1. Who owns Great Meadow?

Great Meadow is owned and operated by the Great Meadow Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization established in 1982 with the mission of preserving the property in perpetual open space for community activities. The Foundation is managed by a Board of Trustees and staff who work together with the community to further this mission.

2. How did Great Meadow come into existence?

When the Virginia Gold Cup lost its lease at the Broadview Race Course in Warrenton, news executive and philanthropist Arthur W. (Nick) Arundel led a task force to find a new location. In 1982, he found and rescued from development into 500 houses, an abandoned 700 acre farm near The Plains. He named it Great Meadow and donated the land to be used for the Gold Cup and other field sports. Opened to the public in 1983, the first Gold Cup race ran here in May, 1985. In 2009 we will be celebrating our 25th Anniversary of operation. Check back to our website for a listing of our special events lasting all year long.

3. How big is Great Meadow and what is it used for?

Preserved in perpetuity as open space, Great Meadow consists of 200 acres used for steeple chasing, Twilight Polo, and many other community activities with the most detail oriented attention to keeping our grounds eco-friendly. The grounds contain four ponds, a small open air stadium used for Twilight Polo, The Shelia C. Johnson Grass Polo Field, and space for public and private events and activities. For more information on rentals see our Event Space page.

4. Is Great Meadow owned and operated as a private business or club?

No. Great Meadow is owned and operated by the charitable 501(c)3 non-profit Great Meadow Foundation and open to the public for community activities. We also host many private events during the year, from rocketry launches to respite programs to wedding receptions on our grounds.

5. Are Great Meadow and the Virginia Gold Cup the same organization?

No. The Virginia Gold Cup Association is an independent not-for-profit organization with a mission to further the sport of steeplechase racing. The separate Great Meadow Foundation leases land to the Gold Cup Association. You can find out information on the May and October races by going to their website.

6. Does Great Meadow receive any local, state or federal government funds?

Great Meadow is funded 100% through the generous support of private contributors and from people and businesses. We also lease our space for great events such as The Virginia Gold Cup, The Courage Cup Polo Charity Match, NOVAAR Rocketry and the like. A portion or all monies going to Great Meadow are tax deductible. To find out more about our donor benefits, click here.

7. How many people visit Great Meadow each year?

About 250,000 people a year come to Great Meadow for our events or simply to enjoy its scenic beauty and tranquility. With the great successes of such community events like our 4th of July celebration and Twilight Polo, our numbers have been on a steady increase. We frequently have residents of Fauquier County who walk and run on the property. See our Events page for more information on upcoming activities, or visit our for event pictures!

8. What does Great Meadow do for the Fauquier County community?

Great Meadow is an ecotourism and open space destination for visitors who want to enjoy the beauty of the Piedmont Region combined with the best selection of community activities. Great Meadow works with local groups such as the Boy Scouts, The Moose, The Casanova-Warrenton Pony Club, The Warrenton Rugby Club, The Plains Volunteer Fire and Rescue to provide them with an opportunity to raise funds for their own charitable causes by providing essential support services at Great Meadow events. To see our listing of community groups, go to our Community page.

9. How far are you from the city?

We are a ½ hour from the Beltway, 1 ½ hours from Baltimore, and 2 hours from Richmond. Please see our Directions page for more a link to get accurate directions from your point of reference.

10. How can we be involved with Great Meadow?

We are always looking for good volunteers! Through the dedicated efforts of our volunteer program, individuals and families are able to donate their time to assist our small staff in executing large events. They answer phones, run information kiosks, help with the upkeep of our gardens and provide invaluable support to Great Meadow! For more information, see our Volunteer page.

You can also sign up for our e-newsletter for occasional emails with information on our year-round activities.