Stonehouse Preserve spans 2,712± acres on the banks of the York River and Ware Creek. The property lies just 15 minutes northwest of Williamsburg and within an hour of many of Virginia’s larger cities. The convenient location is balanced by the property’s privacy, which is further enhanced by its York River frontage and the surrounding public lands. The 2,600-acre Ware Creek Wildlife Management Area borders Stonehouse to the north, while the nearly 3,000-acre York River State Park is a stone’s throw from the property’s southern boundary.
The land is a diverse mix of upland timber, deep ravines, numerous creeks, and expansive water frontage, which together form a dynamic property filled with potential. Currently, it is primarily managed for hunting and wildlife, although many additional recreational opportunities exist. The property has been deed restricted to protect Stonehouse’s environmental and scenic resources. Flexibility for future owners has also been preserved, and nineteen homes and associated improvements can be built, as well as 130,000 square feet of commercial space. As a result, Stonehouse Preserve can accommodate a range of future ownership scenarios, be it a family compound, best-in-class recreational retreat, or a small-scale, conservation-oriented community.
Complementing Stonehouse’s flexibility are its extensive timber resources and overall acreage. Riverfront tracts of this size are rare on the Virginia Peninsula, and the property’s low carrying costs make it an excellent long-term, sustainable investment opportunity and 1031 candidate.
Stonehouse Preserve features multiple access points along Ware Creek Road, Croaker Road, and Sycamore Landing Road, all of which are quiet, paved, state-maintained roads. The property has easy access to Interstate 64, one of the main travel corridors in Virginia. However, even with its accessible location, one of Stonehouse’s most noticeable attributes is how quickly the surrounding world is left behind as you approach and enter the property.
The property itself is comprised of two contiguous tracts – the 395± acre ‘Riverfront Tract’ and the 2,371± acre ‘Stonehouse Tract’. The aptly named Riverfront Tract has one mile of frontage on the York River, and its western boundary is formed by Ware Creek. The tract features end-of-the-road privacy, which is further enhanced by the neighboring Ware Creek Wildlife Management Area and the protected viewshed that it creates. Meanwhile, the Stonehouse Tract encompasses the heart of the property, and its western boundary is marked by Ware Creek and Frances Swamp. Several additional, smaller creeks weave through this portion of the land, including Cow Swamp, which serves as the foundation of a wildlife-rich sanctuary in the center of the property.
Miles of well-maintained roads and trails connect the various corners of Stonehouse. The majority of these can accommodate four-wheel drive vehicles, and all are readily accessible on ATV’s. The utility and recreational potential of the road network is hard to overstate, and it is a tremendous asset.
A less tangible but very important aspect of Stonehouse Preserve is its flexibility. The property is well suited to a variety of uses and ownership scenarios, which could range from a hunting retreat to a small-scale conservation community. Large, waterfront landholdings in this part of Virginia are becoming increasingly scarce, making Stonehouse an appealing long-term land investment. In addition, the property’s timber resources offer a recurring source of revenue, as well as the potential to develop eco-asset opportunities.
Stonehouse is a rare opportunity to purchase a large acreage, highly accessible waterfront property in Virginia's Tidewater. Flanked by protected lands and a major river, it has a wide-ranging appeal and is filled with potential.
It’s hard to find a more conveniently located property than Stonehouse Preserve. It sits just fifteen minutes northwest of Williamsburg, while Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Richmond, and Charlottesville can all be easily reached in ninety minutes or less. Washington, D.C. is the nearest major metropolitan area and is only two hours and fifteen minutes away. The property itself is accessed on a paved, state-maintained road, and Interstate 64 can be quickly reached in under ten minutes.
Air travel options are equally varied and accessible, and nearby airports include Newport News, Richmond, and Norfolk. All are good-sized commercial airports within forty-five minutes of the property, and together they service a wide range of domestic and international destinations. The nearest FBO, Middle Peninsula Regional Airport, is close by in West Point and has a 5,000 ft runway.
The Virginia Peninsula, also known as the Lower Peninsula, is an area rich in history and is home to some of the earliest settlements and most storied names in American history, including Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Yorktown. The extensive history and settlement of the area has led to a culturally rich and diverse region that encompasses farmland and rural towns, as well as well-developed cities such as Newport News and Hampton. This variety provides the best of both worlds, allowing for a private experience while at Stonehouse, and a wide range of nearby conveniences and amenities.
The climate on the Lower Peninsula features four distinct seasons. Spring and fall are ideal with high temperatures in the 70s and lows in the 50s and 60s. Summers are hot and humid but tempered by breezes off the river and easy access to the water. Winters can be cold but are generally mild with highs in the 40s and lows dipping into the 30s. Average rainfall is 47 inches per year, and average snowfall is 6 inches per year.
The land features a surprising amount of topographical variety for this part of Virginia, and long steady ridges contrast with steep hillsides and multiple small creeks. The acreage is almost entirely wooded, and the timber stands are comprised of a mixture of hardwoods (primarily red oak, white oak, and poplar) and pines. The age of the timber varies throughout the property. The rolling and somewhat rugged topography gives the land a very private, secluded feeling and makes it feel larger than its already substantial acreage.
The water frontage at Stonehouse is noteworthy, with a mile of shoreline on the York River and more than four and a half miles of winding frontage on Ware Creek. Both waterways, in particular Ware Creek and its numerous tributaries, are flanked by grassland marshes, which are rich with wildlife and create incredibly scenic viewsheds.
The property has an extensive and well-maintained road system, making the land and varied terrain easy to navigate. Beyond the roads, the property is a relatively blank canvas with endless opportunity for further improvements.
Annual property taxes were approximately $38,021 in 2021.
Stonehouse’s recreational potential is considerable due to its size and location. Currently, the primary pursuit on the property is hunting. There are healthy populations of deer and turkey, as well as the occasional black bear. There are also seasonal populations of waterfowl, and the property is located within the eastern flyway, not far from the Chesapeake Bay. There are a series of established duck blinds on the York River and along Ware Creek. With the ample inland water and topography there are numerous opportunities to create ponds and shallow water impoundments.
The existing road system provides an excellent framework for future recreational pursuits, including hiking, ATV’s, horseback riding and trail riding, not to mention mountain biking. Lastly, access to Ware Creek and the York River is a standout feature of Stonehouse. This part of Virginia is heavily influenced by the water, and Stonehouse is perfectly positioned to take full advantage of that, whether it’s kayaking Ware Creek on a crisp autumn day, escaping the summer heat and boating on the York River, or simply enjoying a waterfront sunset.
