It breaks my heart to see that Woodlawn Stables will not be preserved, but instead, to watch a restaurant take the place that is home to over fifty lesson and boarder horses. I have considered Woodlawn to be my second home for almost seven years and the horses are such a large part of who I am. Woodlawn is a historic landscape that I loved driving by not only as a child, but still today. It is such a shame that others want to turn this last bit of green haven, which is home to so many creatures, into a restaurant which could easily be built on the other side of the plantation.

I am shocked, disgusted and outraged that the great state of Virginia would allow Michael Babin and his Arcadia restaurant.. (which is linked to the disappearance of horses!) to set up shop on beautiful and historic ground.

Blame game is on more than the owner of the land for allowing this to happen. Nothing is going to be preserved on Route 1. This area is going to dramatically change. You won't recognize it in a while. Very sad. Route 1 doesn't need one more restaurant. Thank you Ms. Mitchell for maintaining this piece of history for as long as you could. It is a part of my childhood memories. You will always be remembered. I wish you and your family the very best in life. God Bless.

I am speechless...but keep replaying the quote in my head from the Exec VP who says "it would not be a prudent business decision". Very sad for those who think everything is a business decision...I own a business so I DO understand it to a degree but we are talking about perserving an historical site. I may be biased, I grew up at Woodlawn Stables, literally, spend my entire childhood there and still have the same best friends I met there to this day. It sounds neato and oh so trendy to have a "fresh garden" and restaurant, but once that becomes a burden on the trust and the novelty wears off, what happens next? This working stable is tried and true. Nothing trendy, just real life back to basics. Don't ever ever give up Cindy!!

The restaurant idea doesn't bother me. What bothers me is the idea of a bypass running right through the land where the horses now graze. I have a friend who works in politics and he said this is all about Ft. Belvoir i.e. the U.S. Army, i.e. the Federal Government wanting to ease congestion on route 1 to make it easier for their commuters to get in and out of the Ft. Belvoir gates twice each day. He also said that George Washington specifically stipulated in his will that the land where the stables are now should always be a stable. So, the stables have existed for much longer than just the 34 years that Ms. Mitchell has run it. What can exemplify "preserving history" more than operating the land exactly as George Washington requested. It appears to me, and I am only speculating, that Woodlawn Plantation is not bringing much money into the National Trust for Historic Preservation and that they've brought this Arcadia group in to try and make some more money for them. At the same time, Ft. Belvoir wants the Bybass and I guess will pay them off for the right to build it. It is about the $$$

Yes, your friend was correct about George Washington's Will.

http://gwpapers.virginia.edu/documents/will/text.html

"Wherefore, I give & bequeath to the said Lawrence Lewis & Eleanor Parke Lewis, his wife, and their heirs, the residue of my Mount Vernon Estate, comprehended within the following description--viz.--All the land North of the Road leading from the ford of Dogue run to the Gum spring as described in the devise of the other part of the tract, and including the entirety of the fine commercial horse back riding camp and stable facility which shall forever more be preserved for the exclusive use of overpriviledged offspring of local elites, thence with the rectangular line to the back line (between Mr Mason & me)--thence with that line westerly, along the new double ditch to Dogue run, by the tumbling Dam of my Mill; thence with the said run to the ford aforementioned; to which I add all the Land I possess West of the said Dogue run, & Dogue Crk--bounded Easterly & Southerly thereby; together with the Mill, Distillery, and all other houses & improvements on the premises, making together about two thousand Acres--be it more or less- the fate of which shall be henceforth documented by the Mount Vernon Patch, or its assignees and successors."

nice sarcasm. I looked, you're right, it's not in his will. I am sure he'd be happy with its use as a stable though.

Where are the environmenalists when we need them. They should be protesting against this. The area not only has a stable, but provides a natural habitat for a lot of animals. I see ducks on the grounds all the time, especially on the part of the land near dogue creek.