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All the facts about business in Rockbridge. 

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Education

The Rockbridge Region is blessed with a rich array of educational resources with over a dozen public and private elementary schools, middle schools and high schools and four post-secondary institutions: Dabney S. Lancaster Community College, Virginia Military Institute, Southern Virginia University and Washington &Lee University.

Following is a brief overview on each school. The information presented comes from each school's respective web site. Please use the provided link to each school's web site for the most recent, up to date information.
Lexington City Schools
Lexington City Schools consist of Harrington Waddell Elementary and Lylburn Downing Middle School. Like many other schools in the area, Lexington City Schools have small class sizes, which provide an excellent environment for student-teacher interaction. According to the school board's mission statement, Lexington City Schools aim to provide "progressive educational opportunities" while being "responsive to the needs and talents of all students."
Harrington Waddell Elementary
Harrington Waddell Elementary is a public elementary school located at 100 Pendleton Place, Lexington, VA 24450. The school serves grades Pre K - 5 and enrolls approximately 350 students a year. The school's academic curriculum includes classes in science, social studies, math, and language arts. Per their website, Harrington Waddell seeks to provide "progressive educational opportunities" that "create life-long learners." They reinforce this commitment by placing an emphasis on ability-based work groups and frequent group discussions in the classroom. Harrington Waddell posted above average passing rates relative to other state elementary schools for the Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL) tests.

For more information, please visit their website.
Lylburn Downing Middle School
Lylburn Downing Middle School is a public middle school located at 302 Diamond Street, Lexington, VA 24450. The school serves grades 6- 8 and enrolls approximately 190 students each academic year. The school's principal, Mr. Richard Dowd, advocates personal and academic growth for middle school students and has been actively expanding the curriculum. Academic classes include math, science, World and United States History, reading and English, Spanish, and Latin. Like Harrington Waddell, the school posted above average SOL test passing rates relative to other public middle schools in Virginia.

Lylburn Downing also has an extensive music program, which gives students the opportunity to participate in either jazz or honors band. The school emphasizes athletics and extracurricular activities to develop teamwork, skills, and self-esteem, and consequently features various sports teams, clubs, and student organizations. Lylburn Downing has both Boys' and Girls' Basketball, a Cheerleading Squad, and Girls' Volleyball. The school also features a Ski and Snowboard Club, Boys' and Girls' Tennis Club, as well as Boys' and Girls' Lacrosse Club, which was funded by the Lexington City Schools Foundation. In addition to athletics, Lylburn Downing also has Drama Club and Beta Club. Beta Club is a student organization that promotes fundraising and community service. The club's members frequently volunteer for Washington and Lee Campus Kitchens, along with various other community organizations.

For more information on Lylburn Downing Middle School, please visit their website.
Rockbridge County Public Schools
Rockbridge County is home to various public schools at the elementary, middle, and high schools levels. In the paragraphs that follow, we present an overview of Natural Bridge Elementary, Fairfield Elementary, Mountain View Elementary, Central Elementary, Maury River Middle School, and Rockbridge County High School.
Natural Bridge Elementary School
Natural Bridge Elementary is a public elementary school located at 42 Natural Bridge School Road, Natural Bridge Station, VA 24579. The school serves grades Pre K - 5 and enrolls approximately 275 students every academic year. According to the school's web site, Natural Bridge seeks to "provide students with a nurturing learning environment and help them develop intellectually, socially, emotionally, and mentally." The school met state accreditation benchmarks for math, science, and history for the 2013 - 2014 academic year, but was not able to do so for English.

For more information on Natural Bridge Elementary School, please visit their website.
Fairfield Elementary School
Fairfield Elementary is a public elementary school located at 20 Fairfield School Road, Fairfield, VA 24435. The school serves grades Pre K - 5 and enrolls approximately 360 students during the academic year. According to the school's web site, Fairfield's administration places a strong emphasis on student development. The school exposes students to a wide variety of activities to ensure they have a well-rounded experience during their elementary years. Fairfield students participate in musicals, science and geography fairs, book buddy programs, and character building education. They are also exposed to a variety of Spanish and art classes. Fairfield Elementary takes pride in its music and physical education programs, which give students access to guitars, keyboards, and hand bells, as well as a rock climbing wall and nature trail.

For more information on Fairfield Elementary School, please visit their website.
Mountain View Elementary School
Mountain View Elementary is a public elementary school located at 20 Burger Circle, Buena Vista, VA 24416. The school serves grades K - 5 and enrolls approximately 125 students every academic year.

For more information on Mountain View Elementary School, please visit their website.
Central Elementary School
Central Elementary is a public elementary school located at 85 Central Road, Lexington, Virginia 24450. The school serves grades Pre K - 5 and enrolled 492 students during the 2012 - 2013 academic year. According to the school's web site, Central is committed to "providing a high quality education for all students" while teaching them "to succeed and contribute to a better world." Central met state accreditation objectives in English, math, history, and science, and is a fully accredited school.

For more information on Central Elementary School, please visit their website.
Maury River Middle School
Maury River is a public middle school located at 600 Waddell Street, Lexington, Virginia 24450. The school serves grades 6 - 8 and enrolls approximately 345 students every academic year. According to the school's web site, Maury River is a fully accredited school in the state of Virginia and includes various math, science, English, history, language arts, and civics classes in its academic curriculum. The school also features non-core classes such as band, Spanish, P.E./health, agricultural education, theater, art, and business.

In addition to academics, Maury River Middle School also features a variety of athletic teams. The school competes in Boys' Football, Boys' Wrestling, Girls' Volleyball, Cheerleading, Boys' Basketball, and Girls' Basketball. Eighth graders also have the opportunity to participate in sports at Rockbridge County High School that are not offered at Maury River.

