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Outdoor tours to resume April 2021.

Oatlands

Historic House and Gardens

Archives for 2020

Tips for Visiting Oatlands

Wear comfortable walking shoes and weather-appropriate attire to fully enjoy the gardens and grounds.

Please note: The mansion is not air-conditioned. Heat and humidity are high in July and August.

If not buying tickets in advance online, please plan to arrive 10 minutes prior to your intended tour time to allow for ticket purchase and your walk from the Carriage House to the tour starting point.

Oatlands does not offer any food service facilities. You are welcome to bring a picnic to enjoy in our wooded picnic grove. Please remember to dispose of trash in the designated locations.

For information about other local attractions, restaurants, and lodging contact the Loudoun Convention & Visitors Association at www.visitloudoun.org or 1.888.803.7227.

Accessibility

The Carriage House, which houses the gift shop and restrooms, is fully accessible.

The mansion is NOT wheelchair accessible as all entrances involve stairs; we encourage people to drop off their loved ones for whom mobility may be an issue as close to their tour site as possible, before parking in the main lot.

Smaller grade gravel/pebble pathways lead to the mansion and garden, which contains stairs and terraces.

For individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing, each doorframe within the historic mansion features brief descriptions of the rooms OR written tours are available. Please let an associate in the Carriage House know, and your guide will be prepared with copies.

A one-page history is available in the following languages: Danish, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish.

Persons with special needs are encouraged to call 703.777.3174 for more information.

Carter Plantings

English Oak

Carter Plantings

Two centuries ago, George Carter designed and built Oatlands House and Garden. In the style of Tidewater Virginia and its English antecedents, Carter placed his formally organized garden near his house. The structure of the garden is comprised of terraces carved into the hillside to provide level areas for abundant plantings of fruit and vegetables along with trees, shrubs, and flowers. Even now, Carter’s steps and landings provide access to these same terraces. Cut from locally quarried stone, these steep steps are major axial walkways. The East-West Axis of the garden begins when exiting the east door of the mansion.