The Bluemont General Store dates back to the 1840s and is a fun spot to kick back and have lunch or an ice cream cone on the porch after a morning hike .
Photo : Douglas Graham / Wild Light Photos courtesy visit loudoun
Loudoun contains worlds – there are few more geographically and commercially diverse counties in the US — and while the developed and hi-tech east offers all the fashion and amenities of urban living , it ’ s the rural tradition and agri-businesses of the west that nourish the county ’ s soul .
“ We started our first business — Great Country Farms — in 1992 ,” said Bruce Zurschmeide , one of six children of Loudoun agri-business pioneer , Bob Zurschmeide , 83 . “ Loudoun had so few people then — the closest big population was Fairfax . We had no idea how popular it would become .”
We ’ re sipping a crisp glass of Byde Your Time craft lager on the al fresco patio of Dirt Farm Brewing , the craft ale outpost of the Zurschmeide empire on steep slopes of the Blue Ridge near historic Bluemont . Bruce and his wife Janell opened the brewery in 2015 on a portion of the land Bob purchased in the 1970s . Bob worked for the CIA and was a weekend “ dirt farmer ”— hence the name of the brewery . The original building on the property , a 1940s fieldstone hunting lodge , now serves as the tap room for fruit-forward ales , stouts and lagers , all produce sourced locally .
The view from the patio tells more of the family story : On 100 acres of vine-covered slopes adjacent to Dirt Farm is Bluemont Vineyard , opened in 2005 , and overseen by Bruce ’ s brother Mark , while at the foot of the mountain is Henway Hard Cider Co , opened in 2019 . As with the wine and beer , the cider is made from fruit grown on the farm . Bringing it all together , on 300 surrounding acres , is Great Country Farms , which is the business that started it all . An iconic destination for Loudoun families for nearly 30 years , it features wagon rides , pick-your-own opportunities , a corn maze during harvest time and a bountiful farm store . Combine all four businesses and several thousand visitors might come through on a summer weekend .
“ We have been fortunate to have been doing this a long time ,” said Bruce Zurschmeide . “ And if you don ’ t like the weather in Loudoun , all you have to do is wait a minute , it will change !”
The wineries , breweries and farms that span Loudoun ’ s rolling countryside are contributing millions to the local economy , showing that agri-business is big business for the county . According to a study by the Institute for Service Research , Loudoun ’ s agritourism businesses brought in 1.2 million
20 wander I fall • winter 2020