Camp Holly: Henrico’s 139-acre site protected to preserve water, historical land

HENRICO COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- A vital 139-acre property in eastern Henrico County, known as Camp Holly, is now permanently protected, preserving clean drinking water and historic land for future generations.

The land, which includes a natural aquifer that has supplied the Richmond area with spring water for over a century, is now under a historic preservation and open-space easement.

The Dowdy family, who has cared for the land since the 1950s and distributed the water under the name Diamond Springs, partnered with the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) and the Capital Region Land Conservancy (CRLC) to make the easement possible.

“Our family has had close ties with Varina for over five generations, and because of our care for the rural landscape and community, the ability to perpetually preserve this land is a wonderful opportunity,” Roland “Dusty” Dowdy II said. “We are honored to have played a part in protecting the natural, environmental, and historical resources associated with Camp Holly, and are excited that the next five generations and beyond will be able to experience this area in its undeveloped state. We are very thankful for CRLC and DHR making this opportunity a reality.”

According to the CRLC, the easement protects not only the drinking water but also a landscape filled with historical significance. Camp Holly was once used as a military site during the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812 and the Civil War. The property includes old encampment areas and battlefield locations that are recognized by the Civil War Sites Advisory Commission.

Based on information from Henrico County's Vision 2026 Plan, areas like Camp Holly are essential to protect, due to aquifers being easily polluted from activities on the land's surface.

“Assisting the Dowdy family to protect 139 acres is rewarding because we are saving critical drinking water supply and also because we are connecting with a larger landscape that enhances the conservation of nearby sites at Four Mile Creek and CRLC’s Varina LandLab at Deep Bottom,” said Parker C. Agelasto, CRLC Executive Director. “Over the past decade, we are proud to have conserved more than 2,300 acres in eastern Henrico.”

Funding for the project came from a $1,487,153 awarded grant from the National Park Service and a $1,278,000 awarded grant from DHR's Virginia Battlefield Preservation Fund.

As of this year, DHR has placed nearly 47,000 acres of land under preservation easement, including about 17,000 acres of historic battlefields.