York River Preserve
New Kent County
Acreage:
1,621 acres
Date Recorded/Protected:
12/14/04
Property Facts
At the end of 2004, the Williamsburg Land Conservancy received a donated permanent conservation easement on 1621 acres of land from Ken McDermott, a Stonehouse developer. This stunning piece of land, known as the York River Preserve, contains approximately three miles of York River shoreline and runs between Ware Creek, the boundary between James City County and New Kent County, west to Philbates Creek. For a sense of perspective, the York River Preserve easement is slightly larger than the Governor’s Land community.
In conjunction with York River State Park and Camp Peary, the York River Preserve will effectively protect most of the south bank of the York River from development from Queens Creek in the east to near West Point at the top of the York River. This is a major ecological and land protection win.
Mr. McDermott first viewed the York River Preserve from the water on a York River boat trip arranged by current Conservancy board member Mark Rinaldi. Mr. McDermott purchased the property with the long-term goal of protecting it. As he has said, “It is an important ecosystem. I believe in saving the Chesapeake Bay and saving waterfront property is a key part.”
The York River Preserve still remains the largest easement ever donated to the WLC. It was also the first WLC easement in New Kent County.
- Protected Land
- Protected Properties
- Alston Easement
- Autumn West
- Black Creek Property
- Black Family Farm
- Boothe Property
- Brewers, LLC
- Briggs Farm
- Brown Easement
- Carr’s Hill
- Cedar Hill
- Chelsea Plantation
- Chenault/Central Crossing
- Church on the Main
- Claxton Creek Property
- Cornell Property
- Cowels / Norman Easement
- Crittenden
- Curtis Farm
- Diggs (Winter Harbor)
- Douglas Properties
- Edgewood Farm and
Custis Pond - Fitzgerald
- Ford’s Colony Driving Range
- Gayles Farm
- Greenlevel Farm
- Greensprings Trail
- Greenswamp Farm
- Hankins Property
- Hill Farm
- Hankins Property – Trust #2
- Hayfield Farm
- Hotwater Cole Tract
- Hudgins Easement
- Hughes Farm
- Johnson Farm
- Kime Property
- Level Green Farm
- Little Oakland Farm
- Locust Grove
- Longhill Swamp
- Mainland Farm
- Marl Springs Farm
- Mundy Property
- Netick Property
- North End Plantation
- Ober Brooks Easement
- Piping Tree Farm
- Poplar Springs Farm
- Powhatan Secondary
- Prince Farm
- Rappahannock Tribe
- Revercomb
- Riverwatch
- River’s Bend at Uncle’s Neck
- Rock Springs
- Route 5 Buffer
- Route 132
- Rurak
- Scott Trust Parcel
- Shady Banks
- Shiloh Property
- The Retreat
- The Williamsburg Winery
- Toddsbury
- Unser Farm
- Van Clief (Winter Harbor)
- Vineyard/Conservancy
- Virginia Capital Trail
- Williamsburg Christian Academy
- Woodward
- Yew Grove
- York River Preserve
- Interactive Map