For more information on Maury River Middle School, please visit their website.
Rockbridge County High School
Rockbridge County High School is a public high school located at 143 Greenhouse Road, Lexington, Virginia 24450. The school serves grades 9- 12 and enrolls approximately 1,000 students during the academic year. According to the school's web site, Rockbridge County High "seeks to promote rigor and higher-order thinking" among its student body.

The school continues to place an emphasis on active learning and critical thinking as two of the main pillars of its academic curriculum. Rockbridge County High School's academic profile consists of core classes such as English, mathematics, science, social studies, fine arts, and health/P.E. The school also has a well-established program for elective-based classes such as business, band and chorus, technology, and foreign languages. The business program includes classes in accounting, marketing, and economics, and the foreign languages consist of French, Latin, and Spanish. Rockbridge County High's expansive course offerings have allowed achievement at or above the state average passing rate in five SOL test subjects.

As part of its non-core class portfolio, Rockbridge County High also offers classes on career and technical services. This program helps students develop skillsets for careers in agriculture, automotive technology, building trades, and collision repair, among others.

For more information on Rockbridge County High School, please visit their website.
Buena Vista City Public Schools
The Buena Vista City Public Schools District neighbors the Rockbridge County Public School District and is led by Superintendent Dr. John Keeler. The district features two elementary schools, a middle school, and a high school.
Enderly Heights Elementary School
Enderly Heights Elementary is a public elementary school located at 101 Woodland Avenue, Buena Vista, VA 24416. The school serves grades Pre K - 4 and enrolls approximately 225 students during the academic year. According to the school's web site, Enderly Heights has been actively improving its literacy program by implementing literacy coaches and small group instruction.

For more information on Enderly Heights Elementary School, please visit their website.
F.W. Kling Elementary School
F.W. Kling Elementary is a public elementary school located at 3400 Lombardy Avenue, Buena Vista, VA 24416. The school serves grades Pre K - 4 and enrolls approximately 160 students during the academic year. According to the school's web site, F.W. Kling promotes students having roles as learners and community members.

For more information on F.W. Kling Elementary School, please visit their website.
Parry McCluer Middle School
Parry McCluer is a public middle school located at 2329 Chestnuts Avenue, Buena Vista, VA 24416. The school serves grades 5- 8 and enrolls approximately 250 students during the academic year. According to the school's web site, Parry McCluer Middle promotes a learning process that teaches students to become critical thinkers, problem-solvers, and life-long learners.

For more information on Parry McCluer Middle School, please visit their website.
Parry McCluer High School
Parry McCluer High School is located at 100 Bradford Drive, Buena Vista, VA 24416. The school serves grades 9- 12 and enrolls approximately 400 students during the academic year. According to the school's web site, Parry McCluer High has displayed a commitment to adapting to its students changing needs by offering AP and dual-enrollment classes, career and technical courses, as well as various extracurricular activities. Parry McCluer High's expansive course offerings have allowed achievement at or above the state average passing rate in four SOL test subjects.

Parry McCluer High School participates in the State A Pioneer District of the Virginia High School League. The school competes in a variety of men and women's sports at the varsity level. These include the following:

Men's Football

Women's Volleyball

Men's and Women's Cross Country

Men's and Women's Basketball

Women's Softball

Men's Baseball

Coed Golf

Men's and Women's Outdoor track

Other teams in the Pioneer District include Craig County High, Bath County High, Highland County High, Covington High, and James River High. In support of its various athletic teams, Parry McCluer High has a well-established marching band.

For more information on Parry McCluer High School, please visit their website.
Private Secondary Schools: Rockbridge Christian Academy
Rockbridge Christian Academy is a private institution located at 21 Snowy Egret Lane, Lexington, VA 24450. According to the school's web site, the school was established in 1993 and seeks to provide "an academic education integrated with a Christian view of God." Rockbridge Christian Academy bases its curriculum on a Beka Book, a publisher affiliated with Pensacola Christian College that produces Christian-based education material. The school provides weekly chapel service for students, parents, and Christian community members in the area. Rockbridge Christian Academy serves grades Pre K - 12 and is a member of the Association of Christian Schools International.

For more information on Rockbridge Christian Academy, please visit their website.
Stuart Hall School
Stuart Hall is an Episcopal day and boarding school located in Staunton, VA. It provides a college preparatory education for local day students in grades Pre K- 12 and female boarding students in grades 8 - 12. Stuart Hall's web site reports that the school is divided into a lower, middle, and upper school, each of which promotes a "rigorous and supportive coeducational academic program in the liberal arts and sciences." The school prides itself on its extensive liberal arts curriculum, as well as its 100% admission to top colleges and universities. Stuart Hall is a member of Episcopal Church Schools, as well as the Virginia Association of Independent Schools.

For further information on Stuart Hall School's academics, athletics, or college counseling, please visit their website.
Colleges & Universities: Washington & Lee University
Washington and Lee University is a private liberal arts university located in Lexington, Virginia.

Mission Statement:

"Washington and Lee University provides a liberal arts education that develops students' capacity to think freely, critically, and humanely and to conduct themselves with honor, integrity, and civility. Graduates will be prepared for life-long learning, personal achievement, responsible leadership, service to others, and engaged citizenship in a global and diverse society."

