Delaplane, Virginia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Delaplane, Virginia
Unincorporated community
Cobbler Mountains viewed from Sky Meadows State Park in Delaplane
Delaplane, Virginia Location in Virginia
Country	United States
State	Virginia
County	Fauquier County
Nearest city	Washington, D.C. 50 miles (80 km)

Delaplane is a small village in northern Fauquier County, Virginia. It's about 50 miles (80 km) west of Washington, D.C.. Delaplane is located near major roads like U.S. Route 17, U.S. Route 50, and Interstate 66. It borders other towns like Upperville, Virginia to the north and Hume, Virginia to the south. The area has its own ZIP Code, which is 20144.

Delaplane's Story: A Look Back in Time

How Delaplane Got Its Name

Delaplane is in a part of Virginia known for its beautiful countryside. It was first called Piedmont Station. This name came from a train stop on the Manassas Gap Railroad. In 1874, the village was renamed. It was named after W. E. Delaplane, a kind businessman. He helped get the local general store running again after the American Civil War.

Trains and the Civil War

In 1861, during the Civil War, a famous general named Stonewall Jackson used the train station here. He moved his soldiers from Winchester to the Piedmont Station. From there, they got on trains to go to the First Battle of Manassas. This was a very important moment! It was the first time in history that a railroad was used to move a large group of soldiers into battle.

Fox Hunting History

Delaplane is also famous for fox hunting. This sport has been happening here for a very long time. From 1932 to 1945, General George S. Patton had his own fox hunting club here. It was called the Cobbler Fox Hounds. He was the leader of the club until he moved away in 1935. Today, some of the oldest fox hunting clubs in the United States still hunt in Delaplane. They ride through the pretty, old stone wall-lined countryside.

Sky Meadows State Park: A Gift to Virginia

In 1975, a local person named Paul Mellon gave a large piece of land in Delaplane to Virginia. This land became Sky Meadows State Park. It's a great place for outdoor fun! Every year on Memorial Day, the park hosts the Delaplane Strawberry Festival. The land was once owned by Sir Robert Hadow. He was from Great Britain and named it Skye Farm. He thought the area looked like an island in Scotland called Skye. Later, Paul Mellon gave even more land to the park. This new area was once explored by George Washington himself!

Famous Visitors and Residents

Many important people have connections to Delaplane. For example, John Warner, who became a Senator for Virginia, spent his childhood summers working on a farm here. He remembered those times fondly in his books.

Cool Places to See in Delaplane

Local Spots and Historic Homes

Today, Delaplane is still a small village. It has a church called Emmanuel Episcopal Church, an antique shop, and a working post office. For more stores and services, people usually go to nearby towns like Upperville or Middleburg.

Because Delaplane is close to Washington, D.C., and has kept its old farming feel, many large country estates were built here. Several of these old homes are now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are important historical sites. Some examples include Mount Bleak House, Moreland, and Oak Hill. Oak Hill was once home to John Marshall, a very important judge in U.S. history.

Farms and Vineyards

For a long time, Delaplane was known for its champion Black Angus cattle farms. But now, it's also a big area for growing grapes and making wine! Delaplane is part of the Middleburg American Viticultural Area. This means it's a special region for growing wine grapes. In fact, the Delaplane zip code has more working vineyards than almost anywhere else outside of California's Sonoma Valley.

Nature and Conservation

Besides Sky Meadows State Park, Delaplane is also home to the G. Richard Thompson Wildlife Management Area. This is a place where wildlife is protected. The Goose Creek also runs through Delaplane. It's a special river that Virginia has named a State Scenic River.

The Delaplane Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2004. This helps protect its history. Many groups work to keep Delaplane's natural beauty safe. They help place private land into "conservation easements." This means the land can't be developed, helping to keep it natural forever. These efforts mean that Delaplane will stay a beautiful, rural area. They also help local farms grow fresh food for programs like "Buy Fresh Buy Local."

Wineries and Vineyards to Explore

• Arterra Wines
• Aspen Dale Winery at the Barn
• Barrel Oak Winery
• Blue Valley Vineyard and Winery
• Capitol Vineyards
• Cobbler Mountain Cellars
• Delaplane Cellars
• Miracle Valley Vineyard
• RdV Vineyards
• Three Fox Vineyards

Images for kids

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  The village of Paris, which is northwest of Delaplane.