Willow Lake

D.R. Horton offers a range of new construction homes in Raphine, Virginia, for sale. Located in Rockbridge County in the Shenandoah Valley, Raphine is a laid-back unincorporated area defined by its stunning views, local shops and farms, outdoor opportunities, and overall peace. It’s a short drive from Lexington, Staunton, and Buena Vista, providing convenient access to larger towns while maintaining a rural setting. Many of our communities in and around Raphine come with amenities to enjoy, and all of our new construction homes offer spacious open floorplans and smart home technology.

Why choose Raphine, Virginia

Located in the scenic Shenandoah Valley between the Blue Ridge and Allegheny Mountains, Raphine, Virginia offers a tranquil blend of modern living with natural beauty. Raphine is home to rolling hills, stunning mountain and forest views, and several charming vineyards, breweries, and active farms. Raphine provides a laid-back setting that distinguishes it from the neighboring towns and attracts those who prefer a peaceful neighborhood, while still offering easy access to diverse entertainment and employment opportunities. Raphine’s proximity to Route 11 and Interstate 81 makes commuting to or visiting nearby towns simple; it is conveniently located less than 25 minutes from Lexington’s charming shops, restaurants, and well-established universities and Staunton’s museums, nature, and culture.

Community life in Raphine, Virginia

Raphine’s calm atmosphere still comes with plenty of activities and ways to engage with the community. Raphine, along with other Rockbridge County communities, offers events, plays, and musical performances, whether in town or a quick drive away. In nearby Lexington, VA, Lime Kiln Theater is on the site of an abandoned, turn-of-the-century limestone quarry and kiln. Performances there range from Shakespeare to bluegrass bands in its bowl-like space that holds 675 guests on wooden benches and grassy spaces meant for lawn chairs and blankets. In September, the theater transforms into the home of a popular community event: The Rockbridge Beer and Wine Festival. In addition to sampling the local brews, ciders, and wines, residents can enjoy live music on two stages and a variety of local food options.

The Beer and Wine Festival is not the only annual gathering in the county. Far from it. Several annual fairs and festivals in the area highlight and engage the community. The Rockbridge Regional Fair, held at the end of each summer, has a focus on agriculture and livestock exhibits, and you’ll find plenty of family-friendly entertainment, like fair games and rides, petting zoos, and of course–fair food. The Rockbridge Community Festival, held every summer since 1976 in downtown Lexington, VA, features free admission, live music, activities for all ages, and numerous local vendors.

If dancing is more your style, The Rockbridge Mountain Music & Dance Festival, which takes place about 30 miles away in Buena Vista, VA, focuses on mountain music and dancing all weekend long. It always takes place the weekend after Labor Day, and it’s a preserved wish of festival creator, Mike Seeger, that it remains an uncompetitive, fun celebration of old-time music and dance.

It’s easy to welcome the season of fall to the area by attending the Annual Apple Butter Butter Festival at Wade’s Mill, Virginia’s oldest, continuously operating grist mill. In addition to the season’s scents of apples and fall spices from the simmering apple butter, made over an open fire, attendees can check out demonstrations and unique offerings on display by local craftsmen. The free event also features local food, drinks, and entertainment. Of course, if you’d rather avoid the crowds, Wade’s Mill is conveniently located in the town of Raphine and visitors are welcome to stop by during the mill’s seasonal open hours to explore the mill and its history. Parking and admission are free, making it easy to enjoy a little bit of the past and maybe even take home a bag of stone-ground grains.

Raphine and surrounding areas have a long farming and agriculture background, which can be seen in the presence of hundreds of farms across Rockbridge County today. Raphine, VA is home to several of those farms and ranches, producing everything from meat and produce to flowers to Christmas trees. Some of these farms provide direct services to the public, like Seasons’ Yield Farm, which offers “Bread Days” twice a month where they sell sourdough breads, pastries, and coffees. These “Bread Days” at Seasons’ Yield Farm also coincide with events at the farm throughout the year, whether it be live music from local musicians, a unique meat barbecue like a pig roast, or a farmer’s market with food and local arts, meat, eggs, or produce vendors. Other farms in Raphine, like Verdant Acres Farm, sell organic vegetables, and grass-fed or pasture-raised meat year-round. Verdant Acres Farm also offers you-pick produce and flowers from May through October.

For those more interested in wine or beer than fresh produce, baked goods, or meat, the family-owned Rockbridge Vineyard amp; Brewery is also located in Raphine, VA. They host numerous annual festivals, like their Summer Breeze Festival and Harvest Festival, which feature live music, wine, beer, slushies, food, and vendors. You can also visit a wide range of events they put on throughout the year, from music to painting nights.

For more ways to engage and connect in Rockbridge County, residents can participate in programs, services, and indoor or outdoor activities put on by Rockbridge County Parks and Recreation or the Rockbridge Area YMCA. These also include programs for older adults. Those interested in preserving and promoting the local history can join or engage with the Rockbridge Historical Society, which operates public programs and maintains an archive.

