Rural Lynchburg suburb with a mountainscape
Situated in scenic Bedford County, Forest is a suburban community of about 12,000 residents at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. In addition to summit vistas, Forest provides proximity to downtown Lynchburg, about 10 miles east of town. “It’s a beautiful community with great people,” says Lindsey Sharman, a lifelong resident of the area and teacher in neighboring Campbell County. Sharman notes that residents have mountain views from anywhere in Bedford County and access to hiking trails about 20 miles outside of town. Forest features multiple golf courses and Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest, a retreat home with grounds that host festivals and events all year. Nearby in Lynchburg, where ChapStick was invented, there are two well-known colleges: the University of Lynchburg and Randolph College. The aptly named Forest Road connects residents to the city, branching off into residential lanes of pastoral properties and subdivisions.
Colonial-style and Farmhouse-style homes
Forest’s winding backroads lead to Colonial-inspired properties, rambling ranch-style homes and newly-built Farmhouse Revivals. Most homes, tucked away under a canopy of trees, sit on at least half an acre and have attached garages. The median price for a home in Forest is $415,000, higher than the national median but lower than that of the state of Virginia. Properties typically stay on the market for an average of 36 days.
Wine tastings and races at Poplar Forest
Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest, the former president’s retreat villa and grounds, is a well-known and oft-visited site within Forest. The historic mansion is open for private tours and events, while the grounds are open to the public. “It was Thomas Jefferson’s summer home,” Sharman says. “They host wine festivals there and a fun obstacle course race on the property,” referring to the 5K Face the Forest event. Poplar Forest also features a public 9-hole golf course. Sharman mentions that Jefferson’s daughter owned a home in Forest that has been repurposed into a boutique, Ashwood Manor Designs, that sells clothing, antiques and furniture.
Local markets and eateries along Forest Road
Forest Road is the main artery through town, where residents can go to grab a bite, run errands, work out and shop. A popular food court, The Backyard, features food trucks and nearby picnic tables. “Apocalypse Brewery is kid- and dog-friendly, and they have live music and trivia,” Sharman says. “Benjamin’s has great food and live bands, and Joe Beans is our drive-through coffee shop that’s super popular.” The Forest Farmers Market, which includes a children’s play area, is open each Saturday from April until winter, and some select Saturdays during the colder months. In addition to the variety of eateries and outdoor markets throughout Forest, there are several Christian churches. “There are more churches than you could ever dream of,” Sharman says. The nearest general hospital, Centra Lynchburg Medical Center, is located about 5 miles east of town.
Golf clubs and park additions to Rotary Club of Forest
Forest features three golf courses, including the course at Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest. Ivy Hill Golf Club, located in the northwestern section of town, offers an 18-hole course open to the public. The club also offers memberships for pickleball and an outdoor pool. Colonial Hills Golf Club is also open to the public, with membership options. Non-golfers and younger residents can enjoy other park amenities in town. “Rotary Park, which is behind the Forest Public Library, has a great inclusive playground with a trail that goes around the perimeter,” Sharman says, referring to what’s officially called Rotary Club of Forest. “So older kids can ride bikes while younger kids play. They put a lot of money into it, adding new things to the park in phases.” On the south side of Forest, New London Tech Trails offers wooded walking and biking trails and a challenging disc golf course. “The World Championship for disc golf was hosted there last summer,” Sharman says, referring to the summer of 2024.
Bedford County schools and Lynchburg colleges
Students can attend schools in the Bedford County Public School district, which receives a B rating from Niche. There are 13 elementary schools, three middle schools and three high schools. Students are likely to attend Forest Elementary and Forest Middle, both of which receive an A-minus, and Jefferson Forest High, which has a B-plus. “Jefferson Forest is very sought-out,” Sharman says. “Lots of people try to move into the area and developers are trying to develop areas for new homes, apartments and other things.”
About 7 miles east of Forest, the University of Lynchburg is a private university with nearly 2,500 undergraduate and graduate students enrolled. Around 3 miles north of there, the historic Randolph College was founded as an all-women's college before it became co-ed in 2007.
Getting around town on Forest Road
Forest Road, or U.S. Route 221, runs west to east through town, leading residents directly to Lynchburg, about 10 miles away. “You mostly need a car,” Sharman says. “There are a few bus stops at the eastern end of Forest Road operated by Greater Lynchburg Transit.” About 8 miles from the center of Forest, Lynchburg Regional Airport offers American Airlines service to Charlotte. For more destination options, Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport is about 45 miles west.
Forest’s weather patterns and Bedford County’s crime rate
Forest experiences all four seasons, with summers that reach an average peak temperature of about 85 degrees and winters that drop to an average low of 29 degrees. May sees the most rain, and February sees the most snow, at an average of around 6 inches. “The mountains usually stop us from getting a lot of weather that comes from the west,” Sharman says. “So the only time we get snow is it if comes from the south.”
Crime data is not readily available for the town of Forest, but according to data submitted to the FBI, the crime rates in Bedford County are much lower than the national rate.
Written By
Mary Beth Greene
Photography Contributed By
Anna Cheng
