Peter Leonard-Morgan , Realtor® | Hunt Country Sotheby's International Realty
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Twin Oaks

9/23/2024

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I'm so lucky that I get to represent amazing sellers with unique and outstanding properties. And every so often, something really special pops up, not that the others aren't special in their own right, but there's a real story, and a history, and an essence to experience.

That can certainly be said of my latest gem, Twin Oaks, an historic inn and now boutique winery, centered around an incredible 1893 stone house, which was the subject of a meticulous restoration just 23 years ago.

​Welcome...to Twin Oaks.
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The main 1893 house, impeccably restored following a 1997 fire
I have had the privilege of spending time at this property, walking the same floors which Washingtonians trod in the early 1900's, after arriving by train via the (now defunct) Washington & Old Dominion Railroad. Imagine how, a century ago, the best way to escape the summer heat of the capital was to spend time in the higher elevations of Bluemont, Virginia, overlooking the Shenandoah Valley to the west.
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Fast forward to today, actually to 1997, when a fire engulfed the property which was at that time owned by a builder who subsequently sold the derelict property to its current owners.

​Their original plan was to restore and sell this old edifice, however following a trip to Europe, Mr. and Mrs. Evers caught the wine bug, no, not a debilitating disease, but a new found passion for planting and growing grapes. In fact Donna's forefathers were winemakers of note in Croatia, and that DNA had clearly been passed down the line.

And so, in the early 2000's, early vines were planted and later a tasting room built, to complement the winery beneath the stone house.
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Unknown vintage, but likely early 1900's
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A sad sight several decades ago. Who knew that visionaries would transform it into a place of joy and music and get togethers, just a few years later!
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As it was before the major restoration
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After the fire of '97
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A sad sight, but not the end of the story! Actually, the beginning.
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During restoration
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Coming along
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Work progresses...early 2000's
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The welcoming entry in 2024
I could not be more honored to be co-listing Twin Oaks with Donna Evers, an incredible lady and the energy behind his 25 year odyssey.
Much more detail can be found here, or call me to schedule a visit at this one of a kind property.

I do hope that you enjoyed this brief tale as much as I enjoyed telling it.


Peter
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Experience Reality Mountain, Washington Virginia

6/28/2024

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Reality Mountain, high up on Reality Farm Lane in Rappahannock County, Virginia
It's hard to imagine a Virginia property with finer views, and even harder to capture the essence of those views of iconic Old Rag with a camera, when the human eye still possesses the finest optical technology.

When my co-listing agent, Charlie Thies, and I first drove up the one mile, asphalt driveway to the top, being pressed into the backrests of my SUV's seats, we were truly astounded and mesmerized by what we found. A property originally built in 1973 and gradually expanded upon during the intervening years by fastidious owners with a passion for the unique, and the very special.

There we were, high up in this wonderful county, just minutes away from the quaint town of Washington, Virginia, home to the incredible Michelin 3 star restaurant hotel, the Inn at Little Washington, which additionally holds a Michelin Green Star, for restaurants which uphold sustainable and eco friendly culinary practices. In fact, Reality Mountain has also served as 'spillover' accommodation for the Inn, when weary lovers of gastronomy found no room at, yes, the Inn! The B&B special use permit conveys with the sale of this property, an unusual and much more difficult to obtain benefit today.
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Sensational views are impossible to truly visualize on film, even with professional photography. This must be seen in person to fully appreciate the beauty and scale.
The house, which more resembles a castle, faces almost due south, ensuring that the massive double height windows provide its owners and guests with sunrises and sunsets and everything in between. The property lies within 50 serene acres, all in Open Space Easement, and has 8 bedrooms, including several self contained suites, 6 gorgeous full bathrooms and 3 half baths, on over 8,000 finished square feet of living space.

​The many different areas of the home, and its extraordinary layout, mean it takes quite some time to know where everything is, and how they are linked, such as the second floor enclosed walkway to one of the mini apartments. So much so that we created this 3-D floor plan to help the visitor travel through Reality Mountain.
Charlie and I are thrilled to have been entrusted with the global marketing of Reality Mountain, to secure the next stewards to take this magnificent property into the future. 

    Get in touch and schedule a visit!

Submit Your Question!
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~ Llangollen on Fox's 'Mansion Global' ~

11/20/2022

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While on my first airline trip since the start of the COVID pancemic, to visit my about to turn 21 son in June 2022, who was interning in Wichita, Kansas, I took a phone call from a researcher at the Fox Business Channel which had picked up our exquisite Llangollen listing. "We'd like to feature Llangollen in the next season of Mansion Global." he said. "Do you think your clients would be interested?".

