Warren County

White-crowned Sparrow, © Baxter Beamer

A safe haven for Paleo-Indian people when much of North America was still covered by glaciers, the land that is now Warren County has had human inhabitants as far back as 11,000 to 12,000 years ago. The Thunderbird site, located near Front Royal, has been studied since the late 1960s, providing evidence of what may be among the oldest permanent settlements in the western hemisphere, and upending previous theories that Paleo-Indian people were mostly nomadic. European settlement in Warren County is far more recent, dating only to around 1730. The town of Front Royal was established in 1788 at the confluence of the North and South Forks of the Shenandoah River, an important port for shipping goods east aboard barges. During these days, Front Royal acquired the nickname “Helltown,” as its status as a frontier outpost meant that various unsavory characters passed through town. Warren County was formally created in 1836 from parts of Frederick and Shenandoah Counties, and Front Royal has been the county seat since its constitution. The newly formed county was named in honor of Dr. Joseph Warren, the Founding Father who dispatched Paul Revere and William Dawes on the famous “midnight ride” to warn of advancing British troops, and who was killed during the Battle of Bunker Hill in Boston, MA.

Following the Civil War, manufacturing began to grow in importance in Warren County, ultimately coming to define the local economy beginning with the construction in 1937 of the American Viscose plant, once the largest producer of rayon in the world and a major contributor to the production of materiel for the war effort during World War II. Renamed Avtex Fibers after being bought out in the 1970s, the plant continued as an economic mainstay until its gradual decline and eventual shuttering in 1989. Unfortunately, the plant was also beset by environmental problems, a lasting legacy which led to its designation as a Superfund site that has only recently been reopened to development. In addition to its manufacturing history, Warren has long been a popular destination for tourists, dating back to the 1930s when Shenandoah National Park was established. Among the more famous visitors was singer Bing Crosby, who in 1950 performed in Front Royal and donated money to the construction of a baseball stadium, which is now named in his honor and home to the Front Royal Cardinals.

The Blue Ridge and the Shenandoah River shape most of the geography and habitat in the county.  The ridge offers excellent passerine migration in the spring and fall, and is also home to some breeders that can’t be found elsewhere in the county. For ridge birding, a good place to start is the trails around the Dickey Ridge Visitor Center, as some specialty breeders including Cerulean, Hooded, and Worm-eating Warblers breed in the area, and most migrant warblers have also been seen here. Shenandoah River State Park is another popular spot to look for passerines at all times of year. Locally scarce Yellow-throated and Prothonotary Warblers can often be found near the picnic area during the spring and summer, and the extensive network of trails can take you through a variety of woodland and field habitats. The trails near the modern campground are often particularly good for sparrows in migration and winter, and Red-headed Woodpecker can be found in this area year round. The open areas in the valley are home to field birds in various seasons such as Bobolink or Loggerhead Shrike. The fields around Stone Bridge typically harbor Short-eared Owls in winter, and are a great spot to watch the spectacular shows these graceful birds put on. As in many of the counties in this region, waterfowl and shorebirds can sometimes be very difficult  to find in Warren. In cold winters, however, the Shenandoah River can be quite productive for waterfowl. There are also a few ponds in the northern part of the county which, depending on water levels, occasionally attract migrant shorebirds.

Warren can boast of notable records including Wood Stork, Anhinga, White Ibis, and Lark Sparrow.

—James Fox

Hotspots

Amenities

Besides Shenandoah National Park, Warren County has a variety of other recreational opportunities. Front Royal is known as the Canoe Capital of Virginia, and its location at the confluence of the North and South Forks of the Shenandoah is ideal for many canoeing and kayaking opportunities. If you are looking to rent a canoe or kayak, both Front Royal Canoe and Skyline Canoe are good options.

Front Royal offers a wide variety of dining  and lodging options. If you're looking for a quick bite to eat Spelunker's Burgers and Custard on South Street just east of Royal Avenue is a great choice. If you have more time to eat, PaveMint Taphouse and Grill at the corner of Main Street and Commerce Avenue serves excellent and often locally sourced food and a wide variety of beer. Yama Fuji is a good choice if you are looking for sushi or other Japanese food. The Apple House, located just east of Front Royal off VA 55 in Linden, is another popular restaurant, well known for excellent barbecue and doughnuts. Those in search of a no-fills, 1960s-style diner with delicious, filling food need look no further than the Knotty Pine Restaurant & Lounge. Warren County currently has two breweries.  The Back Room Farm Brewery is located on Reliance Road west of US 522 and north of Front Royal, while Front Royal Brewing Co., which opened in 2018, is in a remodeled early-20th century garage.  

CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNTS

About a third of the Northern Shenandoah CBC circle falls within Warren County, parts of Frederick, Clarke, and a bit of the City of Winchester are also included. This count has been run annually since 1975 and is sponsored by Lord Fairfax Community College and the Northern Shenandoah Audubon Society. The count typically falls on the first Saturday of the count period and often posts one of the highest species totals for the Mountains and Valleys region of the state. If you are interested in participating please contact the compiler, Charles Hagan, naturetrekr@gmail.com.

Sources

Return To County Map