Liberty Ridge

While Williamsburg, VA has a deep connection with history, the area has plenty to offer in the present, including a range of new construction homes by D.R. Horton, America’s builder. Located on the Virginia Peninsula between the York and James Rivers, Williamsburg is part of Virginia’s Historic Triangle, which includes the nearby towns of Jamestown and Yorktown. Williamsburg was once the colonial capital of Virginia, and its role in the American Revolution and the years following remains an important part of the town’s culture and identity. This heritage combined with access to modern conveniences make it a unique place to call home. D.R. Horton offers a range of Williamsburg, VA new construction homes. Many of our communities in Williamsburg and the surrounding area come with amenities to enjoy, and all of our new construction homes offer spacious open floorplans and smart home technology.

Why choose Williamsburg, Virginia

While Williamsburg is best known for Colonial Williamsburg, a historic area within the city that serves as a living history museum and features over 80 original buildings, the city encompasses more than its past. It has been a center for education and tourism since colonial times, and it continues that tradition today. The College of William & Mary, the second-oldest institution of higher learning in the country, is located in town and known for its exceptional education. With researchers at the university and in town, the area has become known for its dedication to preserving American history.

The area offers plenty of contemporary benefits as well. Convenient to Interstate 64 and Route 199, the Williamsburg area appeals to people who want easy access to urban amenities, coastal attractions, and smaller towns. Williamsburg area schools include public and private options, and the region has many museums, parks, and entertainment venues.

Community life in Williamsburg, Virginia

Williamsburg is known for its preservation of the past with its living history museum in Colonial Williamsburg. Residents can easily take part in a variety of events in the historic area or look for unique finds in the area’s shops on Merchants Square. With its cobblestone stone streets and historic buildings, Merchants Square and the historic area often serve as the locations for other community events. For example, The Williamsburg Farmers Market is hosted on the square and features fresh produce and goods from local vendors.

Local interest groups and events are an important part of community life beyond Colonial Williamsburg as well. While many are named in honor of the area’s rich history, the groups and events themselves offer something that builds current connection. The Virginia Arts Festival, an artist-led performing arts organization, is dedicated to bringing great performers and performances to the region, including Williamsburg. Though the organization offers a variety of events and educational opportunities to Norfolk, its hometown, the Virginia Arts Festival sponsors an annual outdoor music event in Williamsburg. Williamsburg Live on The Lawn of the Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg features local food options, craft beers, wine, and of course, world-class entertainers.

In the fall, residents can attend the An Occasion for the Arts festival in historic Merchants Square, an annual, free arts extravaganza. The festival includes artists from throughout the country and a local youth art exhibition, which features over 1500 works created by the area’s students. The festival is more than a large art show; there are interactive and live performances as well. The Chippokes' Harvest Festival, held less than 14 miles from town, is another popular fall festival in the area. It is held at Chippokes State Park, an area that includes one of the oldest continuously farmed properties in the nation, and the event celebrates fall with music and activities for all ages, an antique tractor pull, pumpkin painting, tractor-drawn hay rides, and local food and craft vendors. As the year ends, Colonial Williamsburg launches the holiday season with festive decorations, events, and fireworks reminiscent of 18th century celebrations.

Williamsburg inspires connection among residents with more than events. The town offers residents a variety of organizations that promote community, friendship, and fun. The Williamsburg Choral Guild is an all-volunteer chorus that presents three or more major concerts each season to the community. The guild holds regular auditions and an annual Young Artist Vocal Competition. The winners are invited to sing at the guild’s season opener. There are also other organizations in town dedicated to the arts. The Williamsburg Players is a community theater group that welcomes participants both onstage and behind the scenes. The theater produces about six plays per season that cater to a variety of interests and audiences. For those looking to view art or even make it themselves, there are plenty of options in the area. The Williamsburg Contemporary Art Center showcases art exhibits from local, regional, and national artists and provides workshops and programs. The College of William & Mary also offers concerts, lectures, and live theater to attend.

Locals can gather and enjoy interests beyond art as well. The Williamsburg Botanical Garden is managed and maintained by volunteers. Garden enthusiasts can help with the planting, but those who love beautiful gardens and don’t have a green thumb are welcome to volunteer with a variety of other tasks to support the garden ranging from administration to educational outreach. The two-acre garden is free and open to the public, and the group of volunteers ensure that it is beautiful, educational, and supportive of pollinators and wildlife.

Several local organizations focus on providing activities for area youth. The Greater Williamsburg Distance Running Club helps boys and girls train to run long distances and compete in other track and field events. The group hosts running events in the area, and members receive additional instruction and education about running and health. In the nearby town of York, local youth can participate in the sounds of the Revolution and engage with the area’s history. The Fifes and Drums of York Town teaches music, history, and leadership to kids aged 10 through 18 by helping members learn and appreciate the skill of playing the field and drill music of the Revolutionary era. The group has performed at the Jefferson Memorial, the United States Capitol, the Statue of Liberty, and more, and most performances are free and open to the public.

For residents who are more into adventurous or adrenaline-filled fun in town, you can visit Busch Gardens, an amusement park located right in Williamsburg. Busch Gardens offers lots of roller coasters, rides, shows and attractions, including more unique amusement park attractions like animals who live at the park’s rescue and conservation sites. The park is European-themed, with each section representing a different location, like France or Germany, as well as a separate Oktoberfest section. Somewhere in the park’s faux Germany, a speakeasy is hidden behind a facade. Busch Gardens also operates a water park in Williamsburg–which is also the largest water park in Virginia–called Water Country USA. You can purchase season passes and memberships, some including both parks, so you can enjoy the fun over and over again at a discounted price. The park also hosts their own events throughout the year, like the Busch Gardens’ Food & Wine Festival. This festival takes place on Thursdays through Sundays starting in late April and ending in early June. For kids, the park frequently offers weekend activities like meet-and-greets with characters from their favorite shows, storytime, a flower maze, and more.

