A century-old barn from Loudoun County will open in November as the third historic structure at The Barns at Wolf Trap, adding roughly 2,500 square feet of event space to the Vienna performing arts venue.
Wolf Trap Foundation announced Thursday that the Virginian Barn, originally built in the early 1900s on River Farm in Loudoun County, has been disassembled, reconditioned and reconstructed on the 117-acre property at 1645 Trap Road.
The barn was donated by Karen and Fred Schaufeld, longtime Wolf Trap supporters who live in Loudoun County. Fred Schaufeld is a venture capital investor who serves on the Wolf Trap Foundation Board of Directors; Karen Schaufeld serves on the foundation's Advisory Council.
The donation came after plans to widen Route 15 in 2025 threatened the barn's future. The Schaufelds knew Wolf Trap had been looking to add another historic structure, according to Alexandria Living Magazine.
"We are so pleased that this remarkable historic structure will live on in a meaningful way," Karen and Fred Schaufeld said in a joint statement reported by Northern Virginia Magazine. "Wolf Trap is the perfect home for the Virginian [Barn] because it shares our appreciation for preservation, community and bringing people together."
Lancaster Timber Framers, a company nationally recognized for restoring historic timber-frame structures, handled the disassembly and reconstruction this spring. GrizForm Architects leads the architectural design, with L.F. Jennings serving as general contractor.
The new barn will host pre-show dining, post-show gatherings, special events and private rentals. It also includes expanded restrooms, upgraded kitchen facilities and additional storage.
The Virginian Barn joins two older structures already on the property: the Scottish Barn, dating to about 1791, and the German Barn, dating to about 1725. Together, the three barns anchor The Barns at Wolf Trap, a 382-seat performance venue that stages more than 80 shows each fall, winter and spring season.
The project was funded through The Campaign for Wolf Trap: Our Next Chapter, which raised $75 million from approximately 2,500 donors, surpassing its original $50 million goal. The campaign, completed in 2023, was led most notably by Wolf Trap Foundation Board Chairman Dan D'Aniello and his wife, Gayle. It earned "Capital Campaign of the Year" honors from the Washington Business Journal.
Arvind Manocha, Wolf Trap Foundation's president and CEO since 2013, said the addition will give patrons more space to gather before and after performances while preserving the property's historic character.
The Virginian Barn is expected to open in November 2026.
