By
Julia Szymanski
