The Barns at Wolf Trap will open a fully renovated third historic barn, disassembled and moved earlier this year from its longtime home in Loudoun County, this fall.
The 2,500 square foot building — constructed in the early 1900s and now called “The Virginian Barn” — will provide additional space for dining, special events, gatherings, and private rentals starting in November. Restrooms and kitchen space have been added inside.
“The Barns at Wolf Trap has long offered audiences an intimate connection to world-class artists in a setting unlike any other,” Arvind Manocha, president and CEO of Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts, said in a release. “The addition of the Virginian Barn allows us to build on that legacy by creating more opportunities for our patrons to gather, celebrate, and connect before and after performances while preserving the historic character that makes this place so special.”
The Virginian Barn was donated by Karen and Fred Schaufeld, who were already longtime donors. Concerned that the barn could be taken down due to a widening project on Route 15, the Schaufelds decided to give theirs to Wolf Trap, which was already looking for a third building.
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors voted to approve the building project last December.
The work of disassembling, reconditioning, and reconstructing the building on-site at Wolf Trap began this spring by Lancaster Timber Framers, a company that specializes in restoring historic timber-frame structures. The Virginian Barn joins two 18th century barns from New York — one in German style, one in Scottish style — that have already been repurposed for use at the park.
“We are so pleased that this remarkable historic structure will live on in a meaningful way,” the Schaufelds said in the release. “Wolf Trap is the perfect home for the Virginian [Barn] because it shares our appreciation for preservation, community, and bringing people together. We are honored to see this barn begin its next chapter as part of such a vibrant venue.”
