General Assembly Rejects Oak Hill State Park for 2025

General Assembly Rejects Oak Hill State Park for 2025

During the April 2^nd special session, the Virginia General Assembly did not approve the budget amendment submitted by Governor Younkin that would have authorized Oak Hill State Park. The Governor’s proposal would have allowed the acquisition of the 1,200-acre estate in Western Loudoun once owned by President James Monroe.  The property is currently a private residence owned by Tom and Gayle DeLashmutt, who have been working for years with the State, Loudoun County, The Conservation Fund and many other organizations to convert Monroe’s mansion, out buildings and surrounding land to a historic park.

According to a Loudoun Times Mirror article by Karen Graham,  Heather Richards, the project leader for The Conservation Fund, said that while a path forward is not clear, she plans to work with the DeLashmutt family and Loudoun County to find a path to create a park at Oak Hill.

Richards notes that the family has set a deadline to sell the property in 2025, and they are looking at how to meet their deadline and keep the project alive.

Developers have offered the DeLashmutt family many millions of dollars more to acquire the property than the amount  the family was willing to sell to the State for a park.

Friends of the Blue Ridge Mountains, along with many other conservation / environmental organizations has been working with the conservation fund to support the state acquisition. In November 2024 Friends sent a letter to the chairmen of both the Senate and House appropriations committee urging state action to acquire the property. Friends also sent a letter to Governor Younkin thanking him for his proposed budget amendment that would have allowed the authorization.

Friends’ letters emphasized both the historical significance of the property and the absolutely unique opportunity to acquire 1,200 acres of undeveloped farm land for a park in western Loudoun.

Delegate Geary Higgins, R-Loudoun/Fauquier, has been a strong supporter of creating the State park and arranged for Governor Younkin to tour the property before the Governor proposed his budget amendment. The Times Mirror quotes Delegate Higgins:   “… extremely disappointed in today’s result.”

“I am not giving up on this and will not stop working until we cut the ribbon on Oak Hill State Park. I remain hopeful that my colleagues will see the light on this issue and come back around to support the park. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity and it would be a grave disservice to our entire Commonwealth if we do not put politics aside and get this done,” Higgins said.

State Sen. Russet Perry, D-Loudoun/Fauquier has also been an advocate for creating the park. “While I am disappointed that our efforts to make Oak Hill a state park this session were not ultimately successful, I intend to spend the interim leading up to next year inviting and encouraging my colleagues and budget staff to visit Oak Hill. I continue to hope the opportunity to visit and see firsthand this incredible property will make clear that this should be a priority for the legislature and is a sound investment for the Commonwealth.” The Times Mirror quotes Senator Perry.

As the Conservation Fund’s Heather Richards said, it is not clear what can be done in the immediate future to save the property from developers, particularly given the family’s intention to act before the end of 2025. Friends will continue to follow the issue and keep you informed.