Stanley offers a quiet rural atmosphere in the Shenandoah
Stanley is a community of over 1,700 people near the tourist and outdoor attractions of the Shenandoah Valley. Settled in the 1700s, the community developed into an agricultural hub, though it does have a small main street with some independent businesses. Homes here have larger yards with plenty of oak trees and scenic views of the nearby Blue Ridge Mountains. “It’s a very rural area,” says Bill Dudley, the owner/broker at Bill Dudley & Associates Real Estate, who has been selling in the area for 35 years. “Stanley tends to be a bedroom community for the greater Harrisonburg, Virginia area.”
A mix of architecture and land up for grabs
The median housing price is $340,000, lower than state and national numbers. Homes include Colonials, farmhouses, ranch styles and New Traditionals. Land is available. HOA activity is present. Dudley says the community has attracted a mix of families, commuters and retirees from the Washington, D.C. metro area. “It’s a very peaceful, quite rural community,” says Dudley. Maps from the state of Virginia show a low risk of flooding, but winter storms can be a factor, with Stanley averaging about 20 inches of snow per year.
Page County Public Schools
Students attend Page County Public Schools, graded C-plus on Niche. Both Page County High School and Luray High School offer career and technical education in manufacturing, health and public safety.
Local parks, horseback riding and Luray Caverns
Ed Good Memorial Park features a playground, skate park, walking trail and picnic shelter. The 28-acre Hawksbill Recreational Park has a swimming pool, sand volleyball court and a community center. The town organizes local events such as movie nights and holiday parades at the parks. Other parks include Ralph H. Dean Park in Luray, home to five baseball diamonds, a soccer field and a frisbee golf course.
Jordon Hollow Stables offers horseback riding tours through the Shenandoah Valley and is open year-round. Luray Caverns, 8 miles north, has been open since the 1870s and offers stunning views of natural formations. The entrance to Skyline Drive is 17 miles northeast.
Pizza, coffee and the Hawksbill Diner
Stanley’s local eateries are on Main Street and feature mostly local spots. Ciro’s Pizza offers salads, subs and pasta dishes along with pizza. The Coffee Shop also serves baked goods and sandwiches. The Hawksbill Diner opens for breakfast and lunch and has daily specials. Coal Ridge Brewery on Honeyville Road is a family-owned establishment that makes craft beer. The community has a Food Lion grocery store and several Dollar Stores, but larger big-box retailers, including Walmart, are in Luray. Stanley has a family medicine clinic. However, Valley Page Memorial Hospital is 7 miles north.
U.S. Route 340 BUS and airport access
U.S. Route 340 BUS runs through the center of Stanley and connects to U.S. Route 211, which leads to Interstate 81 in New Market. Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport is 48 miles south.
