Bluemont Historic District
Why it's listed
Bluemont is a small village at Snickers Gap, high on the eastern slope of the Blue Ridge in western Loudoun County, Virginia. The historic district takes in most of the town: 43 buildings along the old Snickersville Turnpike, a few on the Leesburg road, and Elizabeth Avenue. The oldest survivor is Clayton Hall, a stone house from 1797. Stone and log buildings of the early 1800s stand among late Victorian frame houses and early 1900s stores. The village began as a trading point on the route carrying grain from the Shenandoah Valley toward Tidewater ports, and it was called Snickersville until the railroad arrived in 1900. Rail service brought summer visitors from Washington, and boarding houses such as the Loudoun House Hotel and the Blue Ridge Inn were built to host them. Service ended in 1930. Only five modern buildings intrude, so the district keeps a rural, turn-of-the-century character.
Significance in brief: The district is significant for architecture, commerce, transportation and recreation. The village grew as a trade center on the Snickers Gap turnpike route between the Shenandoah Valley and Tidewater, then revived after the railroad arrived in 1900 and it became a mountain summer resort. Early stone and log buildings sit alongside turn-of-the-century stores, boarding houses and residences.
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 84003546, listed February 23, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | VA 734 and 760, Bluemont |
|---|---|
| County | Loudoun County |
| Listed | February 23, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84003546 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | Late 18th Century; 19th & 20th centuries |
| Architectural style | Mostly vernacular, with some Italianate, Queen Anne and Colonial Revival elements |
| Areas of significance | Other, Commerce, Transportation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Five of the 43 buildings are noncontributing modern structures. The E.E. Lake General Store is described as vacant, while the Snickersville General Store remains in use. |
| Acreage | 60 |
| Coordinates | 39.10957, -77.83108 (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 84003546.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4930381
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.