That call resulted in a day long July film shoot in Upperville, Virginia, at the 1,100 acre property with its magnificent house, spanning two centuries of development from its original patent house, built in 1795 through additions in 1830, 1918, 1930 and finally 1990. Apart from a little accidental embellishment claiming that George Washington stayed there, which he did not, although he did survey the original land at and around Llangollen, the piece beautifully showcases this very special equestrian property called Llangollen. Enjoy! ⬇️ 
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The historic Llangollen estate hits the market

7/21/2022

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Llangollen, begun in 1795 and expanded upon over two centuries
From time to time, a truly iconic property, full of history and aura comes to the market, and our Llangollen estate is a case in point.

Located just outside the quaint village of Upperville, Virginia, Llangollen sits on 1,100 acres of beautiful countryside, in conservation easement, and dates to 1795 when the original patent house was built, in order to abide by the terms of the formal prescription of the lease to the first grantee which required that a dwelling be constructed.
Upperville was the scene of an American Civil War battle which preceded Gettysburg, and the fields surrounding Llangollen saw plenty of action. Locally infamous John Singleton Mosby, romantically referred to as the Gray Ghost, is purported to have spent time at Llangollen, meeting in the downstairs pub seen below.
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The pub at Llangollen beneath the 1830 manor house
The thousands of acres on and around Llangollen were originally surveyed by a young man by the name of George Washington, better known forever as the founding father and first President of the United States of America.

Guests at the property during the nineteenth century included the Marquis De Lafayette who made it his base on the east coast during his grand tour of the United States, as well as our third President, and drafter of the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson, whose Monticello has been studied by the present owners of Llangollen in order to properly decorate this fabulous house.

The Civil War years and the reconstruction period immediately thereafter were not kind to southern estates like Llangollen, which had previously relied on the abhorrent practice of using the enslaved to farm the land and produce its crops. Decades passed before subsequent stewards took ownership, and began its slow rehabilitation. But it was not until 1930, when John Hay 'Jock' Whitney, publisher of the New York Herald Tribune, President of the Museum of Modern Art and, later, US Ambassador to the United Kingdom purchased Llangollen as a wedding present for his fiancée, Elizabeth Altemus and restored and significantly expanded the beautiful property, creating a new southern wing off the manor house, and building the impressive and quite unique horseshoe barn pictured below.
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The unique horseshoe barn at Llangollen, constructed between 1930 and 1940
Whitney and his wife divorced after ten years of marriage, during which time they developed a formidable racehorse breeding operation, and introduced polo to the property, a sport which Jock excelled at, and which remains to this day, by way of a world class facility with three polo fields and an arena.

Liz Whitney remained at Llangollen until her death in 1988, marrying several more times and in 1989 the property was acquired by businessman and former Nixon Whitehouse official, Roy L. Ash, who founded Litton Industries and was the 21st Director of the Office of Management and Budget, and his wife Lila. The Ash's took on the huge task of restoring Llangollen to its original glory and extending the house on both ends, creating a modern kitchen off the original patent house to the north and the library/guest room wing to the south.
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The original patent house, dating to 1795, now enveloped by the 1830's manor house on one side and the modern kitchen, seen below, on the other.
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This large and well equipped kitchen was added by Roy and Lila Ash around 1990, and further improved by its current owners, the Brennan family.
Llangollen is ready now for its next’s  'custodians', and represents an exciting opportunity to own a rare piece of history and real estate, just an hour from Washington Dulles International Airport, and DC just beyond.
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From left to right, Ellie Wood Keith; Alben Barkley; a lady; Bing Crosby; Liz Tippett (formerly Whitney & Altemus) at the Llangollen Piedmont Hunt Racecourse (1930) - courtesy the Pink Box, Middleburg
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Spectators gather at the Piedmont Hunt racecourse at Llangollen for a race in the 1920's - courtesy Nancy Lee
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Early image of Llangollen - courtesy Library of Congress
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New listing - 9565 Edmonston Drive, Great Falls, VA 2206

4/13/2022

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Land in Great Falls, Virginia is scarce, making our latest listing on Edmonston Road even more desirable. The 5-acre lot was recently 'perc' approved by Fairfax County for a 6-bedroom home, and is a short walk to the Potomac River - check out the video...
The term 'perc' refers to how well the soil percolates and therefore how well it will absorb waste water from a house in to the septic drain field. The better it percs, the more bedrooms are allowed to be included in a new build - it is assumed that each bedroom will accommodate two people using the waste water system.
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The 5 acre land lot, on private paved Edmonston Drive, has received perc approval for a 6-bedroom home
It's not always easy to properly show raw land in a video, but we were fortunate timing-wise in that spring greenery was coming in, but not yet fully in leaf. Also, with the Potomac so close by, drone video nicely demonstrates the proximity of the river. And literally down the road, 2.7 miles away, is one of my favorite restaurants, the famed L'Auberge Chez François, the perfect place for haute cuisine anytime!
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The Potomac River is just a few minutes walk through lovely woods from the property
Take a look at the listing information page and give me a call if it might be of interest. But be quick - properties such as this one, which is priced at $1,800,000, don't last very long.
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Famed L'Auberge Chez François is just 2.7 miles 'down the road'
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New listing - 9485 Ada Road, Marshall, VA 20115

