Scottsville, Virginia: History, Arts, and the Great Outdoors
This article was originally published in the CAAR Real Estate Weekly on September 9, 2020.
It’s the lure of the river… It’s the small-town atmosphere… It’s the people… It’s close… It’s affordable…
Ask five different people what’s great about Scottsville and you’ll likely get five different answers. The funny thing is, they’ll all be right, because Scottsville is all those things, and more. Add in a rich history along the “river where America began” and a vibrant arts scene and you have an irresistible combination.
The James
Situated at the northernmost point, atop the horseshoe bend, the James River has always played an oversize role in Scottsville’s development and character.
Look no farther than the Floods of Record monument at Canal Basin Square. The highwater mark for 1972’s Hurricane Agnes is at 34 feet. But the height of “The Great Fresh of 1771” flooded Scottsville another 10 feet above that. After centuries of floods threatening the town’s very existence, levees were built in 1980’s and have contained the James and prevented flooding ever since.
Now, because of that protection, the James River lures residents and visitors in, rather than scaring them away. Outfitters in downtown Scottsville provide three-season paddling and fishing excursions along with rental and shuttle services. Whether an avid fisherman or just in the mood for a day of lazy tubing down the river, Class I to III waters accommodate both. While these attract many visitors and tourists to Scottsville, the river also serves as the backdrop to a way of life that is immersed in natural beauty.
Scott Ward, REALTOR® with 1st Dominion Realty, Inc. – Scottsville, moved from Norfolk 13 years ago and has no intention of leaving. He understands the lure of the river. “This used to be the center of gravity for Albemarle County with all the goods passing through on the James River and the Kanawha Canal. Now Scottsville is coming into its own again and the river is a big part of it.”
The James River isn’t the only attraction for nature lovers. The 63-acre Van Clief Nature Area in the heart of downtown provides recreation and additional flood control. Complete with a stocked fishing lake open to the public, nature trails, and dock, Scottsville Lake and the Nature Area are directly adjacent to the town’s central business district. Scottsville has invested in many infrastructure improvements over the past 10 years and the Van Clief master plan reveals its importance to retaining downtown’s outdoorsy character. A network of trails, called the emerald necklace, will eventually connect businesses, residences and nature throughout Scottsville.
Small Towns are Cool Again
He may be biased, but Town Councilor Dan Gritsko calls Scottsville “the best little town in the country.” And if you don’t believe him, just ask for a guided tour or view his YouTube videos that make his argument pretty compelling. Like many other Scottsville residents, he has lived here 20 years and works hard to create a town he is proud to call home. He values being part of a real community where he knows his neighbors and can have a positive impact.
The most recent count lists Scottsville’s population at just under 600. That’s about the same as when REALTOR® Kevin Quick, with RE/MAX Realty Specialists, moved to town more than 20 years ago. Even though the numbers haven’t changed much the past two decades, Scottsville’s stature certainly has. Quick has watched Scottsville evolve from “a little burg on the southern end of Albemarle County, to a serious attraction. People want a central business district to walk, stroll, see friends and neighbors.”
It’s not just Quick’s imagination. He says, “Restaurants and businesses are now staying, not shutting down after a year. And that’s a direct measure of sustained and growing interest in the town.”
Ward agrees that interest is building steadily. “Cool little restaurants and businesses make Scottsville appealing. People want to get out of the city, get away from their HOA’s. Lots of people are retiring from up north but don’t want Florida. We have the perfect climate, a wonderful, caring community and tremendous access to nature. We’re getting, and welcoming, transplants of all ages and all walks of life.”
Covid19 has only increased that interest. Debi Dotson, REALTOR® with Real Estate III – East, says inquiries have stepped up a notch this year. “I think we’re all looking for a place where we can feel safe at home. Scottsville is a very safe and secure place to live, even in a pandemic. People love that there’s room to grow things, to have chickens if they want. They can have a house on an acre or more and still walk into town to be around people if they want to. There’s a definite charm here. It’s just an incredibly attractive town with so many pretty places and so much to do for people with active lifestyles.”
Closer Than You Think
It’s always been 18 miles from Scottsville to Charlottesville along Route 20. But that 18 miles doesn’t seem like much of a barrier anymore. “Suddenly, Scottsville is a viable option for people that work in the Charlottesville area,” says Quick.
“A few years ago, we really weren’t in the running for commuters that had to make their way to Charlottesville. I think people are discovering what we have and are realizing that the short commute is worth having this lifestyle.”
