The Town of Middleburg, Virginia (current population: 680) was established in 1787 by Revolutionary War Lieutenant Colonel and Virginia statesman, Levin Powell. Powell purchased the land for Middleburg at $2.50 an acre from Joseph Chinn, first cousin to George Washington. Previously called “Chinn’s Crossroads,” Powell chose the name Middleburg because of the town’s location midway between Alexandria and Winchester on the Ashby Gap trading route (now Route 50).

After the turn of the century, Middleburg began welcoming a new wave of residents that descended on the town from the North for foxhunting and steeplechasing in a movement known as the “Jericho Turnpike.”  The village soon earned a reputation as the “Nation’s Horse and Hunt Capital,” attracting prominent visitors from across the United States.

Today’s travelers can enjoy Middleburg’s  historic charms at several local inns that provide first rate accommodations to visitors from around the world. The Red Fox Inn and Tavern is billed as the “oldest original inn in America”. The Red Fox Tavern was a meeting spot for Confederate Colonel John Mosby and his Rangers. A century later, President Kennedy’s press secretary, Pierre Salinger, held press conferences at the Red Fox in the Jeb Stuart Room.Because First Lady, Jacqueline Kennedy,had fox hunting friends in the area she persuaded the President to build a country home in the area so that she could escape the Washington political scene and ride to the hounds around Middleburg.

The Goodstone Inn sits on property that was originally purchased in 1768 by Jamie “the Scot” Leith and developed into a plantation. During the Civil War, two of Leith’s three grandsons fought for the South, and Civil War skirmishes occurred on the property.

Middleburg’s newest inn, The Salamander Resort and Spa opened in 2013 and features 168 luxurious rooms and suites, a luxury spa, full-service equestrian center, Virginia Piedmont-inspired dining, a dedicated cooking studio, wine bar, billiards room and a unique array of conference and banquet facilities.