Proximity to Richmond enables Williamsburg residents to enjoy even more events. There are several popular festivals in the Richmond metro area, and both The Richmond Folk Festival and Dominion Energy Riverrock Festival are particularly well-publicized and attended. The Richmond Folk Festival attracts about 200,000 people for a three-day weekend celebration of music, crafts, and culture from around the world. For those into action sports and music, the Dominion Energy Riverrock festival provides three days of competition and live bands.

Outdoor fun in Williamsburg, Virginia

The Williamsburg area provides plenty of activities for nature and sporting enthusiasts. The Williamsburg Parks and Recreation Department owns and maintains ten parks for residents to enjoy and offers youth and adult sports leagues, including pickleball, softball, basketball, volleyball, and kickball.

Those looking for a game on the green won’t be disappointed. There are 24 golf courses within a 15-mile radius of town. The Golden Horseshoe Golf Club features three courses designed by Robert Trent Jones and Rees Jones and are consistently ranked among America's Top 100 public courses. The Kingsmill Resort includes three 18-hole golf courses, including the Pete Dye-designed River Course, home to multiple PGA and LPGA tour events. Kingsmill also offers the only Golf Channel Academy that provides golf instruction for all ages either as part of a camp, a group course, or even one on one.

There are also plenty of ways to enjoy natural rather than manicured greenery in the area. Williamsburg is home to several trails and parks that offer an experience focused on nature. The Chickahominy Riverfront Park is a popular place to enjoy all that nature has to offer. The park offers a lighted fishing pier available 24/7, boating, camping at over 80 sites, six glamping sites, and even a swimming pool. The park makes it easy to enjoy exploring the Chickahominy River and Gordon Creek. The 600-acre forested Freedom Park also offers plenty of options for outdoor activities and enjoyment. It features a 2-mile multi-use trail, a one mile ADA-accessible paved trail, and more than 20 miles of trails for mountain biking. The park is also home to history with a 17th century house on-site and three recreated historically accurate cabins. Visitors can learn more about the history of the area and local wildlife at the Freedom Park Interpretive Center. The park has several unique features like these. In addition to interpretive signage, picnic areas, a playground, restrooms, and plenty of wildlife viewing, the park is also home to the Go Ape! Course, a treetop experience combining a high ropes course with zip lines, and the Williamsburg Botanical Garden, a garden home to more than 800 local plant species.

Additionally, fishers can enjoy popular fishing spots like Grices Run, Butlers Gut, Waller Mill Reservoir, College Creek, and Tutters Neck Pond. Anglers can catch a variety of fish, including largemouth bass, blue catfish, red drum, spotted seatrout, and striped bass. Relaxing on the sand is also an option in Williamsburg. While it is not an ocean beach, The Jamestown Beach Event Park features a beautiful sandy shore on the James River. Residents can take advantage of the concession stand, picnic areas, observation deck, kayak rental from Memorial Day through Labor Day, and a water-friendly, floating wheelchair rental for those in need. If an ocean beach is what you want, Virginia Beach is only about a 70-mile drive away and offers 35 miles of coastline, a three-mile boardwalk, and expansive sandy beaches to enjoy.

Of course, there are plenty of attractions along the trails in Williamsburg as well. Williamsburg is part of The Virginia Capital Trail, over fifty miles of multi-use, fully paved trails connecting four jurisdictions from Richmond to Williamsburg. There are more than 45 parks and attractions along the trail as well as restrooms, bike self-repair stations, and other facilities. There are also events ranging from regular skate days for roller skating to marathons to the annual Cap2Cap bike riding fundraiser that supports the Virginia Capital Trail Foundation. Greensprings Interpretive Trail is another multi-use trail for biking, hiking, and jogging. It is part of the Virginia Birding Trail, and more than 200 species of birds have a documented presence in the area. The three and a half mile trail is ADA accessible and loops through a landscape of beaver ponds, wetlands, and forests.

Businesses and economics in Williamsburg, Virginia

Williamsburg's economy is primarily driven by tourism. Colonial Williamsburg’s living history museum, established in the 1930s, serves as one of the area's largest employers and attracts millions of visitors annually. Williamsburg's Merchants Square and other shopping districts feature local businesses, boutiques, and restaurants that cater to both residents and tourists. Other major employers include the College of William & Mary, Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center, Williamsburg-James City County Schools, the Anheuser-Busch InBev Brewery, and the Yorktown Naval Weapons Station. The Williamsburg Economic Development Office provides incentives and programs that support existing businesses and continue to attract new enterprises to the area.

The city's location along I-64 between Richmond and Norfolk makes commuting easy and convenient, and proximity to these larger job markets, as well as that of Newport News, provides Williamsburg residents with additional employment opportunities across multiple industries.

What makes Williamsburg a great place to live

Williamsburg preserves America’s past through the area’s research, living history museum, and dedicated craftsmen throughout the shopping areas. While such attractions have become what the area is known for, the connected community and variety of groups for interests and activities make it a great place to settle in. Whether you want to garden, go for a bike ride, or enjoy a theater performance, there is something for you.

The area’s proximity to William & Mary makes for a local culture that values and supports education, whether on campus or through lectures and events at local museums. Tourism to the area for the rich history further supports that culture and provides economic stability. The area is walkable and friendly, making it easy to enjoy the many historic and cultural attractions.

Williamsburg, VA new construction

D.R. Horton's new homes in Williamsburg, VA are great for people at any stage of life. With access to job opportunities, good schools, and many activities and conveniences, D.R. Horton communities in Williamsburg offer something for everyone. Browse our new homes for sale in Williamsburg, or visit our model homes today.