Piping Tree Farm

City/County:

King William County

Acreage:

499.09 acres

Date Recorded/Protected:

12/2/11

Property Facts:

Piping Tree Farm totals 499 acres and is situated along the Pamunkey River. The property is the home of Mr. Longest and his family and contains numerous streams, small wetlands, forest, and 100 acres of agricultural land that is farmed with the “no till” method. Wildlife habitat is abundant in this substantially undeveloped piece of property. Piping Tree has its own history. Following is an excerpt from On Deep Water by Steven A. Colvin:

The story goes that early Indian councils were held here, with the white settlers. After the pipe of peace had been properly smoked, it was stored in the hollow of a tree. Whenever the Indians detected a breach of promise, they reminded the white men of the “pipe in tree.” A ferry was established here very early in the 1700s, and later a tavern and a warehouse were built, so that the place became quite a center of activity.

Landowner Story:

Cary Longest – Owner and Conservation Hero

Cary Longest, the owner of Piping Tree Farm and Rock Springs, placed easements on his two properties, in 2011 adding more than 847 acres! Cary’s Piping Tree Farm totals 499 acres and is situated along the Pamunkey River, a tributary of the York River. Cary and his family own the land, which contains numerous streams, small wetlands, forest, and 100 acres of agricultural land that is farmed with the “no till” method. Wildlife is abundant in the substantially undeveloped piece of property.

Author Steven A. Colvin mentioned in his book “On Deep Water” that the property is an area of historical significance, where early Indian councils were held and a 1700s ferry was established. The story goes that early Indian councils were held here, with the white settlers. After the pipe of peace had been properly smoked, it was stored in the hollow of a tree. Whenever the Indians detected a breach of promise, they reminded the white men of the “pipe in tree.” A ferry was established here very early in the 1700s, and later a tavern and a warehouse were built, so that the place became quite a center of activity.

Cary is proud of this history. If there is one thing Cary knows –it is land. Land is his family business, and Cary has been working over Virginia acquiring, foresting, replanting, farming and buying and selling land since the 1980s. As Cary says, “he’s done pretty well for a young man!” Cary also knows these properties are really special; saying that conserving this land through the Williamsburg Land Conservancy was “just the right thing to do”. We agree Cary and thank you for being a Conservation Hero.