Living among farms with Shenandoah Valley views
Like most of Augusta County, Stuarts Draft was established by an Irish immigrant around 1736 as a place to farm. A few centuries later, the town is still rooted in agriculture, with sprawling family farms. Times have changed, though, and Stuarts Draft has manufacturing plants in the center of town.
Lesley and Stephan Gleason live in town and help new residents through their realty group, Virginia Mountain to Valley Living. Lesley is an associate broker, and Stephan is a Realtor. “We love Stuarts Draft for a number of reasons,” Lesley says. “We are 15 minutes from Waynesboro and Staunton, and we can easily get over the mountain to Charlottesville. We are surrounded by farms, so there are a lot of farmers markets and homesteading. We can get fresh fruits, milk and all kinds of things.” Stephan also points out the close community atmosphere. “There are 12,000 people, but it doesn’t seem like that,” Stephan says. “It still has a small-town feel. You can be as involved as you want. We’re in the valley, so there are mountain views, and you see sheep grazing on hills.”
Farming and sweet manufacturing
“We have a lot of manufacturing here, places like McKee Foods, Hershey’s and Nibco,” Lesley says. “You would never know the manufacturing plants are there because they're not visible from most homes in Stuarts Draft.” The Hershey’s plant is the company's second-largest location in the nation. While manufacturing is the leading industry, some residents work in health care. Augusta Health is the nearest hospital and a major employer for the county, roughly 15 minutes away in Fishersville, although Stuarts Draft also has an Augusta Health Urgent Care Center.
The Augusta Sheriff’s Office responds to calls in Stuarts Draft and reported a roughly 4 percent decrease in offenses from 2022 to 2023, according to an annual report from the department.
Older homes and new builds under construction
Ranch-style homes and expanded Cape Cods have large lots and sidewalk-free streets, and most houses were built between the 1960s and early 2000s. Stone Valley has brand-new homes built as recently as 2024, and Stoney Run is still growing with new homes. The lot sizes are generally larger than those in Waynesboro and Staunton, creating more breathing room between neighbors and a rural atmosphere.
Stephan points out Forrest Springs Estates, Ridgeview Acres and Meadowdale Estates as some of the more popular neighborhoods. All three are in the eastern side of town, with some of the lowest home prices. Stuart Draft's median price is $365,000, lower than the national median. Home prices tend to be slightly higher than in Waynesboro and Staunton, but Stuarts Draft has a lower property tax than the two cities.
Family businesses whip up treats and sell staples
National grocery stores, chain restaurants and small businesses primarily line Stuarts Draft Highway, though the most notable stores in town are locally owned. “You have a lot of great relationships with people,” Lesley says. “You go to shops, and you know the people.” The Cheese Shop is a bulk store with a deli and cheese counter, and the shop has been a family business since 1960. Miller’s Bake Shoppe is another popular spot to grab fresh baked goods and gluten-free items, especially on pretzel day or customer appreciation day. “We’re surrounded by farms, and there are a lot of farm stands,” Lesley says. “We go down the road to get fresh milk and eggs, but we get basic staples from Food Lion. Sunrise Farms has free-roaming chickens and turkeys.”
Quick trips to Waynesboro and Staunton
As residents drive down state Route 340, they pass the town's unofficial mascot — a bull statue. Residents dress the bull almost every month in holiday-themed outfits. For the Super Bowl, the statue was “Super Bull,” and for Valentine’s Day, the bull sported a red heart and was nicknamed “Loveabull."
U.S. Route 340, also called Stuarts Draft Highway, cuts across the north part of town and connects with Interstates 64 and 81. A drive to Waynesboro is about 10 miles east for 15 minutes, and Staunton is 11 miles north, or a 20-minute drive. Brite buses also run along the highway and provide travel to Waynesboro and the Augusta Health Center in Fishersville, 7 miles north of town. Churches are the only places of worship in town, and most are close to Draft Avenue and U.S. Route 340.
Draft Day and firefighter barbecues
While the town is small, it stays busy with festivals and annual events. “We went to the Christmas parade there last year, and it lasted an hour and 20 minutes because of all the organizations, churches and people who participated,” Stephan says. Stuarts Draft Park is the main greenspace in town, with grassy athletic fields and a Junior Olympic-sized pool. The park is also the site of Draft Days, hosted by the Augusta County Parks and Recreation Department every June. The event is free, with live music, obstacle courses and food trucks
The Stuarts Draft Volunteer Fire Company hosts the Annual Lawn Party in August to raise funds for the firehouse. Firefighters cook barbecue dishes while kids ride carnival rides and visitors try to win raffle prizes. Summers can be hot and humid, but winters tend to be mild with limited snowfall, so residents are often outdoors.
Private and public schools close to home
The Augusta County Public Schools district serves Stuarts Draft and earns a B from Niche. The town has four public schools and one private Christian school. Stuarts Draft High School gets a B-minus and is known for its football games. Ridgeview Christian School gets a B-minus.
Photography Contributed By
Anna Cheng