Acceptance and Attendance Statistics:

Academic Statistics and Information

Student-faculty ratio: 8:1

Classes with fewer than 20 students: 2%

Most popular majors: Business Administration, Economics, Political Science, Accounting and Business Administration, and Biology

Majors offered:
Accounting and Business Administration, Art History, Biochemistry, Biology (BA and BS), Business Administration, Chemistry (BA and BS), Chemistry- Engineering, Classics, Computer Science (BA and BS), East Asian Languages and Literatures, Economics, English, Environmental Studies, French, Geology (BA or BS), German Language, German Literature, History, Journalism and Mass Communications, Mathematics (BA and BS), Medieval and Renaissance Studies, Music, Neuroscience, Philosophy, Physics, Physics-Engineering, Politics, Psychology (BA or BS), Public Accounting, Religion, Romance Languages (either Spanish or French Emphasis), Russian Area Studies, Sociology and Anthropology, Spanish, Studio Art, Theater

Minors offered:
Africana Studies, Art History, Classics, Computer Science, Creative Writing, Dance, East Asian Studies, Education Policy, Environmental Studies, Film and Visual Culture, French, German, Latin American and Caribbean Studies, Mass Communications, Mathematics, Museum Studies, Music, Philosophy, Poverty and Human Capability Studies, Russian Language and Culture, Studio Art, Theater, Women's and Gender Studies

Virginia Military Institute
Virginia Military Institute is a state-supported military college located in Lexington, Virginia.

Mission Statement:

"To develop educated, honorable men and women, prepared for the varied work of civil life, imbued with love of learning, confident in the functions and attitudes of leadership, possessing a high sense of public service, advocates of the American democracy and free enterprise system, and ready as citizen-soldiers to defend their country in time of national peril."

Acceptance and Attendance Statistics:

Academic Statistics and Information:

Student-faculty ratio: 12:1

Most popular majors: Economics, International Relations and Affairs, History, Psychology, Mechanical Engineering

Majors Offered
Applied Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Civil Engineering, Computer and Information Systems, Economics & Business, Electrical & Computer Engineering, English, History, International Studies, Mechanical Engineering, Modern Languages & Cultures, Physics, Psychology

Minors Offered
Astronomy, Business, Chemistry, Computer Engineering, Economics, Exercise Science, History, International Studies, Leadership Studies, Mathematics, Military History, Modern Languages & Cultures, Modern Languages, National Security, Physics, Psychology

Concentrations
Aerospace Engineering; Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Ecology, Conservation, and Organismal Sciences; Financial Management; Global Management; Interdisciplinary Studies in Latin America; Military History; Nuclear Engineering

Southern Virginia University
Southern Virginia University is a liberal arts college located in Buena Vista, Virginia.

Mission Statement:

"Our mission is to prepare leader-servants in the workplace and the world, in the community and the church, and in the home. We serve faithful members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- day Saints and welcome all who live our values. We accomplish our mission by providing the finest undergraduate education available in letters, arts, and sciences within a wholesome Latter- day Saint environment. Students, faculty, and staff at Southern Virginia University are committed to being academically or professionally accomplished, spiritually rooted, service oriented, and self-reliant. We embody Southern Virginia's core values, which are scholarship, discipleship, accountability, enthusiasm, and refinement. Southern Virginia University seeks to establish a replicable self-sustaining model of higher education that can serve Latter-day Saints throughout the world."

Acceptance and Attendance Statistics:

Academic Statistics and Information:

Student-faculty ratio: 16:1

Majors Offered
Art, Biology, Business Management & Leadership, Computer Science, English, Family & Child Development, History, Liberal Arts, Music, Philosophy, Politics, Spanish, Theatre

Minors Offered
Art, Athletic Training, Biology, Business Management & Leadership, Chemistry, Computer Science, Creative Writing, English, Family & Child Development, History, Mathematics, Music, Philosophy, Politics, Spanish, Theatre

Graduate Employment Information:

Nearly 9-in-10 job-seeking graduates were employed within 12 months of graduation
Dabney S. Lancaster Community College
Dabney S. Lancaster Community College is a community college with campuses in Clifton Forge, Virginia and Buena Vista, Virginia.

The following description of the school is taken from the Dabney S. Lancaster Community College website:
"Dabney S. Lancaster Community College (DSLCC) is a two-year public institution of higher education and one of 23 community colleges in Virginia. The college is supported by the Commonwealth of Virginia; the counties of Alleghany, Bath, Botetourt (northern portion) and Rockbridge; the cities of Buena Vista, Covington, and Lexington; and the town of Clifton Forge. DSLCC provides opportunities for the extension of knowledge, skills and personal enrichment in an environment that maintains high academic standards and respect for each individual. The college strives to keep programs and services financially and geographically accessible for all students. Credit and non-credit courses are offered to meet life-long learning needs. On-site and distance learning options incorporate up-to-date technologies. Academic advising, mentoring, tutoring, extracurricular activities and cultural experiences are offered to assist all students in achieving their potential and in making the best educational and occupational choices that they can toward the fulfillment of their personal goals. The College serves the diverse needs of the community. Each year, DSLCC sponsors a wide array of cultural events, offers educational and training programs that address changing workforce demands, and provides facilities for research, recreation and social interaction. Working closely with representatives of business and industry, government, various professions and other educational institutions, DSLCC prepares individuals to experience academic, career and personal success." Enrollment and Academic Information:

Student enrollment: 2700

Student-to-faculty ratio: 10:1

Supported Services and Activities: Academic preparation through tutoring, advising, job placement assistance and student organizations

Continuing Education:
The college offers a wide range of opportunities for individuals seeking additional training that are not interested in obtaining a degree. These offerings include a variety of special interest and non-credit courses designed for personal enrichment or learning new skills.
Workforce Development:
Dabney S. Lancaster offers a workforce training program to assist companies in the task of training both new hires and current employees. The college has representatives available to meet with companies and offer assistance in the following areas: training needs assessment, job analysis, training plan development, course delivery, and evaluation and continuous support.

