History of Walnut Hills Campground

 The original Walnut Hills property was tucked away in a lovely woodland rise at the junction of two streams that serve as the headwaters of Christians Creek. The creek gathers in its flow other small streams and joins the Middle River about fifteen miles farther on, eventually emptying into the fabled Shenandoah River. Locust and walnut trees that are more than 250 years old still stand as sentinels overlooking the property. 

 Built on what was once a plantation, the current 44 acre property originally was part of the much larger Beverley Grant from the King of England. John Christian, who settled here in 1732, was among the earliest settlers in the area and among the first magistrates of Augusta County. He and his descendants lived in the original “Walnut House” until the family line petered out in the early 1960s. The home was built in 1736 and the architecture is reminiscent of the family’s Westmoreland County, England heritage. Remnants of the plantation can be found on the home’s property, which is now on a separate lot from the campground and houses Body Ease Physical Therapy.

 Meanwhile, what is now the campground store and registration building originally served as the plantation’s stable. Look around in the office area and you can still see the horse feeding troughs, rough-hewn beams, and peg construction characteristic of the era. The fact that this was a stable and not a barn may be one reason it wasn’t burned by Union troops during the Civil War. 

 What had been a relatively remote part of Virginia became markedly changed by the construction of Interstate 81 in the late 1960s, opening new opportunities for some while closing them for others. Route 11, the main north-south route through this area prior to I-81, was lined with service stations, restaurants, and motels that often went out of business when the new interstate redirected much of the Route 11 traffic. In contrast, the new highway brought economies of scale for the construction of bigger hotels, truck stops, restaurant chains--and campgrounds!

 In 1965, shortly after the last of the Christian family descendants died, the plantation was bought by the Kooglers. Within a few years, it was developed into a campground serving the many visitors travelling through the Shenandoah Valley. The Kooglers occupied the Walnut House and ran the campground until it was sold in 1985; at which time the Walnut House was subdivided from the Campground and the two properties were separately deeded. In early 1990, the campground was purchased by Steve Albrecht, who owned and operated it for the next 23 years before selling it to the Zipser family in early 2013. 

 When Mr. Albrecht purchased the property, many of the 85 campsites were “primitive” and most of the developed sites had only 15 amp electrical service. RV needs in those days were minimal, requiring little more than enough power for lights, a cooling fan, and a radio for entertainment--a far cry from today’s 45-foot motorhomes that struggle to get by on less than 50 amps to power multiple air conditioners, ice makers, refrigerators, flat screen TVs and computers. Over the years, the owners have maintained a steady stream of upgrades. Some of which were adding more amperage, more sewer sites, and property-wide wi-fi with boosters.

 Walnut Hills has consistently been rated as one of the best campgrounds in Virginia, with 137 camping sites and 13 cabin rental units that include rustic cabins as well as premium cottages and lodges with kitchens and bathrooms. 

 In 2021, the Zipsers sold the campground to Team Outsider, which is on a mission to be “The Most Hospitable TEAM in the World.” Team Outsider will build on the legacy of Walnut Hills, while continuing to upgrade the park and its operations to best serve our guests. Many of our employees live here on site year-round, and we love to welcome you as guests to our home. 

 This place is incredibly special. Please enjoy it and help us keep Walnut Hills beautiful and a place to make memories for years to come!