Historic Hike Explores Lost Belmont Vineyards in Warren County

A forgotten piece of Warren County history is coming back to life this summer through a new guided hiking experience led by the Warren Heritage Society and Next Bend Adventures.

The upcoming History Hike will take participants deep into the Blue Ridge Mountains to explore the story of Belmont Vineyards and Fruit Farm, once the largest vineyard in Virginia. The program combines local history, outdoor recreation, and storytelling while helping preserve the county’s heritage through fundraising efforts for the Warren Heritage Society.

Susan Tschirhart of Next Bend Adventures said the hike gives people a chance to experience history where it actually happened. During a recent interview, she explained that the first tour focuses on a vineyard that was “very successful in the 1850s” and was once “the fifth largest vineyard in the state at the time.”

Belmont Vineyards was established in 1858 by Marcus Blakemore Buck, a member of a well-known Front Royal family. According to research from James Madison University, the vineyard eventually grew to more than 120 acres of grapevines and became one of the most important wine-producing operations in Virginia during the 19th century.

The property was more than just a vineyard. Belmont also operated as a fruit farm with orchards, distilling operations, wine production, and trade connections throughout the region. Historical records from the 1880s describe the farm producing thousands of gallons of wine using grape varieties including Catawba, Delaware, Concord, Virginia Norton, and Ives.

Tschirhart said hikers will still be able to see traces of that history hidden in the mountains.

“We can see some of the remains of the stone walls that line the roads that run through the farmland,” she said during the interview. “We will be able to see some grapevines.”

Those grapevines, she noted, have likely been growing wild for more than 160 years.

The hikes are designed to be educational but relaxed. Tschirhart described them as easy walks where participants can wander, talk, and learn how the landscape shaped the people who lived there. The tours are expected to cover roughly three to four miles over about three hours.

Liz Rishel, executive director of the Warren Heritage Society, said the organization partnered with Next Bend Adventures to create a new way for residents and visitors to connect with local history. The program also supports the nonprofit’s mission by generating additional revenue streams.

“This is a revenue generator for the Heritage Society,” Rishel explained during the interview.

Following the hike, participants are invited to continue the experience at Vinicola Wine Bar on Main Street in Front Royal. The restaurant is creating a special “Walk in the Woods” pairing featuring hyper-local Virginia wines and a custom off-menu food selection inspired by the trail experience. Registered hikers will also receive a 10 percent discount on food and drinks.

Beyond the Belmont Vineyard tour, the Warren Heritage Society is expanding its lineup of community experiences this summer. Haunted Front Royal tours continue on Friday and Saturday evenings, while additional walking tours and museum programs are already in development.

Rishel said the goal is to help people better understand the stories hidden throughout the county.

The History Hike program is supported in part by Experience Warren County.

Town Talk, sponsored by National Media Services, Inc., is a Royal Examiner series that introduces you to local entrepreneurs, business owners, nonprofit leaders, and public officials who help shape Warren County. Conversations cover a wide range of topics about our community and the people making a difference.