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Education The Rockbridge Region is blessed with a rich array of educational resources with over a dozen public and private elementary schools, middle schools and high schools and four post-secondary institutions: Dabney S. Lancaster Community College, Virginia Military Institute, Southern Virginia University and Washington &Lee University. Following is a brief overview on each school.

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Learn about America’s People, Places, and Economy on the official United States Census Bureau data platform. Explore, customize, and download Census data tables, maps, charts, profiles, and microdata.

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NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Town of Goshen Town Council will hold a Public Hearing on Tuesday, August 10 th at 6:30 P.M at the Goshen Public Library located at 1124 Virginia Avenue to solicit public input on local community development and housing needs in relation to a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) regarding a Community Service Facility project in our community.

Information on the amount of funding available, the requirements on benefit to low - and - moderate income persons, eligible activities, and plans to undergo a CDBG Planning Grant feasibility study will be disclosed. Additionally, information regarding future funding for the facility will be presented. All citizens are encouraged to attend and provide comment on both the current and past use of CDBG funds. For additional information, please call Goshen Town Hall at 540-997-5545.

If you plan to attend and have special needs requirements, please call the number listed above.

COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic to be held in GOSHEN, May 22, 2021. Place: Goshen Rescue Squad field Time: 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Go online to pre-register at: https://www.rockahc.org/covid-19-testing-registration/

If you are not able to pre-register, walk-ins will be accepted. All vaccinations are free.

WELCOME TO OUR TOWN

For county updates on COVID-19, please visit Rockbridge County COVID-19

The Town of Goshen, located in Rockbridge County, VA, is 19 miles northwest from Lexington and 30 miles southwest of Staunton. State Routes 42 and 39 intersect at a point in town where picturesque Mill Creek meets the Calfpasture River, merging to form the Maury River. Centrally located to Lexington, Staunton, Clifton Forge, Warm Springs and Hot Springs. Approximately 400 residents now call the Incorporated Limits of Goshen home.

Goshen Pass, four miles from town, is a natural wonderland perfect for hiking, fishing, picnicking, kayaking, swimming, camping, photography and much more.

George Washington National Forest and Goshen-Little North Mountain Wildlife Management Areas border much of the town and are accessible by numerous state forest service access roads and hiking trails.

Goshen has had an interesting history as a resort town and industrial center and is a popular destination for genealogists, historians, and those simply seeking a quiet, slower pace of life. Come and enjoy!

This facility is operated in a nondiscriminatory basis with regards to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, age or handicap. Complaints of discrimination may be sent to the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Washington D.C. 20250

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NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Town of Goshen Town Council will hold a Public Hearing on Tuesday, August 10 th at 6:30 P.M at the Goshen Public Library located at 1124 Virginia Avenue to solicit public input on local community development and housing needs in relation to a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) regarding a Community Service Facility project in our community.

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The town offers natural beauty, outdoor activities, and a down home feel. Our citizens are what make this town thrive and many of our citizens are multi generational, meaning that their families have settled down here and have no intention of leaving, “Because it is home.” Learn more about our histo…

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The City of Lexington was chartered as an independent city in 1966, and operates under the Council-Manager form of government.

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The beautiful city of Buena Vista is nestled in between the majestic Blue Ridge Mountains and the Maury River in southwestern Virginia. Born from the vision of one man, the city has become an industrious town and center of business with diversity weathering all challenges. The James River runs close by and there are countless areas full of life and history in Rockbridge County. Whether coming in town for business or vacationing with the family, Buena Vista has everything needed to make the experience delightful and fulfilling.

Our unspoiled setting is as spectacular as ever. We are a City that works, with businesses large and small. We are a City that values education, from our youngest children to the young adults at our colleges. We are a City committed to a bright future in a spectacular location.

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City of Buena Vista, VA | Official Website

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The beautiful city of Buena Vista is nestled in between the majestic Blue Ridge Mountains and the Maury River in southwestern Virginia. Born from the vision of one man, the city has become an industrious town and center of business with diversity weathering all challenges.

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The Rockbridge County Board of Supervisors, when required, appoints citizens to boards, authorities, commissions, and committees (BACCs) that are either decision and advisory bodies that serve Rockbridge County by overseeing the function for which the body is formed. Learn more about the application process to participate.

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Discover the perfect vacation spot: Come Visit Virginia! Sparkling waters of the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean gently lap against miles of sandy beaches. The blue-hued morning mist hugs the Blue Ridge and Allegheny mountains.

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Discover the perfect vacation spot: Come Visit Virginia! Sparkling waters of the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean gently lap against miles of sandy beaches. The blue-hued morning mist hugs the Blue Ridge and Allegheny mountains.

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Highlights things to do in Lexington and Rockbridge County.

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Plan your next visit to Lexington, Buena Vista, and Rockbridge County in the southern Shenandoah Valley of Virginia!

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Historic Lexington Foundation | Historic Lexington Foundation

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Home

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Brief stories of famous and infamous people of Rockbridge County.

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According to legend, a young George Washington surveyed the Natural Bridge (from which the county takes its name, Rockbridge) in 1750 and carved his initials high up in the arch. A large stone found in 1927, also engraved with a surveyor's cross and Washington's initials, may have been used as a weight suspended from a rope in the course of surveying the bridge.

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This content takes priority over any other information provided on this park's webpage.
The park is open daily from 9 a.m. - dusk, weather permitting. Only the main floor of the Visitor Center is open daily 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

No shuttle service is available at this time. Accommodations for accessibility can be made upon request at the park Visitor Center.

No food service is available at this time.

The Monacan Village is closed to visitors.

Interpretive programs are not scheduled to resume at this time.