Dotson points out that there probably isn’t an easier commute into Charlottesville than from Scottsville. “Pick your direction. It takes just as long and sometimes longer to get to Charlottesville from Ruckersville, Earlysville, Crozet, even Forest Lakes, than it does from Scottsville. So, if the commute time is equal or less, once you factor in housing affordability, the strong community, lively businesses, and all the beautiful natural attractions we have, Scottsville becomes pretty competitive.”
Business as the Backbone
Solid businesses are critical to the town’s success. A walk down Valley Street (Route 20) makes it clear that the basics are covered. Banking, lodging, grocers, restaurants, even a funeral home allow residents to get what they need in town.
You won’t find many chain restaurants and franchisees in Scottsville. “Unique community businesses owned and run by people who have a stake in Scottsville’s success make up the business district,” says Ward. “They take the time to smile and chat with you and treat you like neighbors.”
The Lumpkin Restaurant and Motel, where the giant rooster out front isn’t the only chicken in town, is renowned for breakfast and homemade comfort food all day long. Or start your morning at Baine’s Books & Coffee with coffee, pastries, and some reading on the side. Both are sure places to meet neighbors and friends.
No self-respecting outdoor town is complete without a brewery. James River Brewery and their award-winning River Runner beer and the beer garden tucked in the back attract regulars and visitors to enjoy the cozy pub feel and frequent music.
The Batteau Restaurant and Wine Bar offer great food in a unique setting with both indoor and porch dining. Crab cakes and steak are customer favorites, along with catfish, batteau fries and pork skewers.
Two blocks down, Tavern on the James also offers indoor and outdoor seating and pub style American food. Famous for their welcoming environment and Tavern Burger, the restaurant and bar occupy the primo corner at Route 20 and Main Street in downtown Scottsville. If you’re lucky, you’ll catch the Scott-ettes, dancers in their 60’s and 70’s who revel in the Tavern’s fun atmosphere. They may even invite you to join them.
Across the street is the Scottsville Supply Company. Thanks to the efforts of this locally owned bee supply and gift store, Scottsville is the first official Bee City USA in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Their success in creating healthy and sustainable habitats for bees and other pollinators adds to Scottsville’s reputation as a town committed to protecting the environment.
Where History, Arts and the Outdoors Merge
Few places have as rich a history and as abundant natural resources wrapped up in a quaint small town as in Scottsville. Even fewer are so committed to preserving both.
One of Scottsville’s distinctive treasures is SCAN, Scottsville’s Center for the Arts and the Natural Environment. In the 15 years since its founding by the late Mary Hardy, this non-profit has made a profound impact on Scottsville through its music, theatre, dance, painting, drawing and environmental programs. The mural marking the entrance to the Van Clief Nature Area, pavement paintings, and a wealth of public art add to the town’s charm while deepening the community’s commitment to its environmental assets.
With a 13-acre parcel on Hardware Street, SCAN will be instrumental in completing the network of trails linking downtown, residential areas, and the Van Clief Nature Area. This is also the site of their beekeeping initiative with Scottsville Supply Company. In a storefront on Valley Street, SCAN exhibits environmental research visually in “Our Rivers. Our Landscapes. Our Community.”
As SCAN’s body of work continues to grow and expand, so does Scottsville’s reputation as a welcome home for art and outdoor lovers.
It is unlikely the town will regain the prominence it enjoyed in the 18th and 19th centuries as a lively center for commerce and transportation as freight and passengers traversed the James River and the Kanawha Canal. Scottsville embraces its heritage with more than 150 structures in its compact historic district.
The Scottsville Museum and Canal Basin Square along Main Street display maps, pictures, equipment, and batteau and packet boats that graced the canal. The adjacent three-story gambrel-roofed brick Canal Warehouse could be an historic gem with enough money invested. There is scaffolding up, so maybe?
Scottsville’s levee walk passes under Route 20 to connect both sides of town from Bird Street to Ferry Street. History unfolds with views of the James, the Kanawha Canal, and the Richmond and Allegheny Railroad that eventually replaced commerce on the Canal in the 1880’s.
With the loss of that commerce and 21 devastating floods, the town languished for many years. But Scottsville’s future as a vibrant, attractive town is on the upswing.
Interested buyers outnumber the available inventory of houses for sale. Options are being explored to expand housing in town, including developing the old tire factory and adjacent properties on Bird Street. Apartments, affordable housing, a mix of commercial and residential are all possibilities. The location just off Route 20 and along the James River magnify its potential impact on the character of downtown.
Quick says, “Our master plan is to get from the current 600 residents up to 1000 over the next five to ten years. We are ready to grow, but not at any cost. The real challenge is to grow without sacrificing what everyone loves about Scottsville – our lively, historic, friendly, outdoorsy small town.”