About the farm
Westmoreland Berry Farm, in it's modern form started in 1984, but the history of the property goes back a long, long way.
The earliest human occupants were Paleo-Indians. The sites where these natives made their homes were lost by rising waters and are now under water. Most native sites found in this area are less than 5,500 years old.
In 1608 John Smith visited a small Indian village located on the farm. He encountered Algonquin speaking natives in villages scattered throughout the Northern Neck. For more information on settlements at this time, visit the website of historic Jamestowne, or explore the routes John Smith traveled that resulted in his famous map of 1608.
The natives that lived on the farm are considered Eastern Woodland natives; they spoke a language derived from the Algonquin language. The natives that made this farm their home were part of the Pissaseck Indian Village, which is now part of modern day Leedstown. They used the river as a source of survival to catch fish, oysters and crabs.
The property was originally patented along the Rappahannock River in 1641 as a grain farm, and there has been a concentration of 17th century artifacts found on the farm. In 1803, the plantation was known as Leesville, however, during the Civil War the plantation home was bombed and burned by the Union gunboats. The plantation house stood above the English style terraces which can still be seen adjacent to the Country Store.
The farm is now in Westmoreland County but was a part of King George County until almost 1800.
Alan Voorhees purchased the property in 1979; it was then almost 1600 acres. In discussing it with a friend, they thought it would make an ideal berry farm. For over 25 years the Vorhees family has supported the development of the Westmoreland Berry Farm.
In 1994 Mr. Voorhees donated 
approximately 700 acres to the Nature Conservancy of Virginia to protect the wild habitat that exists along the river. This tract of land is now known as The Voorhees Nature Preserve and boasts a beautiful hiking trail. The Nature Preserve trails are accessible upon check in at the country store.
There have been over 93 species of birds documented on the nature trail, with the most notable one being the Bald Eagle. Eagles and eaglets can often be seen flying over the banks of the river.
Come and visit Westmoreland Berry Farm for a special day out.
We hope to see you soon.