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Oak Ridge Estate

One of Nelson County's most prominent estates is Oak Ridge located just south of Lovingston. The 4,800 acre estate has served as home to many notable Virginians, such as Thomas Fortune Ryan, a Wall Street financier, who renovated and expanded the Federal-style home to a 50-room Colonial Revival mansion. Ryan passed away in 1928 and his family continued to live in the home for another 40 plus years, but they did not share the same fondness for the estate and it gradually fell into disrepair. After their deaths, the estate had absentee ownership for another 20 years. During these 60 years, the estate deteriorated. The formal gardens, the golf course, the train station, the Crystal Palace style greenhouse, and some other 50 outbuildings suffered from neglect.

In 1989, the John Holland family purchased the estate and has been working to restore it to the grandeur of Thomas Fortune Ryan's time. Many of Ryan's American Empire furniture remained in the home as well as his collection of art consisting of Renaissance and Contemporary masterpieces and sculptures by Rodin.

Many of these artworks and the estate are available for public viewing throughout the year. The estate is also available for rent for private functions. The estate has hosted the Jeep Jamboree for many years as well as the Nelson County Annual Summer Festival. In 1993, author Rita Mae Brown, re-created the Oak Ridge Fox Hunt Club which was originally formed in 1910.

The old racecourse that Ryan built in the early 1900's has been re-built and is the site for the Oak Ridge Steeplechase. The estate has applied for an Unlimited Pari-mutual Racing License.

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Oak Ridge Estate

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Discover Oak Ridge Estate

All information in this newsletter is deemed accurate but not guaranteed.

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Discover

Oak Ridge Estate