Orkney Springs, Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Orkney Springs, Virginia
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Main hotel building on left
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 Orkney Springs, Virginia
Location in Virginia
Orkney Springs, Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Virginia |
| County | Shenandoah |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
22845
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| Area code(s) | 540 |
Orkney Springs is a small community in western Shenandoah County, Virginia, United States. It's known as a "Census-designated place" (CDP), which means it's a special area defined by the U.S. Census Bureau for statistics.
The name "Orkney" might come from the Orkney Islands near Scotland or from the Earl of Orkney. This is because one of the first European landowners here was a Scottish doctor named John McDonald. The "Springs" part of the name is easy to guess! It comes from the many natural mineral springs found underground in the area.
In 1808, Major Peter Higgins planned out the town. He created a common area surrounded by building lots. Later, archaeologists found old items showing that Native American people used this site long before.
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A Glimpse into History
During the American Civil War, in January 1864, Confederate cavalry led by Major General Fitzhugh Lee and McNeill's Partisan Rangers camped in Orkney Springs. This shows the area's role in important historical events.
The Famous Orkney Springs Hotel
In the early 1800s, people started building hotels in Orkney Springs. Tourists came to try the "healing waters" from the mineral springs. Over time, these smaller hotels joined together to form the Orkney Springs Hotel.
Most of the original hotel buildings are still standing today. They have been carefully restored and are still in use. The Orkney Springs Hotel was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. Its most recent restoration was completed in 1987.
Key Buildings at the Hotel
- The Virginia House: This is believed to be the largest wooden building in Virginia. It was built in the 1870s and is also on the National Historical Register.
- The Maryland House: This building dates back to the mid-1850s. It collapsed during the American Civil War but was rebuilt afterward.
Shrine Mont: A Special Retreat
The Orkney Springs Hotel was privately owned until 1979. Then, the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia bought it. It became part of their retreat center called Shrine Mont.
The Episcopal Church had been holding services in Orkney Springs since the 1800s. Bishop Robert Atkinson Gibson loved visiting the town from 1876 until he passed away in 1919. He bought a small house there called Tanglewood. He also turned an old schoolhouse into a chapel.
The Cathedral Shrine of the Transfiguration
These buildings became the heart of Shrine Mont. Bishop Gibson's son-in-law, Reverend Edmund Lee Woodward, built another house and what became the diocese's Cathedral Shrine of the Transfiguration. He donated them to the church. This special outdoor worship area is made of natural stone. It was officially opened on August 6, 1925, by Bishop William Cabell Brown.
Shrine Mont continued to buy more buildings in the town, including the main hotel in 1979. Today, Shrine Mont hosts many events:
- Conferences and retreats, especially from March to November.
- Family reunions.
- Summer camps for children and teenagers.
- Worship services are held in the cathedral on Sundays.
Shrine Mont is also home to the yearly Shenandoah Valley Music Festival. This festival runs from July until Labor Day.