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General Information

The 37th state park was dedicated on September 24, 2016, and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a National Historic Landmark in 1988, the 215-foot tall Natural Bridge is a limestone gorge carved out by Cedar Creek. The park is more than just the bridge; beautiful forests and rolling meadows showcase the area's karst terrain and vistas of surrounding mountains and the James River valley display nature's splendor. Access these via 7 miles of hiking trails, including Cedar Creek Trail that leads from the park's Visitor Center under the bridge to the Monacan Indian Village and Lace Falls with its 30-foot cascade. Seasonal living history programs connect you to the past and cover how people once used the area's resources for survival and inspiration. Start at the visitor center where you will find exhibits and a gift shop.

Accommodations for those with accessibility needs can be made upon request at the park's Visitor Center.

Cedar Creek Trail to the Natural Bridge and the Monacan Village is a moderate rated trail.

Strollers are not recommended because of the descent into the glen to the Natural Bridge.

This is an outdoor experience requiring appropriate footwear, physical exertion, and hydration while enjoying the trail.

Restrooms are available at the beginning of the trail, located in the park's visitor center and the Trail Store at the Cedar Creek Pavilion.

HOURS

Visitor Center

January-December: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily

Closed Christmas Day

November to March the visitor center opens at 9 a.m. and closes at dusk.

Contact Station and Trail Store

Saturday and Sunday beginning first Saturday in April: 8 a.m.to Dusk

First Saturday in May: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily

Memorial Day-Labor Day: 8 a.m.to 9 p.m. daily

Labor Day-First Sunday in November: 8 a.m. to dusk daily

Admission per person is $6 for ages 6-12 and $8 for those 13 and older.

Virginia Department of Transportation study of Rt. 11, which runs atop Natural Bridge.

Hours

See above

Location

From I-81, take exit 175 or 180A to U.S. 11 and follow signs to the park.

Drive Time: Northern Virginia, three and a half hours; Richmond, two hours; Tidewater/Norfolk/Virginia Beach, four hours; Roanoke, 30 minutes.

Park Size

1,540.22 acres.

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Cabins, camping

OVERNIGHT FACILITIES

None. For information on availability of other parks' overnight accommodations, particular park amenities or to make a reservation, you can reserve online or call 1-800-933-PARK. Click here for park fees.

Recreation

TRAILS

More than 7 miles of hiking trails wind through the park providing a glimpse of nature. The Cedar Creek Trail goes under the Natural Bridge to the Monacan Village, Lost River and Lace Falls. The Buck Hill Trail offers a hike much like hiking the Appalachian Trail. The Blue Ridge Trail and the Skyline Trail offer spectacular views of the Blue Ridge and the Appalachian Mountains. Pack a lunch to take along and enjoy many scenic vistas. Cedar Creek Trail access beyond the bridge is limited during winter; call before arriving for details.

Children's Discovery Area

An outdoor experiential area for families to have fun enjoying nature, the Children's Discovery Area has two components at this time: the Kids in Parks Track Trail and the soon to be certified Nature Explore Outdoor Classroom. The Track Trail offers the chance to visit the site with a choice of four self-guided brochures. The brochures teach about pollinators, birds of the Blue Ridge, animals that may be seen in the park and how nature can hide and seek. The outdoor classroom is a play space using natural features to engage children and immerse them in an outdoor environment of creative play. Remember when as a child you would play games in the woods in your neighborhood or explore wild adventures in a woodlot near you? This is exactly the same sort of experience, so come and plan to get dirty and have fun. Sponsored by a generous grant from Dominion Power, The Freedom Food Festival and the Friends of Natural Bridge State Park, this site provides some of the most stunning views in the park. So after you have seen the Natural Bridge take the time to enjoy being a kid again.

SWIMMING

There are no designated swimming areas.

FISHING, BOATING

Those 15 and younger may fish in Cedar Creek. The nearby James River has plenty of sunfish, smallmouth bass, catfish and muskie. Access the James from DWR ramps in Buchanan and Arcadia in Botetourt County and take out in Glasgow in Rockbridge County.

HORSES

No horses, riding trails or stables. Click here for details on nearby trails and stables.

HUNTING

None.

Park Trail Guide

Click here for the park's trail guide.

Download (external link for use with Avenza App) the geo-referenced map

Download the geo-referenced map for this park

Picnic Shelters

There are picnic tables behind the visitor center. Cedar Creek Pavilion has a sheltered area for picnicking, and the Cascade picnic area seats up to 24 and can accommodate a tent. The Leave No Trace outdoor classroom has five picnic tables and a fire pit. Picnicking is also available at Base Camp behind the Visitor Center and the trailheads of Blue Ridge and Skyline Trails.

No refunds will be given within 14 days before the reserved day. Before then, there's a cancellation fee.

Meeting Space and Facilities

MEETING FACILITIES

The park's interactive classroom seats up to 80. The room can be set up for theater or classroom seating with tables and chairs, a podium with a sound system and an LCD projector with screens are available.

VISITOR CENTER, GIFT SHOP

At the visitor center, buy admission tickets and check out exhibits in Base Camp that describe the area's natural, historical and cultural heritage. There's also a large shop with gifts, souvenirs, local artisans' work and other items.

TRAIL STORE

At the Trail Store, you can purchase admission tickets along with refreshments before or after your hike. A small gift shop is located in the store. The Trail Store is part of the Cedar Creek Pavilion and is open seasonally.

RESTAURANT

The Outpost Café is a snack bar in the visitor center offering a variety of ready to serve snacks, ice cream and novelty items. It is open seasonally.

LAUNDRY

None.

ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CENTER

Base Camp offers nature and cultural exhibits. It is an interactive space with touch screen monitors, an observation beehive and exhibits of wildlife found in the park. The Interactive Classroom provides groups up to 80 with meeting space and audiovisual equipment for conferences, training and social events.