4/13/2022

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This wonderful new listing on very quiet Ada Road, is just three and a half miles from Interstate 66 and the town of Marshall, Virginia.
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9485 Ada Road, Marshall, an all brick ranch rambler set on 5 secluded acres
Listed at just $595,000, the all brick ranch rambler was built in 1995, and sits on 5 tranquil acres, with a large fenced backyard and freeform in ground pool.
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The home has a gunite freeform inground swimming pool in the fenced backyard
Incredibly, there are almost 4,000 finished square feet on two levels, with the three bedrooms, including the primary bedroom with attached primary bath, on the main, entry level. The main level also includes the open plan kitchen overlooking the family room, a formal living room and formal dining room and second full bath.
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The fully finished lower level is an entertainer's delight with games room, wet bar, wine room and home office
The lower level is truly an entertainer's dream, with its full wet bar and wine room, games area, media area, sitting area, dining area, bonus room, office and laundry room.
Take a look at the listing information page for more detail and the video below!
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Belmar farm, Middleburg sale

4/11/2022

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My listing of the beautiful Belmar Farm on Saint Louis Road, Middleburg just closed, with happy listing clients and delighted new owners.
The home was built by local custom builder, University Group, in 2005 and consists of almost 8,000 finished square feet on three levels. The land upon which the house sits is quite simply spectacular, with incredible views of the Blue Ridge Mountains from the 25 acre site.
Belmar Farm is a custom home with 8,000 finished square feet sited on 25 acres of land in Middleburg Virginia
The gates to Belmar Farm with the Blue Ridge Mountains in the background
To the side of the family room is the dining room
The dining room of the house is open to the family room with a large entry from the kitchen area
The dining room has very nice hardwood floors and plenty of windows and cabinets
The home office is at the front of the house and includes book cases and large drawers for manuscripts
In addition to the bookcases the home office has windows to the front and the side
There is a nice two-sided fireplace between the living room and the kitchen
The kitchen is large and includes a center island with an additional sink built in and has two dishwashers
One is able to sit at the center island to have breakfast and look at the wolf range and double oven
Off of the kitchen is a large breakfast room surrounded by windows to the outside
The main level of the house has a nice sized powder room with hardwood floor
The primary bedroom includes a fireplace and windows on two sides and has an attached primary bathroom
The mudroom is entered from the side of the house and also has the washer and dryer plus a very cute doggy wash station
The attached primary bathroom is gorgeous with two sinks separated by a large cabinet with drawers beneath and there is a freestanding claw foot tub with windows and also a shower
The landing on the second level is large and includes a space to read a book
Bedroom number two includes windows on two sides and a ceiling fan to keep you cool and has carpeted flooring
A jack and Jill bathroom separate bedrooms number two and number three and has a nice freestanding bathtub
Bedroom number three is prettily painted and again has plenty of windows
Bedroom number four is very interesting because it has a secret sliding bookcase where the door should be which is quite unusual and very attractive
The next bathroom on the second level also includes a freestanding bathtub with claw feet and a separate shower
There is a room in the lower level which walks out to the backyard and also includes a nice fireplace for those cold winter nights
Currently there is an exercise room in the lower level which could be turned into a room for any other purpose
One of the great features of this house is that it has a full second kitchen in the lower level which would be perfect for in-laws or long-term guests
The kitchen in the lower level has tile flooring, a center island and very nice marble countertops
The lower level has two full bathrooms
One of the many lovely features of this house is the large screened in porch where one can eat dinner and also relax as the sun sets to the West
Part of the porch is not screened in and has stairs going down to the outside
The screened in porch is wonderful on those hot nights to avoid bug bites
There is a separate detached three car garage which is opposite the side door of the house across a courtyard with asphalt
There are four Adirondack chairs up the hill facing the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia
This drone photograph nicely shows the meandering driveway from St. Louis Road to the house with the Blue Ridge Mountains in the background
This drone photograph nicely shows the meandering driveway from St. Louis Road to the house with the Blue Ridge Mountains in the background
This drone photograph nicely shows the meandering driveway from St. Louis Road to the house with the Blue Ridge Mountains in the background
As you drive toward the house from the main road there is a large circular driveway with asphalt paving
Part of the backyard is fully fenced so that one can have dogs off leash without fear of running off
The house from the air looking west
A drone image taken from St. Louis Road of the entrance to Belmont Farm
 I must mention the buyers agent with whom I worked on this transaction, Mary Illes, who was absolutely fantastic to work with, and whom I am very grateful for bringing such lovely clients. 
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Christmas in Middleburg

12/14/2021

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Members of the Middleburg Town Council lead the way
The first Saturday in December has marked what has become the famous Christmas in Middleburg event, stymied only last year by the pandemic, but back in full force this year.

