Rippon Lodge is probably one of the least known yet the oldest colonial houses still standing in Northern Virginia. 
Built in 1747 Rippon Lodge is small and simple compared to George Washington's home Mount Vernon only a few miles away, yet the connection between the two properties runs deep. Richard Blackburn the original owner of Rippon Lodge was the architect that designed the original home at Mount Vernon. To add to the connection between the families, one of Lt. Col. Thomas Blackburn's daughters married Bushrod Washington (nephew of George Washington) and a granddaughter married John Augustine Washington, George's brother. Both women are buried at Mount Vernon.
With it's prime location on Neabsco Creek, Rippon Lodge had it's own port for shipping the tobacco grown on the property. Since it was located on the "Kings Highway" it was also a prime spot for travel to the Port of Dumfries, which was one of the busiest seaports in the area at the time.
Rippon Lodge is located just a mile off of Route 1 (Kings Highway) at the intersection of Rippon Blvd & Blackburn Road in Woodbridge VA. You can visit during the summer from 11-4. You can walk the grounds, visit the "Little Cabin" and tour the interior of the home.
Rippon Lodge Quick Tour
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