Other Info

ACCESSIBILITY

The main level to the visitor center and restrooms

Restrooms at the Cedar Creek Pavilion

Accommodations for those with accessibility needs can be made by calling the park for more details.

Cedar Creek Trail to the Natural Bridge and the Monacan Village is a moderate rated trail. Strollers are not recommended because of the descent into the glen to the Natural Bridge.

NATURE, HISTORY PROGRAMS

Experience life in a typical Monacan Indian settlement in the park's outdoor exhibit. Learn about gardening, cooking, tool production, pottery making, basket weaving and more. At Base Camp in the park's visitor center, there is a Monacan history exhibit including a replica wigwam as well as other interpretive information when the outdoor exhibit is closed seasonally or because of inclement weather. Programs about the area's geology and diverse biology also are available. Click here to view all parks' events, festivals, workshops and interpretive programs.

CONCESSIONS

The Outpost Café Snack Bar is in the Visitor Center. A variety of ready to serve hot and cold foods are available. Pizza, pretzels, hotdogs and nachos just to name a few.

HISTORY

In 1774, Thomas Jefferson bought the bridge and 157 surrounding acres from King George III of England for 20 shillings. The bridge passed from one private owner to the next and became a tourist destination.

In May 2013, then owner Angelo Puglisi announced plans to sell the Natural Bridge complex by year's end. Nearby Lexington, Rockbridge and Buena Vista passed resolutions urging a positive outcome as did land trusts across Virginia and the nation. The Valley Conservation Council and Rockbridge Area Conservation Council hosted tours, wrote articles, encouraged support and formed the Friends of Natural Bridge.

On Feb. 6, 2014, the dream to ensure the protection of the bridge in perpetuity came together thanks to the nonprofit Virginia Conservation Legacy Fund and its leader, Tom Clarke. Puglisi gifted the bridge and 188 acres of the property - valued at $21 million - to the fund. The nonprofit group agreed to pay for the remaining 1,300 acres with a loan from the Virginia Clean Water Revolving Loan Fund, from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality and the Virginia Resources Authority.

The state will not own the Natural Bridge property until the debt is paid off but took over management of about 1,500 acres here on Sept. 24, 2016. The state park does not include the Natural Bridge Hotel and Conference Center or the Caverns at Natural Bridge.

FRIENDS GROUP

The Friends of Natural Bridge State Park support, promote and protect the park. They sponsor a number of activities annually including Winter Speaker Series, Kids Fishing Day, Earth Day programs, Trails Day-Clean the Bay Day, a summer concert series, National Public Lands Day and Luminaries Under the Bridge. If you'd like to join, email fonbsp@gmail.com or call 540-291-1331.

MASTER PLAN

Master plans are written for parks before they're built. The plans are updated at least once every 10 years thereafter. The plans cover the size, types, infrastructure and locations of facilities as well as the site's special features and resources. Three public meetings are held during the initial development of each plan.

Events, Programs

At a Glance

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natural bridge is one of the world's greatest natural treasures. see the bridge and a replica monacan indian village and enjoy 5 miles of trails.

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Natural Bridge is one of the world's greatest natural treasures. See the bridge and a replica Monacan Indian village and enjoy 5 miles of trails.

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The Washington and Lee University Digital Archive serves to preserve, share, and enhance the use of materials owned or created by WLU and members of its community by making these materials available in a digital format.

Faculty, students, and staff can submit their scholarship through the buttons above.

Our archive does not accept data sets and accompanying files. However, preserving and providing open access to such data is essential to further research and is a key value of the scientific community, so we encourage you to place your data in a repository designed specifically for data.

This archive is maintained by the University Library. If you have questions, comments, or problems with the accessibility of this archive's content, please contact Digital Scholarship Librarian Paula S. Kiser or Digital Services Manager Cindy Morton at digitalarchive@wlu.edu

Select a community to browse its collections.

If a hybrid were a plant, it would be a grafted tree, where blossoms from old wounds grow together to produce an entirely new fruit (Antonetta xxiv, xxvi, xxxiii). This is a visual representation of the healing process ...

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Washington and Lee University Digital Archive

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The Washington and Lee University Digital Archive serves to preserve, share, and enhance the use of materials owned or created by WLU and members of its community by making these materials available in a digital format. Faculty, students, and staff can submit their scholarship through the buttons above.

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Numerous irreplaceable articles have been entrusted to the BCA with the expectation that the association will be able to preserve, catalog, and display them for the purpose of informing and educating future generations.

The mission of the Brownsburg Museum shall be to establish and maintain a museum to house and exhibit a permanent collection of 18 th, 19 th, and 20 th century regional memorabilia, and to provide space for collections on loan, for the purpose of enjoyment and education of the general public and the rural communities of the Valley of Virginia. We strive to connect the public with the history, arts, and culture of Brownsburg and the surrounding area thereby promoting a sense of community spirit and civic pride.

Our vision is to be the best quality volunteer run community museum.

Big things come in small packages. We take that to heart at the Brownsburg Museum. So why not take a little side trip to visit this historic village and community-run museum the Lexington News-Gazette deemed, "first class."

Covid 19 Policy
-All volunteers and visitors are required to wear a mask. -There is no touching of objects in the museum. -Our staff will sanitize surfaces after each tour. -Private Tours are free and will last no more than an hour.
*These guidelines are subject to change because they are dependent on corona virus data. Please check the website and/or our Facebook page (Brownsburg, Virginia) for the latest information. We look forward to sharing our "country store" with you.