To help safeguard against transmission of the latest Omicron variant, the Middleburg  Town Council decided to limit paid parking, and therefore visitor numbers, to 1,000 cars in the three main lots, two outside of town and one at the Salamander Resort & Spa.

​Incredible weather and a desire to get out into the open air meant that Middleburg  enjoyed one of the best ever events, with improved visitor dining options and excellent signage all through town.

From our wonderful elevated Washington Street location, we were able to enjoy both the early morning horse and hounds review followed by the parade just after lunch.
The evening before Christmas in Middleburg witnessed the annual town Christmas tree lighting at the Pink Box visitor center, another much anticipated, although far more local, annual tradition.
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The Middleburg Christmas tree
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Coming Soon!

7/26/2021

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I'm thrilled to be listing shortly this lovely property on Calumet Lane, in beautiful Bluemont Virginia. With over 16 acres of land, including both woodland and level grassland, and a new 2-stall Amish barn, this property is a nature lovers dream. 

The house was modeled on a waterfront design, in which the main rear facing windows capture the splendor of this stunning countryside setting.

Expected date on market is August 10th, with interior photos and full video tour coming between now and then, so stay tuned!!
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The historic Abraham Beydler House

10/14/2020

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Just 90 minutes drive west of the nation’s capital, within the shadow of Massanutten Mountain in the George Washington National Forest sits the historic Abraham Beydler House [pron bye-dler], built circa 1790, and on the National Register of Historic Places. The original manor house is of the Federal architectural style, constructed of stone and brick made on the property, incorporating foundations built from stacked fieldstones of limestone and slate. 

The manor house, and related structures, have become known as Valhalla Farm, consisting of the original house plus ‘ell’addition dating to the mid 1800’s, a smokehouse and artists studio . The interior of the main house retains original horsehair plaster walls, while the floors are heart-of-pine planks with sawdust caulking between the planks. All of the doors are of six-panel design, consisting of two-inch thick planks, with many of the doors still with their original hardware. A boxed staircase connects the first-floor dining room with the upstairs.
The parlor includes a number of important ornamental features including cupboards with carvings reputedly crafted by Hessian soldiers who had remained in Virginia following the Revolutionary War. 

Further rooms include four bedrooms; a formal dining room; an entry hall/library; an additional summer kitchen in the smokehouse; an enclosed porch; a sleeping porch; three basement rooms including an original egg room which retains wall markings depicting egg count.
The property lies on 9.3 acres with open fields stretching south from the house to the banks of the North Fork of the Shenandoah River. There is an in-ground pool with fencing.

Valhalla Farm represents a wonderful opportunity to acquire an historic manor house, with copious fascinating features in an area of great beauty and tranquility - a tranquil yet easy to reach getaway from city life.

2748ZionChurchRoad.com
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New to the market - Monte Subasio, Bluemont, Virginia

7/9/2020

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​​We are delighted to bring Monte Subasio to the luxury real estate market, a sophisticated estate on 23 lush acres in beautiful Bluemont, Virginia. This quite exceptional property was built to exacting standards in 2008, for an owner with an extreme eye for detail and engineering excellence. 
Designed in the Georgian Revival architectural style, and built using steel I-beams and support trusses throughout, the 11,700 finished square feet main house features five bedrooms, including an expansive master bedroom wing on the main level; five full bathrooms and four half bathrooms; a formal dining room and living room; a family room and an adjoining library, each overlooking the back garden and pond; a large chefs entertaining kitchen with professional grade appliances and breakfast area; a large laundry room; a fully finished lower level with a stone surround fireplace, bar, wine cellar, custom ice cream parlor and meditation room; a 14’ x 40’ indoor salt water lap pool with French doors overlooking the back garden...continued below
Slideshow
A four-car attached garage with 9’ wide doors and a full length unfinished second floor is accessed via a short covered breezeway, while a second, three-car detached garage with finished second level is a short walk away. The three-stall barn with heated tack room is finished to the same high standards of quality as are seen in the main house, and includes a finished second level. The grounds feature a ‘secret garden’ as well as manicured topiaries and hedges, all culminating with views of a serene pond - $2,995,000
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    Peter has written for his local magazines, Country Zest & Style and Middleburg Life as their Wine contributor. He also enjoys writing blogs on interesting and pertinent real estate matters, so please follow!

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Peter Leonard-Morgan
​Associate Broker

VA Associate Broker's license #: 0225224949
DE Broker's license #: RB-0031199

Hunt Country Sotheby's International Realty
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Tel: (540) 687-8500
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Sotheby's International Realty Affiliates LLC fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act.  Each Office is Independently Owned and Operated.
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