This land has been in my family for over 400 years and is on some of the oldest farmland in America’s history. The topography of the area is known for its rolling hills and numerous springs.

 

Over one hundred years ago, my great-grandfather used the land mainly to farm tobacco, but he also had corn, soybeans, and an assortment of wheat and vegetables. He and his sons used processing machines to make apple cider, peach cider, and cherry and apple brandy. Virginia farmers have grown apples, peaches, and cherries since the early colonial days.

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The Native Americans had originally occupied the land and lived along the rolling hills and waterways for several thousand years. Sioux-speaking tribes were the historic peoples, encountered by English colonists. Portions of the historic Three Chopt Trail, a Native American trail, run through a substantial part of Shannon Hills near Route 64 and Route 250.

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As you look out across the land today, often you may spot whitetail deer. If you are lucky, you may spot a black bear ambling about the land, wild turkeys, or a ruffed goose pecking around in the yard. During the summer, hawk watching is popular. Broad-winged and red-tailed hawks can often be seen soaring along ridgelines and near bald mountaintops.