ROCKBRIDGE COUNTY
County Offices
150 South Main Street
Lexington 540-463-4361
www.co.rockbridge.va.us
Chamber of Commerce
18 East Nelson Street
Lexington 540-463-5375
www.lexrockchamber.com
The rural expanse of Rockbridge County is centrally located within the historic and scenic Shenandoah Valley, bounded on the west by the Allegheny Mountains and on the east by the higher elevations of the breathtaking Blue Ridge Mountains. The region is well-served by the intersection of Interstates 64 and 81, an advantage that has driven the development of a strong and diversified economy of manufacturing, trade, education, services, and agricultural activity. The closest airports offering commercial airline service are located in Roanoke and Charlottesville.
Services
Newcomers to Rockbridge County can look forward to easy access to some of Virginia’s finest healthcare facilities and services, although most needs including 24-hour emergency care can be met close to home at the Carilion Stonewall Jackson Hospital in Lexington. The hospital is part of the Carilion Clinic health system, which provides medical helicopter service from Lexington to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital in Roanoke. With 703-beds and an additional 60-bed Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Carilion Roanoke Memorial provides a Level I Trauma Center and a dedicated pediatric emergency room at the Carilion Clinic Children’s Hospital. In addition to state-of-the-art equipment and technologies, the hospital’s affiliation with the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine gives patients access to nearby specialty clinics, personalized treatment options, and some of the region’s most skilled professionals. Charlottesville is home to the UVA Health, encompassing UVA Children’s Hospital and a 570-bed Magnet® hospital with a Level 1 trauma center. UVA Hospital and UVA Health consistently earn top rankings in publications such as US News & World Report and national Top Doctor lists.
The quality of educational opportunities on every academic level is equally impressive in Rockbridge County, including local and regional institutions of higher education. Career programs and two-year transfer degrees are close to home at the Rockbridge Regional Center for Dabney S. Lancaster Community College (DSLCC) with its main campus in Clifton Forge. DSLCC excels in tailoring courses around employment skill demands in the areas of business, science, computer science, economics, engineering, education, communications, information systems, management, and nursing. The DSLCC Rockbridge Regional Center offers a computer lab and classrooms linked by interactive television to the main campus and houses the culinary arts, massage therapy, and practical nursing programs. Lexington is home to the Virginia Military Institute, a state-supported military college distinguished as the oldest of its type in the nation. VMI enrolls only military cadets and awards baccalaureate degrees in 14 disciplines. Adjacent to VMI, the private liberal arts institution of Washington and Lee University covers 325 acres in the heart of Lexington. Three academic units make up Washington and Lee: The College; the Williams School of Commerce, Economics, and Politics; and the School of Law. Buena Vista is the home of Southern Virginia University, a private four-year coeducational institution that is not affiliated with a particular faith but embraces the values of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Other institutions of higher education within a reasonable commute include Sweetbriar College, Randolph College, Lynchburg College, Mary Baldwin College, Virginia University of Lynchburg, and Liberty University.
Lifestyle
Newcomers to Rockbridge County will discover vibrant, historic, and charming communities nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Both Glasgow and Buena Vista are designated Appalachian Trail communities by the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, favored stopping places for food, mail, a shower—and sharing stories. With more than 58,000 acres of national forest and more than 20,000 acres of state-maintained land, the county offers endless opportunities for outdoor adventure and four-season recreation. With miles of scenic trails and backroads for hiking, biking, and horseback riding, the area supports a rich equestrian culture crowned by the nationally renowned Virginia Horse Center in Lexington. Lakefront recreational areas, Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Camp & Resort, and the 315-acre Glen Maury Park add a kaleidoscope of recreational opportunities including primitive and modern camping. Within Glen Maury, golfers can perfect their backswing at Vista Links, an 18-hole Rick Jacobson-designed course that overlooks the town of Buena Vista. Other highlights include the Natural Bridge and the Caverns at Natural Bridge, taking visitors to a dazzling underground world of stalactites, stalagmites, dripstone, flowstone, draperies, and pools.
