Nestled in the heart of West Virginia’s rolling highlands, yet only two hours from Dulles Airport and 30 minutes south of Cumerland MD, Walnut Hill is a rare and remarkable legacy estate offering 118.36 acres of pristine landscape with miles of trails and 4, 200 square feet of recently updated living space across three buildings. The estate began in the early 1990s as a dream of Tom Allen and Jane Folger Allen (whose family owned Folgers coffee, and cousin founded DC’s Folger Shakespeare Library and Theater). They started by enlisting Shorieh Talaat, a Mayland architect, to convert the horse barn into a house where they could begin to build their dream home, and next came building a work house and garage to stage their materials. When the estate was finally complete, it comprised the former horse barn, now a lovely guest house, a work house that the current owners converted into a retreat center with additional guest quarters and a sauna, and a large open main house perfect for entertaining. In total, the estate now has 7 rooms that can serve as bedrooms and 4.5 baths, and a two car garage. With the unique design of Walnut Hill, one can sense the international experiences of Jane and Tom, architectural influences of Frank Lloyd Wright, and the love of the land Jane and Tom shared. The current owners have improved on the magic of the property with recent updates to the bathrooms, the guest house, and two new roofs. Surrounded by panoramic mountain views and miles of private hiking trails, the estate is anchored by a spring-fed pond that has a pumping system designed to supply endless water for gardening up on the large lawn. This property is an immersive retreat for nature lovers, creative spirits, and those seeking refuge from the pace of the world. Equipped with three wells and a backup generator, this property could easily be converted into an off-the-grid estate.