Current Exhibit

Exhibit brings country store back to life

BROWNSBURG-Long before the internet, rural Americans had connections to the outside world. They called it the country store. Although local mercantile establishments have almost disappeared, at one time they symbolized the very heart of the community; places where folks of every age, race, and gender could purchase anything they needed, literally, from birth to death.

Over the course of the last few years, the Brownsburg Museum, situated in the historic village of Brownsburg in northern Rockbridge County, has gained a reputation for hosting quality exhibits. "Cradle to Coffin: Remembering the Country Store" continues and even expands upon that tradition with a new exhibit that not only fills both rooms of the small museum, but spills out onto the front and back porches-just like the jammed-packed stores of the past.

"Not only could Americans buy what they desired at the country store, but they could also sell products-such as eggs, butter, furs, and ginseng," notes one of the interpretive panels of the exhibit. But a visit to the store also meant picking up mail, hearing juicy gossip; playing checkers while discussing politics; carrying out some banking, and buying a pound of sugar, a schoolbook, a hat, a tobacco plug, or a packet of garden seeds.

Visitors to the "Cradle to Coffin" exhibit will find themselves immersed in the sensory experience of the store. The front room of the museum will have traditional museum interpretive panels explaining the rise and fall of the rural retail business, as well as displaying historic store artifacts, and photographs from area country stores.

The country store evolved from traveling peddlers selling pins, combs, and other niceties on the frontier to settled shopkeepers. For a century and a half such stores prospered before turning into fading memories because of the automobile, the mail order catalog, and giant chain stores. A step through the door into the back room of the museum, however, will be like stepping back into time as the entire room will be a recreated store from the past. From ceiling to floor and wall to wall, visitors will observe shelves and counters jammed to overflowing; a kaleidoscope of colorful advertisements vying for attention; baskets and buckets dangling from the ceiling, and clothing fluttering from lines strung hither and yon.

By Nancy Sorrells

Slave Dwelling Documentary Completed

As part of their course on Cross-Cultural Documentary Filmmaking, three W&L University students, Wyatt Hamilton, Teddy Jacobsen, and Jak Krouse visited five area slave swellings and interviewed two enslaved labor descendants (Dr. David Green and Maurice MIller) and two descendants of slave-holders and made a short documentary film. Special thanks to Paul and Nancy Hahn, of the Museum Advisory Committee who answered the initial inquirty from Dr. Green and got the whole process started! The link is to all of the videos. The second one is Brownsburg's. It is called, "Uncovering Connections" and is 10 minutes long. The museum's founder, Dick Barnes is interviewed and speaks eloquently about the importance of the Brownsburg Museum.

Grain to Gold Documentary Completed

Connor Chess, Witt Hawkins and Powell Robinson are W&L students who made an entertaining and informative short video on the milling and distilling history in and around Brownsburg. Their work completed in their Cross-Cultural Documentary Filmmaking class is shared in the YouTube video below.

Connor, Witt and Powell were very grateful for the community support they received, particularly from Paul and Nancy Hahn, Dick Barnes, and John Siegfried. They wrote "Again, our sincerest thanks for your help, your support, and for the opportunity to focus our project on such a hidden gem only 20 minutes from W&L. It was a pleasure working with you and learning about the history of Brownsburg."

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Brownsburg Community Association and Brownsburg Museum

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Mission and Vision Numerous irreplaceable articles have been entrusted to the BCA with the expectation that the association will be able to preserve, catalog, and display them for the purpose of informing and educating future generations. The mission of the Brownsburg Museum shall be to establish and maintain a museum to house and exhibit a permanent collection of...

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Lexington Gazette available 5 January 1898 - 25 December 1912 (777 issues)

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Place of publication: Lexington, VA

The Rockbridge County paper, founded in 1869, traces its origins to the Union, a weekly Democratic paper founded in 1832. Three years later, the Union became the Lexington Gazette , which under the editorship of Cornelius C. Baldwin quickly became known as a paper with "no sympathy whatever with the 'States Rights party.'" By 1840 the Gazette was renamed the Lexington Gazette and Rockbridge Farmer, deftly targeting the township as well as the county's considerable agricultural population. In 1853, with Alphonso Smith as editor, the title reverted to the more straightforward Gazette. The paper supported the American, or Know-Nothing, Party, a short-lived political movement intent on stemming the tide of Irish Catholic immigrants. In the South, party members were often far more anxious about both the pro-slavery extremism of the Democrats and rapid growth of the anti-slavery Republicans and concerned by the speed with which events were whirling out of control.

With the outbreak of the Civil War, the Gazette weathered paper shortages, worn type, and economic hardship. It was reduced to quarto size, the number of pages went from four to two, and it appeared just twice monthly. In June 1864, the Gazette suspended publication altogether, as Union troops then occupying Lexington scattered the paper's type into the street. Later resurrected as the Gazette and Banner, the weekly was edited by former Confederate colonel Samuel H. Letcher.

In 1871, publisher Major John J. Lafferty restored the title Lexington Gazette. Robert E. Lee had appointed Lafferty the first head of the school of journalism at Washington College (now Washington and Lee University), and, as part of his new academic responsibilities, Lafferty provided additional instruction at the Lexington Gazette for his journalism students. Elihu H. Barclay, a farmer and the founder of the Virginia Press Association, edited the Gazette from 1874 until his death in 1902. During the 1870s, the four-page paper was issued each Friday, with subscriptions set at two dollars per year. Its weekly circulation by then was 980. Content focused mainly on local news, followed by state updates. There was also a good bit of marvelously outrageous humor--with orations by "Furiosus Bombasticus" and the "Reverend Theodore Swellhead." By 1880, the Gazette's circulation had reached approximately 1,500--out of a total county population of 16,058. The front page was capped by an expansive and highly decorative banner, and content was divided evenly between news and advertisements for local businesses. Printed in a 20-by-26-inch format, the Gazette featured articles on local real estate, agriculture, events at both Washington and Lee University and at the Virginia Military Institute, anecdotes and poetry, household hints, travel accounts, and a range of national news adapted from larger papers. Like many other newspapers in Virginia, the Gazette was also often filled with articles on Civil War campaigns and leaders, by then a well-honed genre familiarly known as "fighting them over."

