About Us

The Reynolds Homestead is an outreach facility of Virginia Tech located in Critz, Virginia. The Homestead features the fully-restored Rock Spring Plantation House, which is the birthplace and boyhood home of tobacco manufacturer R.J. Reynolds.

Built in 1843, the two-story brick home has been restored to its nineteenth century state and includes many of the original family furnishings. The grounds include the original brick kitchen, a brick milk house, a log icehouse and a log granary. The family cemetery is located near the house and across a field is the slave cemetery. The house is a registered state and national landmark, and it is open for tours Tuesday through Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. During the months of April through October, tours are also available on weekends from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. The fee is $2 for adults and $1 for children. Group tours are welcome.

The Homestead also has a Continuing Education Center, which hosts a wide variety of programs and classes for all ages and interests. Music, art classes, lectures, discussions, children's activities, fitness programs and movies are just some of the many events. All are open to the public, and many are free. For a current Calendar of Events, click here. Both the historic home and the Continuing Education Center are operated by the department of Outreach and International Affairs.

Surrounding the Rock Spring Plantation and Continuing Ed Center is a 780-acre Forest Resources Research Center, operated by the College of Natural Resources. The center was created to study forest biology, genetics, physiology and soils, and it is equipped with a laboratory, greenhouse, slat house, nursery bed, field space and staff for program support.

For More Information

For more information about the Homestead or any of its programs, please call (276) 694-7181 ext. 21 weekdays between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. You may also contact us via email through this website.