Orange County Virginia

[John_M52]

Time to retire and get some land and some cattle. TN too far, PA and MD too blue, WV too removed so looking more at northern VA. Trying for an easy drive from the summer place in NJ. Upper northern VA gets into horse country (not my thing) and DC influence. Been looking in Orange County, VA and wondering if it has a country/southern influence or is it just more of a rural/farm influence. Driven past a couple gun stores - one has Sunday services at the range before the shooting begins. Any of you folks from that area and your thoughts? Sorry for the rambling post.

 

[SweetMK]

I am a Northerner, moved to VA in 1971,,

To better give you a recommendation, we kinda need to know where you are moving from,,

The "FROM" is as important as the "TO",,,

 

[two-bit cowboy]

I've driven through that country, but it was 50 years ago. No help.

Now then, about your chosen new hobby. I'd suggest, no matter where you land, you pick a different one.

When I was a teenager I worked in a somewhat highfalutin western men's store. The boss was a hobby rancher so on Sundays so was I. Ben taught me every aspect of ranch life.

Today I have many young friends who are hobby ranchers. Every year they threaten to sell out because their personal satisfaction has left the building. One couple is out this year thanks in part to a cow kicking her during calving last year. Not sure her jaw will ever be right.

I enjoy hard work. At the end of the day I want to see some benefit from my labor, though.

One guy's thoughts.

 

[lkabug]

My thought is that Orange is a more rural/ farm influence. Beautiful countryside, with lots of history. Not exactly southern, but still friendly. The Blue Ridge Mountains are at its doorsteps, with Lake Anna encroaching on its southern border with Louisa County. Louisa would also be a good choice, but a bit more rural. Myself, I live in Louisa County. When you're in the area give me a yell and I'll buy you beer or something.

 

[John_M52]

I am a Northerner, moved to VA in 1971,,

To better give you a recommendation, we kinda need to know where you are moving from,,

The "FROM" is as important as the "TO",,,

I currently split my time between the northeast, west coast and midwest....Sick of flying and want to divide my time between NJ where I grew up and somewhere not Florida. GA is too far so I'm looking at VA. I like the seasons and don't want to be a snowbird, but the beach in NJ in winter isn't fun.

 

[ameridaddy]

There are a number of DC bureaucrats living there as a weekend getaway, but it's still beautiful, but lots of former DC city escapees have made it more genteel country, not rural get-your-hands-dirty like you're talking about. Louisa that ikabug mentioned is more like that; so is Charlotte County, not to be confused with Charlottesville, which a Left wing, anti gun college town.

 

[John_M52]

I've driven through that country, but it was 50 years ago. No help.

Now then, about your chosen new hobby. I'd suggest, no matter where you land, you pick a different one.

When I was a teenager I worked in a somewhat highfalutin western men's store. The boss was a hobby rancher so on Sundays so was I. Ben taught me every aspect of ranch life.

Today I have many young friends who are hobby ranchers. Every year they threaten to sell out because their personal satisfaction has left the building. One couple is out this year thanks in part to a cow kicking her during calving last year. Not sure her jaw will ever be right.

I enjoy hard work. At the end of the day I want to see some benefit from my labor, though.

One guy's thoughts.

I hear you. I'm hoping to build a family "compound" with a farm manager running the cattle part. Looking at cattle as a food source grass fed/finished and the balance as cow/calf. Met a couple guys that do that on leased land. I know there's no real money in it. My son is in TX and I think I can get him and maybe one of his siblings to move onsite. I've worked hard all my life and don't plan to stop, just want space between me and my neighbors and a community of like minded people.

 

[John_M52]

My thought is that Orange is a more rural/ farm influence. Beautiful countryside, with lots of history. Not exactly southern, but still friendly. The Blue Ridge Mountains are at its doorsteps, with Lake Anna encroaching on its southern border with Louisa County. Louisa would also be a good choice, but a bit more rural. Myself, I live in Louisa County. When you're in the area give me a yell and I'll buy you beer or something.

I'll do that. Places I'm looking at have views of the Blue Ridge Mountains and Coastal plains. Nice sunrise and sunsets. We started looking around Middleburg, then Warrenton, then kept creeping south. Definitely want to stay out of Charlottesville.

