A 100-year-old barn at Cox Farms in Centreville was destroyed by a fire early Sunday morning. The farm is closed for the season, and is set to reopen at the end of April.
The Northern Virginia attraction has been family-owned and -operated since 1972. It’s a popular fall venue known for its corn maze, tractors rides, petting zoo, “Fields of Fear,” slides other family-friendly activities.
Cox Farms posted Sunday morning on social media that: “Our beloved barn burned down this morning. The farm caretaker Sam was already up and called it in quickly, and we are thankful for the strong and skilled response of both Loudoun and Fairfax Fire departments. Because of their efforts, the blaze was contained and the damage was limited to the barn itself.”
The post explained that, “Long before it was home to a giant beanstalk, a half-pipe water slide, and the world’s cutest piglets, it was a dairy barn. Built approximately 100 years ago, it was already old when we moved to the farm in 1979, but it served us well, and it has been a sturdy (and beautiful) backdrop for decades. Our landscape won’t be the same without it.”
Sadly, about a dozen of the farm’s chickens died in the fire. A tractor, slide, and artwork were also destroyed.
“Fortunately, everyone’s favorite mama pig Leona only lives at the barn during the fall season, so she was not impacted,” the post stated. Cox Farms also expressed gratitude that other structures on the property were not affected: “We are so glad that the damage was contained, and our homes and our people are all safe.”
Feature image courtesy Cox Farms
