Lexington is a college town with history and natural beauty
Lexington is a small Shenandoah Valley city known for its two universities, a historic downtown and views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. “I feel very fortunate to have lived here my whole life,” says Mary Beth Harris, a Realtor with James River Realty. “As a child, I wanted to get away from Lexington because it was too small and I wanted a big city, but as I’ve gotten older, I love the quaintness of it, the sense of community and the kindness of everybody.” The Virginia Military Institute and Washington and Lee University anchor the community, and the area is also known for its Civil War history. Nearby parks and national forests provide hiking opportunities, and Interstate 81 makes it easy to get to other valley cities like Staunton and Roanoke.
A mix of historic homes and newer builds
Lexington is surrounded by farmland, but the city itself has narrow streets lined with turn-of-the-century homes with landscaped yards. Common styles here include Colonial Revival, Craftsman and American Foursquare, and there are also some midcentury ranch-style and Cape Cods. On the city’s outskirts, late-1900s colonial and ranch-style homes on spacious lots become more common, and there are also subdivisions with Craftsman-inspired new traditional homes from the 2000s. Buyers can find multi-acre retreats with custom-built homes, cabins and historic farmhouses outside the city. The median home sale price is around $400,000, lower than the national median of roughly $420,000. “We don’t have enough inventory for the number of people who want to live here, but we are seeing a shift in pricing where things are becoming more affordable,” Harris says. Condos are available on the outskirts, and undeveloped properties range from small lots in subdivisions to 50 acres with mountain views. Rental apartments are near the universities and Interstate 64.
Universities are top employers
Washington and Lee University and Virginia Military Institute are two of the city’s largest employers. Both campuses are in the city’s north. Washington and Lee is a private university that enrolls around 2,300 undergraduates in 40 majors; the law school here enrolls around 400 students. Founded in 1749, the university is one of the oldest higher education institutions in the country, and many of its buildings are National Historic Landmarks. VMI is a public university that enrolls around 1,600 students in 14 majors, and students here — called cadets — are required to join the ROTC program for one of five military branches.
Historic downtown is a walkable area of shops and restaurants
Downtown Lexington is on the National Register of Historic Places and features colonial storefronts, centuries-old churches and brick sidewalks. This walkable area has several blocks of locally owned shops, art galleries and restaurants. Harris recommends Golden Garden. “It's honestly the best Asian food I've ever eaten in my life,” she says. Haywood’s Piano Bar and Grill serves upscale American cuisine at The Georges, a hotel spread across five historic buildings. For dessert, Sweet Things Ice Cream Shoppe has been a staple for 30 years. Breweries like Devil’s Backbone and wineries like Ecco Adesso Vineyards are nearby. Grocery stores like Kroger and Food Lion are on the city’s south side, and national retailers like Walmart and Lowe’s Home Improvement are near Interstate 64.
Kids attend schools in Lexington or Rockbridge County
Kids who live within the city limits attend Harrington Waddell Elementary and then go to Lylburn Downing Middle; both earn an A from Niche. Kids living in Rockbridge County go to Central Elementary and then Maury River Middle; both earn a C-plus. High schoolers across the area go to the B-rated Rockbridge County High, where they can take electives like journalism for hands-on experience publishing a student newspaper.
River parks, trails and forests offer outdoor recreation
There are several parks throughout the area offering playgrounds, green space and sports fields. Jordan’s Point Park is on an island in the Maury River; the park used to be an industrial hub and is now known for its historical markers, canoe access and river swimming. The 7-mile Chessie Nature Trail is a popular spot for hiking and biking. Built over a former railroad, the trail follows the Maury River to Buena Vista. Boxerwood Nature Center and Woodland Garden has a variety of native and rare plants, as well as a natural playground for kids. The Lexington Golf and Country Club is a public course with memberships that grant access to the club’s swimming pool and tennis programs. Nearby, the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests offer hikes on mountainous trails, and Shenandoah National Park is 47 miles away.
Mostly car-dependent, but buses and sidewalks give more options
U.S. Routes 60 and 11 are the main roads through downtown. Route 60 leads 7 miles to Buena Vista, and Route 11 follows Interstate 81, which leads 37 miles to Staunton and 53 miles to Roanoke. Interstate 64 leads to West Virginia. Radar Transit’s Maury Express bus has routes throughout the area. Lexington Presbyterian Church, a Greek Revival church built in 1845, is one of several houses of worship in the area. Carilion Rockbridge Community Hospital is near downtown, and Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport is a 52-mile trip.
Venues for concerts, equestrian events and movies
The Lime Kiln Theater hosts an outdoor summer concert series that regularly sells out. “It used to be a limestone kiln, but in my lifetime, it's just been this amazing theater. It’s such a special part of the community,” Harris says. “It’s a lot of local bands, but in the past few years, they’ve had some bigger acts.” The Virginia Horse Center is another popular event space in the area. The center puts on regular equestrian shows and the annual Rockbridge Regional Fair & Expo, a three-day fair with carnival rides and livestock competitions. Hull’s Drive-In has operated here since the 1950s, showing the latest movie releases in a retro drive-in setting; the theater also hosts a concert series from May to October.
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Written By
Annie Franklin
