White’s Ferry, a historic Potomac River crossing, has been closed since December 2020 due to a dispute with Virginia’s Rockland Farm over landing rights. While efforts to resolve the issue have included offers to purchase the landing site and a proposal to donate the ferry operation to Montgomery County, no agreement has been reached to reopen the service and there have been little to no updates since April of this year.
White’s Ferry, established in 1786, was transporting an average of 600 to 800 vehicles daily before its closure. Named after Confederate Civil War General Jubal A. Early, the ferry linked Whites Ferry Road in Montgomery County, Maryland, to its counterpart in Loudoun County, Virginia.
White’s Ferry released its original statement on the closure on December 28, 2020:
“White’s Ferry regrets to inform the public that it will cease its Potomac River ferry operation between White’s Ferry Road in Montgomery County, Maryland, and White’s Ferry Road in Loudoun County, Virginia effective immediately. The Circuit Court of Loudoun County, Virginia has ruled, in the case of Rockland Farm, LLC, et al. v. White’s Ferry, Inc., that no public landing exists on the Virginia shoreline at White’s Ferry Road and the ferry is prohibited from landing at that location in Virginia. As of the date of this press release, Loudoun County, Virginia has declined to establish a public landing at that location.”
In February 2021, Chuck and Stacy Kuhn, owners of JK Moving Services, purchased White’s Ferry with hopes of restoring operations. Their plan included either purchasing the Virginia landing site or reaching an agreement with Rockland Farm, which had long maintained its request for a $0.50 per-vehicle fee.
In 2023, the Montgomery County Transportation and Environment (TE) Committee held a public hearing to discuss the future of White’s Ferry, expressing optimism about an agreement between the Kuhns and Rockland Farm. On October 13, 2023, the Kuhns announced they had increased their offer to purchase the Virginia landing site to $1.25 million, an increase from their January offer of $1.1 million.
The Kuhns also proposed alternative solutions, including:
Selling the ferry directly to Rockland Farm or to Montgomery County or the State of Maryland.
Donating the ferry, the ferry business, and the Maryland landing to Montgomery County if Rockland Farm would donate the Virginia landing.
In response, Rockland Farm owner Libby Devlin stated, “We continue to believe that a volume-based fee based on the amount and size of vehicles using our land is the fairest way to compensate us for the use of our land. Fifty cents per car is very reasonable. The operator can increase the fee of the ferry and pay Rockland Farm accordingly. Most people are willing to pay an additional incremental amount in order to re-open the ferry.”
In April 2024, the Kuhns formally offered to donate the White’s Ferry operation to Montgomery County, describing this move as “part of their commitment to getting the ferry operational to preserve history, save jobs, and reduce traffic.”
Libby Devlin responded to the donation announcement by stating, “This is great news! I look forward to working with Montgomery and Loudoun Counties to reopen a ferry as quickly as possible.”
Jim Brown, President of the Commissioners of the Town of Poolesville, expressed cautious optimism, saying:
“Please don’t believe anything you see or hear until the boat is actually going across the river again. The Town of Poolesville remains hopeful that all interested parties (the Kuhns, Rockland Farm owners, and Montgomery County) will reach some sort of agreement that will allow the ferry to start operating again. The ferry service is a critical (and historical) transportation link between our region and Virginia (and beyond) as well as the long-term economic viability of Poolesville and the Ag Reserve.”
The Kuhn family also released a statement:
“We are happy to propose a resolution to Montgomery County. Our goal was always to get the ferry reopened. It’s a special crossing that serves as a local economic engine and piece of history. Too many businesses and residents have had their livelihoods impacted by its closure. Despite many good faith efforts to work with the Virginia landowners to make ferry access available, donating the operation became the only solution that made sense to ensure the ferry has a chance to become a functioning part of our lives and local economy.”
Since purchasing White’s Ferry in 2021, the Kuhns have worked with multiple stakeholders, including Montgomery and Loudoun Counties, the State of Maryland, and previous owner Herb Brown. Despite offers to purchase access rights to the Virginia landing for $1.25 million or sell the ferry to Rockland Farm, no agreement was reached. The donation proposal is contingent on Montgomery and Loudoun Counties collaborating to gain access to the Virginia shoreline and reopen the ferry.
The economic impact of resuming operations is significant. A Montgomery County Department of Transportation study estimates over $9 million in annual savings from travel time, costs, safety, emissions, and trips not taken, with travel time savings equating to $1.7 million annually.
Chuck Kuhn added, “Our donation will be the best way forward. This is not what we had originally envisioned, but we recognize the importance of White’s Ferry to our region. With this donation, we believe that Montgomery County will be able to work with Virginia to get the ferry moving again.”
The Kuhns’ commitment to preserving history aligns with their broader conservation efforts. Through JK Land Holdings, they have placed over 22,000 acres into conservation easements, ensuring the protection of vulnerable vistas and habitats for future generations.”