 

[CajunBass]

I used to live in Spotsylvania County, just next door to Orange. Did a little fishing at Lake Orange, and a bit more at Lake Anna. I probably liked living in Spotsylvania better than any other place I've ever lived. The fellow I rented from was a CPA but had a small "compound" along the Rapadan River with Orange on the other side, now that I think of it. He raised a garden, kept a few hogs and goats, along with dogs, cats, and chickens. I refered to him as a "gentleman farmer."

It was one of those places if you saw someone coming, they were either coming to see you, or they were LOST. The directions included the words "Turn off the hard surface road..." In the dead of winter, I could walk out onto the porch, look across the river, and not see a light anywhere. No idea how far it was to the next house that way, but I couldn't see them. I could sit at my computer, and watch the river roll by all day if I wanted. Once in a while, a float fisherman or a kayacker would float by and maybe wave. Deer were frequent visitors, with a black bear wandering by once in a while (I never actually saw a bear, but did see sign of them). A pair of bald eagles would make a "Dawn Patrol" every morning, heading upriver about daybreak, then coming back a few hours later. I would walk out back and squirrel hunt, or just sit on the side of the hill and pretend to be deer hunting. It was far enough "out" that you wanted to remember to get anything you needed on the way home, because you probably wouldn't want to drive back "to town" to get a loaf of bread or a gallon of milk.

Alas...like most other places, Spotsylvania is growing...more and more people moving in as Northern Virginia spreads south. Although if you're more than 25 miles or so from I-95, you're still in rural Virginia...at least for now. I've been gone from there ten years or more I guess. Check out Clark Brothers in Opal. And Green Top in Richmond.

 

[Iggy]

One thing to remember, cows don't take vacations.

 

[SweetMK]

I bought this Gravely at a junkyard in Orange County,,

It only had 53 hours on it, someone simply abandoned it,,

A little cleaning,, a little paint,,

I think it turned out "OK",,, (not too bad for $250??? )

I run it about 20 hours a year, it has about 160 hours on it now,,

So, I have very fond memories of Orange County!!

 

[John_M52]

Sweet!! I love the flames!

 

[SweetMK]

Sweet!! I love the flames!

Hand taped, and painted,, (not a sticker!!)

A picture can never do the flames justice,,

The hood had a dent that I could not get out correctly,,
I dropped the hood off at a local hot rod shop, with a sample of the paint,,

This is how it looked when I picked up the hood,,

The purple is from a 1970 Plymouth that they happened to be painting at the time,,

(Something like Plum Crazy Purple!??)

So, the hood is the only part clear coated, the rest is NAPA enamel.

 

[Bald1]

What do you mean by to removed regarding W.VA ? Might I suggest you check out Greenbrier Co. It's almost heaven. Lewisburg is a great town.

 

[Muss Muggins]

Sounds like you got enough money to live anywhere you want. Not sure why you need advice from steerage . . . ?

I currently split my time between the northeast, west coast and midwest....Sick of flying and want to divide my time between NJ where I grew up and somewhere not Florida. GA is too far so I'm looking at VA. I like the seasons and don't want to be a snowbird, but the beach in NJ in winter isn't fun.

 

[John_M52]

Sounds like you got enough money to live anywhere you want. Not sure why you need advice from steerage . . . ?

I never judge a man or his advice by the thickness of his wallet.

 

[Claymore33]

Went to high school at Woodberry Forest outside of Orange. Have gone back for many visits and reunions over last 50 years. Son graduated there in 2019. It is Heart of Confederacy and strong farm country. Some snow but not excessive. Lots of cattle but mostly corn and soybeans.

 

[Walkin Horse]

There's a road outside of Gordonsville,Rt231, it takes you from Rt 33 to Rt 29. It has some of the most spectacular views of the mountains. Another area to think about is around Shenandoah county.

 

[John_M52]

What do you mean by to removed regarding W.VA ? Might I suggest you check out Greenbrier Co. It's almost heaven. Lewisburg is a great town.

I'll take a look. I've spent some time around Summit Point and it's pretty but I didn't see much pasture land. And there wasn't a whole lot around except for a gas station with the best BBQ I've had.

 

[John_M52]

Hand taped, and painted,, (not a sticker!!)

A picture can never do the flames justice,,

The hood had a dent that I could not get out correctly,,
I dropped the hood off at a local hot rod shop, with a sample of the paint,,

This is how it looked when I picked up the hood,,

The purple is from a 1970 Plymouth that they happened to be painting at the time,,

(Something like Plum Crazy Purple!??)

So, the hood is the only part clear coated, the rest is NAPA enamel.

It's beautiful. I might suggest a chromed muffler!