Augusta County driving tour showcases historical gems of the Shenandoah Valley

Discover the enduring legacy of Augusta County, founded in 1738, through a scenic and immersive driving tour just north of Staunton. This special experience invites visitors to explore the rolling hills, vineyards and historic landmarks in the Shenandoah Valley.

The Augusta Garden Club’s 2025 Historic Garden Tour highlights four privately owned homes, two of which hold deep ties to the Revolutionary and Civil Wars. Visitors will experience architecture spanning from the 18th to the 20th centuries and learn about the vital role these homes played as safe havens, hospitals and command centers during wartime.

Belvidere Farm, 705 Knightly Lane, Mt. Sidney (tour headquarters)

• Owners Sandy and Victor Meyer

Welcome to Belvidere Farm, a stunning 65-acre estate steeped in American history. This site was pivotal during the 1864 Battle of Piedmont, serving as both a Confederate field hospital and the headquarters for Union Commander David Hunter and hundreds of troops bivouacked in the front yard. Historical accounts note that 2nd Lt. William McKinley, who later became President, accepted a bribe to protect the barn during the Shenandoah Valley Campaign.

Established in the 1830s by the McCue family, Belvidere Farm has been a cherished home for five generations. In 2009, it was restored by the Meyer family, preserving its rich legacy.

Adjacent to the 1853 manor house, the charming 1840 schoolhouse has been transformed into a delightful “tiny home” after a three-year restoration. Visitors will appreciate the tree-lined driveway leading to the main house and the preserved historic slave quarters, along with a unique springhouse showcasing its distinctive roof.

Inside the main house, a grand entrance hall welcomes you with high ceilings and a classic staircase. The elegant dining room, complete with a grand fireplace, and wide-plank hardwood floors throughout create a warm, inviting atmosphere, perfect for gathering and reflection.

234 Willow Spout Road, Fort Defiance

• Owners Andrea and Todd Livick

This Southern Living-inspired 2012 farmhouse combines timeless charm with modern comfort. Nestled in the Shenandoah Valley, with the breathtaking Blue Ridge Mountains as its backdrop, the home’s classic black and white exterior and inviting wrap-around porch offer a tranquil retreat to soak in the stunning scenery.

Inside, the open floor plan and soaring ceilings create a light-filled, spacious ambiance. Expansive windows frame the panoramic mountain views, seamlessly blending rustic elegance with contemporary design. Every detail has been thoughtfully crafted to harmonize with the home’s remarkable location, striking a perfect balance between classic and contemporary aesthetics.

The outdoor patio extends the living area, making it ideal for dining, entertaining guests, or savoring peaceful mornings with a cup of coffee amidst the beauty of nature.

This farmhouse embodies a seamless blend of welcoming traditional style and modern convenience, maximizing the incredible vistas of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Spacious yet cozy, it offers the best of both worlds, inviting warmth and effortless living.

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Dundore, 1413 Lee Highway, Fort Defiance

Built in the 1700s, and known locally as the Suter House, Dundore is a small center-hall colonial with a gable roof with two original stone chimneys. The exterior was constructed of narrow weather boarding now covered with siding. The property was transferred in 1798 from James Stuart to James Allen, who was an elder of the Augusta Stone Church.

In 1942, Elizabeth Dundore Suter engaged Staunton architects TJ Collins and Sons who remodeled the home, adding the garage and kitchen wings and created a wonderful flow for entertaining. Trademark Collins’ touches include built-in corner cabinets in the dining room and a fold-out ironing board closet in the kitchen.

The four-acre park-like property features mature walnut, sugar maple, red bud and other varieties of trees. Stately 80-year-old boxwoods surround the home. The large established garden has been restored and is filled with ornamental plum, dogwoods, evergreens, viburnums, hydrangeas and a variety of perennials. A spring fed pond is filled with native irises and frogs. There is a peach orchard, a walled vegetable garden and further plantings of lilacs, fruit trees and a variety of berries. The 1700s smokehouse has been restored as a garden shed.

Entrance to the home is through a front portico into the foyer with a graceful hand-turned balustrade, 1800s Japanese paintings and stunning wallpaper. The home is elegantly decorated with contemporary furnishings juxtaposed with English antiques and chinoiserie, Asian screens and antique Louis Philippe mirrors. An art collection includes a Hudson River School painting, American and English landscapes, original color woodblock and botanical prints and 17th century French etchings. The dining room cabinets contain French and American porcelain and English transferware. Exit onto the deck with classic Chippendale railings, to take in the view of the pond and surrounding grounds.

Dundore was opened for the first time for the 1984 Virginia Garden Tour by Mary Frances Suter.

This home is not ADA-compliant and has some narrow doorways, stairs and uneven ground. There will be an antique car on display at this home.

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Orchard Hill,186 Willow Spout Road, Fort Defiance

• Owners Rob and Lindsay Carter

Built in 1955 by Dr. Samuel Henley Carter and his wife, Katherine, Orchard Hill sits on land once part of an apple orchard supplying Augusta Military Academy. This picturesque home, constructed by J.B. Wine Construction, was chosen for its breathtaking views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, discovered during family picnics in the blooming orchard.

General Charles Roller, commandant of the Academy, sold Carter two acres for his new home, where the family of seven thrived. In the mid-1960s, a wing was added to accommodate their growing brood. In 1960, recognizing Katherine’s busy life, Carter built a tennis court, where she taught all their children to play.

In 1970, the family began planting white pines for a Christmas tree farm, leading to the establishment of Carter Coffman Tree Farm in 1978, which celebrated its 46th Christmas season recently. A swimming pool was added in 1988, perfectly positioned to showcase the stunning mountain view.

Following the passing of Samuel and Katherine Carter, their son Rob purchased and renovated the home in 2019, expanding the kitchen and adding a fire pit area. His vision keeps Orchard Hill alive as a gathering place for family celebrations for generations to come.

Only 15 minutes north of downtown Staunton, this self-guided driving tour offers a unique way to engage with Virginia’s living history in a setting of natural beauty and cultural richness.

The tour runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, April 26. Tickets are $35, sales end April 25. Tickets can be purchased at: www.gcvirginia.org.See https://gcvirginia.org/historic-garden-week/tours/staunton/ for more information.

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Monique Calello is a reporter at The News Leader. Story ideas always welcome. Connect with her at [email protected]. Support local journalism and subscribe to us at newsleader.com.

This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: Augusta County driving tour showcases historical gems of the Shenandoah Valley