Montgomery County acquires White’s Ferry, urges cooperation from Loudoun County to restart operations.
Montgomery County has successfully acquired White’s Ferry along with its operations on the Maryland side in Poolesville. Officials are now urging their counterparts in Virginia to collaborate on relaunching the ferry service, which once served hundreds of vehicles daily across the Potomac River.
During a press conference on Friday, owner Chuck Kuhn announced his intention to donate the historic ferry and its operations to Montgomery County. Concurrently, the county will be purchasing the land where the ferry docks from which the ferry operates on the Maryland shore.
The county will invest $1.5 million in the acquisition of approximately 2.5 acres of prime riverfront land, which will include a store, a ferry ramp, a boat launch, and storage buildings. After the deal is finalized and the county takes ownership of the property, the ferry will be removed from the river for inspection and necessary repairs, according to official statements. The county aims to complete the transition within the next two months.
Kuhn, who, along with his wife Stacy, acquired White’s Ferry six years ago, expressed a strong commitment to reopening the ferry. He emphasized, “Our focus wasn’t on ownership. We just wanted to ensure the ferry reopens for the community. This journey has been remarkable, and today marks a significant step forward.”
The ferry suspended operations in December 2020 after a ruling from a Loudoun County judge determined that White’s Ferry had been trespassing following the expiration of a licensing agreement that permitted it to dock at Rockland Farm on the Virginia side of the Potomac.
Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich highlighted the considerable impact the ferry’s closure has had on the Poolesville community, describing the acquisition as a “major milestone” and a “significant step” towards restoring ferry service. After years of negotiating with involved landowners, he stated that owning the property made the most “logical and straightforward” avenue for resuming operations.
“I hope our colleagues in Loudoun County and the Commonwealth of Virginia recognize this important change and are motivated to acquire the necessary rights to restart service. We are prepared to collaborate with them to achieve this objective,” Elrich remarked. He expressed optimism about improved relations on the Virginia side of the river.
For years, Kuhn has faced challenges in negotiating with Libby Devlin and her brother Peter Brown, owners of Rockland Farm, regarding the resumption of ferry service. This led to Montgomery County Council formulating a $3 million offer to resolve the issues.
In 2021, members of Loudoun County’s Board of Supervisors encouraged Kuhn and Devlin to reach an agreement independently, with Chair Phyllis Randall urging them to “work it out.”
Montgomery County officials indicated that their last conversation with Rockland Farm’s owners occurred around February. Elrich expressed a desire to engage in negotiations aimed at restoring ferry service, while Devlin mentioned to WTOP that she was unaware of the agreement between Kuhn and Montgomery County and had not been included in Friday’s press conference.
Elrich was asked whether this acquisition could pave the way for Loudoun County to consider eminent domain over the Virginia land where the ferry docks. He noted that while that may be an option, it should be regarded as a last resort due to potential legal delays. He acknowledged the difficulties in negotiating with the Rockland Farm owners.
“However, if it came to eminent domain, I hope the state would consider pursuing it,” Elrich said. “They understand the economic importance and necessity of this service. This is something they should be willing to endorse, as they have the power to do so.”
Loudoun County’s Office of the County Administrator communicated to WTOP that Montgomery County informed them of the White’s Ferry acquisition on Thursday, noting that they view the deal as a positive development.
“This marks a significant achievement in enhancing regional connectivity,” stated Buddy Rizer, Executive Director of Loudoun Economic Development. “Collaborative efforts on projects like this strengthen local economies and create better opportunities on both sides of the river.”
White’s Ferry, established in 1786, once transported between 600 and 800 vehicles daily across the Potomac River, with even higher numbers on weekends. Once operational, Montgomery County plans to hire staff to manage the ferry services.
“Restoring the ferry service is critical for our community,” emphasized Chris Conklin, Director of the Montgomery County Department of Transportation. “With this arrangement in place, we now control the Maryland landing and ferry operations, while continuing to seek solutions for where the boat can land in Virginia.”
WTOP’s José Umaña contributed to this report.
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