Throughout the countryside, scenic drives are punctuated by wonderful wineries, popular breweries, and critically acclaimed dining experiences that support the farm-to-table movement. Glen Maury Park also features prominently in the county’s entertainment and cultural scene as the host of the Fiddlers’ Convention, the Mountain Music and Dance Festival, and the Nothing Fancy Blue Grass Festival. Lenfest Center for the Arts on the campus of Washington and Lee University presents a wide variety of performing arts from theater and musicals to opera, choral, and dance. During the summer months, the Lime Kiln theater is famous for sold-out concerts in a magical outdoor setting. Rockbridge County is also recognized for its historic preservation, from famous Civil War sites to notable venues like the Virginia Military Institute Museum, Lee Chapel & Museum, the Stonewall Jackson House, and the George C. Marshall Museum and Library. With all the advantages that Rockbridge County has to offer, newcomers will probably be most captivated by the warm, friendly spirit of its welcoming communities. Diverse landscapes and a wide variety of home styles and settings make it easy to find the perfect place to call home.
COMMUNITES
Lexington
City Offices
540-462-3700
www.lexingtonva.gov
Chamber of Commerce
540-463-5375
www.lexrockchamber.com
Maintaining a government independent but nevertheless serving as the seat of Rockbridge County government, the City of Lexington nestles between breathtaking forest and mountain beauty. The sprawling, majestic campuses for two respected universities are just a short walk from the city’s downtown district. The presence of the Virginia Military Institute and Washington and Lee University continually infuse this quaint, historic community with intellectual energy, cultural enrichment, and youthful vitality. One of the local restaurants is doubling as an incubator for new talent, inviting musicians to take turns playing acoustical versions of original and published songs. A number of other Lexington venues host live musical entertainment from jazz sessions to bluegrass jams. The city is home to wonderful antique shops, popular eateries and restaurants, specialty stores, boutiques, and galleries. Just beyond the urban bustle, Lexington’s agricultural roots are still visible in picturesque farms that support the growing popularity of farm-to-table restaurants and eateries.
Buena Vista
City Offices
540-261-8600
https://bvcity.org/
Chamber of Commerce
540-463-5375
www.lexrockchamber.com
Maintaining an independent government, the City of Buena Vista is combined with the City of Lexington and surrounding Rockbridge County for statistical purposes. Nestled between the majestic Blue Ridge Mountains and the Maury River, the city has a long history as a center of industry and business. The progressive spirit that founded Buena Vista is still evident in the community’s commitment to quality education, historic preservation, and first-rate recreational amenities. Recent years have seen the construction of a state-of-the-art high school and the completion of Vista Links, a premier 18-hole championship golf course. Several entrepreneurs took advantage of the picturesque countryside between Buena Vista and Lexington to plan, build, and open the Heartstone Lodge & Retreat Center, transforming a former dairy farm into one of the hospitality jewels of the Virginia countryside for hosting special events and celebrations. As one of the official Appalachian Trail communities, Buena Vista provides a warm welcome to the stream of local, regional, national, and international travelers to Virginia’s premier recreational sites.
Glasgow, Goshen, Rockbridge Baths, Raphine
Town Offices
540-258-2246
www.glasgowvirginia.org
Chamber of Commerce
540-463-5375
www.lexrockchamber.com
Located at the junction of the James and Maury rivers, Glasgow is just minutes from the Blue Ridge Parkway access point. In addition to its official designation as an Appalachian Trail community, Glasgow is well-known as a launching point for whitewater adventures. Small in size and population, this quaint rural village provides basic conveniences including a charming country store to the stream of hikers and outdoor enthusiasts passing through the town. The small village of Goshen in the northwest section of Rockbridge County is another gateway to exceptional recreational sites including Lake Merriweather, the Gosh Wildlife Management Area, and two national forests. The rural communities of Glasgow and Goshen, along with Rockbridge Baths and Raphine, offer a wide variety of options for quiet country living in close proximity to premier sites for hiking, fishing, picnicking, kayaking, swimming, and camping. The home selection varies from older properties to spectacular country manors, view lots, horse properties, and abundant acreage for custom builds.
