Termite Damage Target Of Work At Historic Dranesville Tavern

HERNDON, VA — One of Fairfax County's oldest buildings is undergoing a $191,000 renovation to repair significant termite damage to its log structure.

Historic Dranesville Tavern, which is located 11919 Leesburg Pike in Herndon, has been around since the 1830s and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on Nov. 9, 1972, according to a post on the Fairfax County Park Authority's website.

Fairfax County owns a number of vacant or underutilized properties that are maintained under the auspices of the Resident Curator Program, according to David Buchta, the manager of the park authority's Heritage Conservation Branch.

Last year, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved an application by ServiceSource, Inc., to serve as the resident curator of the Ellmore Farmhouse at Frying Pan Farm Park in Herndon. ServiceSource, which supports people with disabilities, their families, and caregivers plans to use the farmhouse as a community integration center to provide employment opportunities for up to 15 adults.

Related: Resident Curator Approved For Historic Farmhouse In Herndon

Unfortunately, the extensive termite damage prevents the Dranesville Tavern from being available for any future resident curator opportunities, so the county has stepped in to do the repairs, according to Buchta. Repairs are expected to wrap up by November.

"It's planned to be used in the resident curator program in 2023, but we don't have an exact timeframe," Buchta said. "We want to make sure that everything has been addressed as needed and is ready for that situation."

In the past, Dranesville Tavern has been available as a rental for private events or park authority activities.