Outdoor fun in Raphine, Virginia

Residents of Raphine enjoy beautiful scenery and plenty of outdoor activity in their own backyard. St. Mary’s Wilderness, spanning nearly 10,000 acres and a part of the George Washington and Jefferson National Forest, is a permanently protected wilderness area featuring woods, rocks, rolling hills, mountain views, and waterfalls. The area offers an extensive network of one-way trails, ranging from one mile to 14 miles out and back, and the trails can be combined with others to form a loop. These trails not only follow beautiful vistas but also lead to them, like the 15-foot St. Mary’s Fall plunging into a deep pool or long-distance views of the mountains. In addition to hiking at St. Mary’s, you can camp in designated areas or go for a swim in the pool below the falls. If you’re feeling especially adventurous, trek up Big Spy Mountain for gorgeous views via lesser-used trails. An overlook at The Big Spy Mountain is accessible by car, which provides equally beautiful views for those just looking to go for a quick walk from the road rather than a challenging hike.

The George Washington and Jefferson National Forest, which includes St. Mary’s Wilderness, provides numerous other hiking trails for all levels, including Crabtree Falls Trail that takes hikers up to a series of cascading waterfalls. Other spots include House Mountain Trail, which climbs to the top of two peaks, offering views of the Shenandoah Valley on a 10.2-mile out-and-back trail near Lexington, Virginia. The Spy Rock Trail climbs to an open rock with 360-degree views of the surrounding mountains. The Devil's Marbleyard Trail, a section of the James River Face Wilderness, is a popular but challenging hike over a boulder field. In addition to hiking, some of these trails are also bikeable. For challenging routes with high elevation gains, many cyclists choose the nearby Blue Ridge Mountains, while others prefer calmer rides along the quiet countryside roads around Raphine’s rolling countryside.

You’ll also find plenty to do and see about 20 miles from Raphine at the Goshen Wildlife Management Area, an over 16,000-acre area of forest, rugged mountains, and rivers. There, you can hike, fish for trout, camp, hunt, observe birds, go horseback riding, and more. Horseback riding and fishing are both just as plentiful as hiking in Raphine and the surrounding area, with many more options than just the Goshen Wildlife Management Area.

In fact, Natural Bridge State Park, 30 miles from town, offers trails and an unforgettable view. The park is known for the 200 foot limestone bridge for which it’s named, but the park is also home to mountain views, rolling meadows, and of course, hiking trails of varying lengths and difficulty.

Plenty of scenic trails in the area allow horses, and you can also find several horseback riding facilities in the area. The Virginia Horse Center is a popular choice in the area, located approximately 15 miles south in Lexington. This center is a 600-acre facility that hosts equestrian events and provides riding lessons. In Raphine, Morning Star Stables, a former Dutch dairy farm, offers guided trail rides through fields, wooded areas, and streams.

Many streams, rivers, and lakes in the area allow fishing, providing lots of options for anglers. Popular spots nearby include St. Mary’s River, the South River, and Maury River. The Maury River is contained entirely in Rockbridge County, where Raphine is located. The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources stocks this river with brown and rainbow trout, and you might have luck catching smallmouth bass, rock bass, and bluegills there as well.

Golfers from Raphine can enjoy a diverse selection of courses in neighboring communities. The nearby Lexington Golf and Country Club in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains is an 18-hole course designed for all skill levels and is the second oldest golfing club in Virginia. This club has several options for membership but is also open to guests. In addition to golfing and golf lessons, the club offers tennis courts, a junior Olympic swimming pool, and a restaurant and banquet hall. About 20 miles away in Staunton, another option is The Club at Ironwood. This is a family-oriented golf, social and recreational club with an 18-hole championship golf course, designed by William F. Gordon. For a unique golfing experience, The Devils Knob Golf Course is about a 35-mile drive, and at 3,850 feet it is the highest course in the State of Virginia, offering superb views.

Businesses and economics in Raphine, Virginia

While Raphine’s local business and employment is primarily that–local businesses, its location near Route 11 and Interstate 81 allows residents to easily commute to several nearby cities to find employment that best suits them. Washington and Lee University and Virginia Military Institute, located in Lexington, are major local employers. The surrounding area is also home to large employers in hospitality, manufacturing and distribution, and healthcare, as well as many restaurants, whether large chains or locally-owned. Small businesses in the area provide additional job opportunities and are widely supported by the community and local government.

What makes Raphine a great place to live

Raphine’s rural setting and convenient access to nature make it an appealing place for those who enjoy a slower pace of life. Its laid-back atmosphere helps working people maintain a satisfying work-life balance, and families appreciate the local schools, access to fresh meat and produce from local farms, and ample nearby outdoor recreation. Retirees like the peace and quiet and sense of community Raphine provides, as well as the beauty of the area.

New construction homes in Raphine

D.R. Horton's new homes for sale in Raphine, VA, provide a relaxing lifestyle for people at any stage of life. With access to a variety of job opportunities, well-cared-for natural beauty, good nearby schools, and many activities and conveniences, D.R. Horton communities in Raphine offer something for everyone. Browse our listings of new homes in Raphine, or visit our model homes today.