Linden Farm, a 470-acre farm in North Central Virginia, sold at auction for $4.675 million on May 17. Auctioneer Scott Shuman at Hall and Hall reports that the seller was “very happy” with the results. Alex Webel of Hall and Hall had the listing. Located in Orange County — roughly 90 minutes south of Washington, DC, and 45 minutes north of Charlottesville — the income-producing farm was divided into four tracts.

Diverse Land Potential

A working cattle and turkey farm, Linden Farm includes a 1930s-era Georgian-style manor house; a separate, fully updated three-bedroom carriage house; and a one-bedroom guest cottage. The property, which has a mix of rolling topography and open acreage, also features a manager’s house, a tenant house, two poultry houses, several other farm outbuildings, a 12-acre lake, and a 4-acre pond.

Linden Farm was divided into four separate tracts:

• Tract 1: 310 acres and includes the main estate, carriage house, and guest cottage.
• Tract 2: 87 acres that could include a new homesite.
• Tract 3: a 28-acre swing tract that must be purchased with an adjoining tract.
• Tract 4: a 45-acre agricultural tract that included a manager’s home, cattle facilities, and turkey houses.

Picturesque Setting

Situated in the heart of the Virginia Piedmont with stunning views of the nearby Blue Ridge Mountains, Linden Farm’s pastures currently support herds of Angus and SimAngus cattle. Beyond its current use as grazing pastures, the land could easily be adapted for crop production, vineyards, equestrian sports, or recreational use, according to Shuman. Approximately 60 acres of the property are enrolled in an agriculture-to-forest easement program, which will require their maintenance as forestland in perpetuity. The property’s forests provide natural privacy for the main estate and expansive natural habitats for native wildlife. The estate is known as an ideal site for deer, turkey, dove, and waterfowl hunting, making it an attractive option for outdoor enthusiasts. In fact, the farm has been selected as host of national and international competitive hunting retriever and pointing dog events, according to its listing agents.

Market Rarity

“Given low market inventories, a property such as Linden Farm is sure to attract widespread interest,” said Shuman. “It’s a very diverse property. And I think right now with limited inventory throughout the entire state, it’s really difficult to find a property of this size, in such a perfect setting.”

Given its proximity to the DC metro area, the manor house parcel will likely attract interest from area buyers looking for a getaway or a work-from-home property that’s still accessible to the city, Shuman expects. Shuman compared the likely buyer base for Tract 1 to the type of clients Hall and Hall fielded for a 411-acre property they sold in Northern Virginia in October. “It was people out of the DC corridor that wanted to have a piece of land or a place to get away and ride an ATV or go fishing on their own private pond,” he said.

“Tract 4, however, will likely attract the attention of established agricultural growers and producers in the area, who are looking to expand their operations,” Shuman said.

The current property owner, who wished to remain unnamed, provided The Land Report with a statement expressing their appreciation of the property that has been their home for more than three decades. “For almost 35 years, Linden has been a wonderful gathering place for family and friends. The forests team with wildlife, and the ponds double as waterfowl magnets and fishing spots. The views of the Blue Ridge Mountains are both stunning and serene,” the owner said.

“There have been days when we welcomed visits by three or even four generations of families, all together. They almost always described Linden as a happy, healing place. We feel blessed to have been the stewards of such a remarkable property,” the current owner added.

Interested bidders can visit the property from 10 a.m. to noon eastern time on scheduled information days (April 19, April 29, and May 3), or contact Hall and Hall to make an appointment.

This post was updated to include information pertaining to the sale.