By 1900, circulation of the Gazette had dropped to 1,375. The decline can be attributed to competition from the Rockbridge County News , first established in 1884 by Samuel J. Graham and Matthew W. Paxton. In 1889, Paxton purchased his partner's interest in the News, and in 1962 the Paxton family merged the paper with the Lexington Gazette, forming the Lexington News-Gazette.

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Place of publication: Lexington, VA The Rockbridge County paper, founded in 1869, traces its origins to the Union, a weekly Democratic paper founded in 1832. Three years later, the Union became the Lexington Gazette , which under the editorship of Cornelius C.

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Things to Do in Natural Bridge, VA | Natural Bridge Historic Hotel

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Discover local favorite things to do in Natural Bridge, VA, and the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains. Explore caverns, go on beautiful hikes, & more.

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The digital "Proceedings" are kept in Washington and Lee University Library's Special Collections, and the links below to published volumes take you there. You 

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Rockbridge Historical Society Proceedings 

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Rockbridge Historical Society Proceedings 

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The digital "Proceedings" are kept in Washington and Lee University Library's Special Collections, and the links below to published volumes take you there. You must follow all W&L requirements. "Rockbridge Epilogues"provides these links simply as a convenience.

Please note that RHS "Proceedings" Volumes 9-12 (covering the years 1975 to 2002) have not yet been converted to PDFs. To use these volumes, it will be necessary to visit an actual library and work with actual books. Think of it as a historical adventure.

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The digital "Proceedings" are kept in Washington and Lee University Library's Special Collections, and the links below to published volumes take you there. You must follow all W&L requirements. "Rockbridge Epilogues"provides these links simply as a convenience. Please note that RHS "Proceedings" Volumes 9-12 (covering the years 1975 to 2002) have not yet been converted to PDFs.

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A Short History Of Steeles Tavern's Founder

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A Short History Of Steeles Tavern's Founder

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A Short History Of Steeles Tavern's Founder - From His Descendants | Steeles Tavern Manor

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Our Inn is named in honor of David Steele who built a Tavern in this area when he returned from fighting the British in the American Revolution. David Steele's story and the history of our Inn are fascinating. As innkeepers, hearing stories like this and having the family of the founder of our town stay ...

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Historic Lexington Foundation black history oral interview transcripts.

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Your username is: rchslibrary and your password is: newspaper

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Hull's Angels, the nonprofit organization that has owned and operated Hull's Drive-In the past 21 years, now owns the land where the outdoor theater has been located on U.S. 11, north of Lexington,...

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Hull's Angels, the nonprofit organization that has owned and operated Hull's Drive-In the past 21 years, now owns the land where the outdoor theater has been located on U.S. 11, north of Lexington,...

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This series consists of papers that have been presented to scholarly organizations in Lexington and the Rockbridge area.

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The Brownsburg Museum (Brownsburg, Rockbridge County, Virginia) and Washington and Lee University Special Collections would like to welcome you to "Civil War Brownsburg," an online exhibit exploring this community's Civil War experience, 1861-1865.

This exhibit was curated by:

Seth Goodhart, Washington and Lee University Special Collections

Dr. Cash Koeniger, Professor Emeritus of History, Virginia Military Institute

Col. Bob Driver, United States Marine Corps, Ret.

Exhibit narrative by:

Dr. Cash Koeniger, Professor Emeritus of History, Virginia Military Institute

Exhibit installation assistance by:

Byron Faidley, Washington and Lee University Special Collections

Exhibit Panel Design by:

Donelle Dewitt Graphic Arts & Illustration

Digital exhibit created by:

Alston Cobourn, Washington and Lee University, Leyburn Library

Seth Goodhart, Washington and Lee University Special Collections

The Brownsburg Museum Advisory Committee and the curators would like to acknowledge and thank the following organizations, businesses, families, and individuals for their contributions to this project:

James Allen Printing

Shenandoah Framing

James G. Leyburn Library Special Collections (W&L)

James G. Leyburn Library Scanning Services (W&L)

James G. Leyburn Access Services (W&L)

Washington and Lee University Collections

Virginia Military Institute Museum

Virginia Military Institute Archives

George C. Marshall Foundation

Rockbridge Historical Society

Greenbrier Historical Society

Library of Congress

New York Historical Society

Virginia Historical Society

Museum of the Confederacy

United States Military Academy Museum

Cochran Lyle and Clover Archer

Tom Camden

Isabelle Chewning

Marie Patterson Coleman

Emily Cook

The Denney Family

The Faidley Family

Paul and Nancy Hahn

Laura Lembas

Lisa McCown

Marcy Mollinaro

Margaret Skovira

Mike and Linda Smith

Lewis Straub

Elizabeth Teaff

David, Charles, and Charlie Wade

Virginia Whipple Winfrey

Anonymous lenders and donors

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Civil War Brownsburg: A Community's Civil War Experience

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The Brownsburg Museum (Brownsburg, Rockbridge County, Virginia) and Washington and Lee University Special Collections would like to welcome you to "Civil War Brownsburg," an online exhibit exploring this community's Civil War experience, 1861-1865. This exhibit was curated by: Seth Goodhart, Washington and Lee University Special Collections Dr. Cash Koeniger, Professor Emeritus of History, Virginia Military Institute Col.