Officials revisit long‑running McKay Springs parcel; battlefield group expresses interest in dialogue

County and town representatives reviewed the status of the jointly owned McKay Springs property and said decades‑old efforts to market and develop the site have not produced a final sale.

The committee reviewed the property’s MOU, first executed Dec. 21, 2004 and updated in 2011, which directs joint marketing of the parcels, potential roadway improvements and retention of a preservation easement around the remains of the former Robert McKay Jr. house. Speakers said past work included floodplain studies, boundary‑line adjustments and pad‑site surveys intended to clarify feasible development areas; several prospective buyers had engaged at different times but the parties could not reach agreement to finalize sales.

Supervisor Jamieson and other members described a recent approach from the Shenandoah Battlefields Foundation (referred to in the meeting as a national heritage/battlefields organization). Meeting attendees said the foundation indicated interest in acquiring some interest in the site under parameters that could include purchasing at up to 50% of retail value paired with preservation easements and heritage programming. The foundation reportedly provided a preliminary assessment (a figure mentioned in the meeting was about $3.4 million) and economic impact material related to heritage tourism; liaison members agreed that hearing a presentation from the battlefield organization would be useful before any decision.

Committee members also discussed a county‑led short‑term idea to use about 2 acres of county‑owned land for an aggregated homesteader farmstand. Town and county leaders said the concept was designed as a temporary, low‑impact use of vacant land while longer‑term marketing and preservation discussions proceed.

VDOT access constraints were raised as a material practical issue: staff said VDOT indicated the main state route (U.S. 522) would not permit a commercial access at the existing entrance, which would materially affect the marketability of a commercial redevelopment that had previously counted on direct access from U.S. 522. Committee members agreed to invite the Shenandoah Battlefields Foundation to present to the boards and to continue joint discussions about the site’s future; no sale or binding commitment was made at the liaison meeting.