Bear's Den Rural Historic District
Also known as: VDHR File No. 021-5010
Why it's listed
Along the crest of the Blue Ridge near Snicker's Gap, this rural district covers roughly 1,855 acres, mostly in Clarke County with a part in Loudoun County. It contains 66 properties and 231 resources, including 152 contributing buildings, mainly dwellings and their outbuildings. Most were built as summer homes by affluent Washingtonians drawn by the cooler climate and long views over the Shenandoah Valley and the Piedmont. Development began in the 1890s and grew sharply after a railroad reached nearby Bluemont around 1900. Native greenstone granite gives the houses a rustic look and also forms the extensive stone walls and gateposts. Styles include Craftsman, Colonial Revival, Queen Anne and several eclectic revivals. Notable properties include Joannasberg, built in 1897 by travel writer Frank Carpenter, High Meadows, Eagle Rock Farm, Seltsenhorst and Bruce Farm. A former hotel, school and church also stand in the district. Many original owners were neighbors and acquaintances from Georgetown.
Significance in brief: The district is significant as a collection of rustic, stone-built summer retreats created from the 1890s onward by wealthy Washington, D.C. residents seeking cooler mountain air. The arrival of the railroad at nearby Bluemont around 1900 made the ridge easy to reach and set off a burst of construction. Its houses, stone walls, gateposts and landscape retain a distinctive character, and the original owners were closely linked by Washington social ties.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 08001112, listed May 14, 2009. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Generally runs along both side of ridge along parts of Raven Rocks and Blue Ridge Mtn. Rds., Bluemont |
|---|---|
| County | Clarke County |
| Listed | May 14, 2009 |
| Reference number | 08001112 |
| Resource type | District |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne, Colonial Revival, Tudor Revival, Late Gothic Revival, French Eclectic, Spanish Eclectic, Bungalow/Craftsman, Ranch, Minimal Traditional, and Vernacular |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Most houses are now occupied by year-round residents. Some are still used as summer homes or weekend retreats. A few outbuildings and tenant houses are abandoned or in ruins. |
| Acreage | 1855 |
| Coordinates | 39.10451, -77.85541 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 08001112.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14712006
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.