WHS Historic Hikes: Marcus Buck & Belmont Vineyards Hike

Explore the forgotten story of one of Warren County’s most fascinating historic landscapes: Belmont Vineyards and Fruit Farm, once located in the Blue Ridge near Front Royal.

Led by Susan Tschirhart of Next Bend Adventures, this guided History Hike will introduce participants to the story of Marcus Blakemore Buck, a member of a prominent Front Royal family who established Belmont Vineyards in the mid-19th century. Research from James Madison University notes that Belmont was founded in the Blue Ridge Mountains in 1858 and grew into one of the largest vineyards in Virginia history, with more than 120 acres of grapevines by the end of the 19th century.

Along the way, hikers will learn about Belmont’s role in Warren County’s agricultural, industrial, and wine-making history. The property was more than a vineyard — it was also a working fruit farm, with orchards, distilling operations, wine production, and regional trade connections. An 1883 Front Royal Sentinel excerpt describes Belmont Vineyards and Fruit Farm as producing thousands of gallons of wine from grapes including Catawba, Ives, Delaware, Virginia Norton, and Concord.

Participants will consider how mountain terrain, agriculture, transportation, labor, and changing markets shaped Belmont’s rise and decline — and why traces of this once-significant place still matter to Warren County’s heritage today.

After the Hike: Vinicola Wine Bar

After the trail experience, participants are invited to continue the conversation and community connection at Vinicola on Main Street, the official post-hike destination for the History Hike program. Vinicola offers a welcoming, family-friendly atmosphere with food and drink options for all ages, making it a natural gathering place after a morning or afternoon on the trail.

As part of this partnership, Vinicola is curating a special trail-inspired food and wine experience featuring hyper-local Virginia wines paired with an off-menu plate of food. The pairing, tentatively titled “A Walk in the Woods,” is designed to extend the spirit of the hike into a relaxed Main Street setting. Registered hike participants will also receive 10% off food and drink at Vinicola.

Our WHS Walking Tour Program is made possible, in part, by Experience Warren County.