Gov. Glenn Youngkin has amended the proposed Virginia budget so that a shared vision for Historic Oak Hill State Park can move forward.
In spoken remarks today, Youngkin expressed support for the creation of Historic Oak Hill State Park, a 1,200-acre estate 40 miles west of Washington, D.C., which President James Monroe purchased in 1794 and built a home on in 1823. After serving two terms as president of the United States, Monroe retired to Oak Hill and wrote his autobiography. He also wrote the Monroe Doctrine while living at Oak Hill.
“We are grateful to Gov. Youngkin for embracing the opportunity to create Historic Oak Hill State Park. This would preserve the only privately owned home of a presidential Founding Father and offer hiking, fishing and equestrian trails alongside this one-of-a-kind piece of history. I look forward to working with Virginia‘s lawmakers to fully realize this opportunity,” The Conservation Fund‘s project lead Heather Richardson said.
State funds are not required to purchase or operate Virginia‘s next state park. Private and grant funding, as well as $22 million from Loudoun County, will enable the Fund to purchase the estate from the DeLashmutt family. The Fund hopes to open the park in early 2026.
“In addition, after careful consideration and — I have to say, an enormous amount of arm twisting and a site visit with Del. Geary Higgins — our package of budget amendments includes language to authorize the consideration of establishing Oak Hill, the historic home of Virginia governor and fifth president of the United States James Monroe, as a state park,” Youngkin said.
The Virginia General Assembly will take up the governor’s proposed amendment in support of Historic Oak Hill State Park on April 2 as part of a one-day reconvened session.
Monroe was born in Westmoreland County, Virginia, attended the College of William & Mary and served as governor of Virginia from 1799 to 1802. He served as the U.S.’s fifth president from 1817 to 1825. He died in 1831 at age 73 and is buried in Richmond.
A revised and updated Virginia state budget document is expected to be posted on the state budget site.
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Rebecca Barnabi
