Long before it cost $8.4 million, Wheatland Farm was a living piece of Virginia history – with roots stretching back nearly three centuries.
The sprawling 43-acre estate in Purcellville, VA is anchored by a 1741 mansion owned by, according to the listing Theo Adamsteinfrom The Heider Company at TTR Sotheby’s International Realty, and Laura Farrellof TTR Sotheby’s International Realty, once welcomed some of the most notable figures of the colonial era, including George Washington.
Now the storied property is looking for its next manager as it has hit the market for $8.4 million, offering the chance to own a home that predates the Declaration of Independence by more than three decades.
But Wheatland Farm’s history extends far beyond the walls of its century-old residence. According to Adamstein, the property was originally part of a massive tract that once covered about 10,000 acres and was granted Thompson Family.
The country was already a center of activity before the neighboring city of Waterford was founded. The Thompson family operated both a gristmill and post office on the property.
The family’s ties also extended to one of the country’s most famous founding families. Adamstein says the Thompsons knew Washington and his brothers, adding another layer to the estate’s remarkable colonial-era family trees.
Washington is said to have stayed at Wheatland several times during the Revolutionary War, while the farm itself reportedly played a role in the war effort by providing peaches and corn to sustain his troops.
Today, the six-bedroom, 4.5-bathroom mansion spans 7,727 square feet and forms the core of a property that feels more like a historic campus than a traditional single-family home.
Eight buildings are spread across the site and connected by paved walkways, including two guest houses, a restored Daniel Boone log cabin, a carriage house that now serves as the executive office, and a coffeehouse/schoolroom.
According to Adamstein, the facility means the property “can function almost like a private family complex – a place where family, friends and guests can be together and still have their own space.”
The mansion also bears a striking resemblance to Washington’s famous family home, Mount Vernon.
“The comparison is particularly interesting because the two houses are contemporary and were built only seven years apart,” says Adamstein. “The rear façade of Mount Vernon also bears a striking visual similarity to Wheatland in its proportions, architectural character and traditional color palette.”
Despite its centuries-old pedigree, the mansion has been modernized for modern lifestyles without sacrificing its character.
Recent renovations include a kitchen renovation in 2017 with Dacor appliances that combines modern comforts with the home’s original details.
The result, says Adamstein, is a property that is “nearly three centuries old, but an elegant, spacious home that is actually wonderful to live in today.”
The property’s equestrian facilities are another big draw.
The 2021 Pavilion Barn features 18 European-style stalls and connects directly to an indoor arena, while the fully restored 1800 Great Barn offers eight oversized stalls, a broodmare barn and an upstairs event space.
Mature trees and established hiking trails wind through the extensive grounds.
With Agricultural Rural-1 zoning and no easements, historic restrictions or HOA, Wheatland Farm also offers its next owner an unusual level of flexibility.
The property could serve as a private family compound, a working equestrian facility, an event venue or even an institutional campus.
Adamstein points to a project in Lexington, Kentucky, in which a group transformed horse stables into a private dining hall — an idea he calls “very clever” and that he believes could potentially be replicated at Wheatland.
“There is so much potential and business opportunity at Wheatland Farm,” he says, describing the property’s location and existing infrastructure as “just the beginning of what this special property could bring to the local community.”
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