Originally known as the Poplar Hill Plantation, the current beautifully abandoned Dunnington Mansion was actually a very modest four room home before it was acquired by Captain John Knight, who eventually passed it down to his daughter India and her tobacco tycoon husband, Walter Grey Dunnington. A subsequent massive renovation by the Dunningtons expanded the square footage of the house to 8500, including 14 rooms. Currently abandoned for over two decades, the mansion now sits alone by herself, in a beautiful state of decay and in search of a new owner. Join us on December 10th for a visual presentation of the history of this iconic mansion, accompanied by a chance to hear first hand stories from the great-grandchildren of Walter and India, who will be present and eagerly willingly to reminisce about life in the mansion during their youth. And yes, your experience will also include a vist to the property for a narrated tour of the mansion.
We will begin the presentation and the Dunnington family Q & A at the Greenwood Library on the campus of Longwood University beginning at 11AM. You will then have a ninety minute break to grab lunch at your leisure in Farmville before re-convening at the mansion for the narrated tour.
THIS IS A NON-REFUNDABLE TICKET WITH NO EXCEPTIONS. PROCEEDS DIRECTLY BENEFIT THE DUNNINGTON MANSION FOUNDATION .
COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What type of experience should I expect during this event with the purchase of a General Admission ticket? A complete itinerary will be sent to the e-mail address used to register about a week before the event begins. The day will begin at the Greenwood Library at Longwood University with a historical presentation of the mansion and a Q&A forum with the great-grandchildren of Walter and India Dunnington. Following a ninety minute break for lunch, we will re-convene a few short miles away for the narrated tour of the actual mansion.
What type of experience should I expect during this event with the purchase of a VIP ticket? Your experience will be identical to that of the aforementioned General Admission experience. Additionally, you will received a complimentary 672 piece "Ashes to Ashes, Dust to Dust" jigsaw puzzle from John Plashal as well as a 5x7 luster print of the same image of the mansion in the snow. A 3D rendition of the puzzle box is shown below.
Will I get to see the inside of the mansion? For the most part. Almost all of the rooms are structurally sound and accessible with a few exceptions. Those rooms will be cordoned off and access to them will be strictly prohibited for safety reasons.
Can I take pictures during the tour? Yes you may. We have earmarked some time during the interior tour for you to take pictures of the rooms that are accessible. The lighting on the ground floor is low due to boarded up windows on the first floor so you may want to bring a tripod. In the event of a sunny day, the potential for shadows on the exterior of the house is high, as an FYI. And the first floor windows have recently been freshly boarded up. An accurate depiction of the current facade of the mansion is shown below. The mansion tour will occur later in the afternoon so the light may be slightly softer.
What should I bring to the event? Please check the weather forecast for Farmville, Va. before your departure and dress accordingly. Should it rain, please bring an umbrella. Proper footwear is important as well. The landscape of the perimeter of the mansion is largely unkept. DO NOT WEAR NICE SHOES.
Will you be providing lunch or are we on our own? There are plenty of local and tasty eateries in Farmville. Once the first part of the experience concludes at the library, you will be on your own to grab lunch before re-convening at the nearby mansion a short time later for the physical tour.
How far away is the Dunnington Mansion from the Greenwood Library? 4.5 miles (approximately a 10 minute drive).
Will you conduct the event in bad weather? We will still conduct the event in any weather that potentially jeopardizes your comfort. We will NOT conduct the event in any weather that potentially jeopardizes your safety. Should substantial snow or ice be forecasted, the event will be cancelled no later than December 8th and full refunds will be issued.
I am unable to join you on the 10th. Will you conduct this event again in the future? The short answer to that question is "we do not know at this point." There are currently alot of moving parts that preclude us from publishing future events at the Dunnington Mansion beyond 12/10, although we are optimistic. If they do occur in the future, they more than likely will only infrequently include the Q&A Forum with the Dunnington descendants, as their availability is scarce.
I see that proceeds will be donated to the Dunnington Mansion Foundation. Can you tell me more about that organization? Sure. Here is the link : The Dunnington Mansion Foundation
Will I have access to restrooms during this event? Yes. There are restrooms in the nearby golf pro shop. We will have a volunteer with a golf cart that will be able to transport you if you do not feel like walking.
What is your refund policy? This is a NON-REFUNDABLE TICKET with no exceptions. If you are unable to make the event due to ANY CIRCUMSTANCE, the price you paid for your ticket will be donated to the Dunnington Mansion Foundation.
Do you offer discounts for youths, military or senior citizens? Unfortunately not for this event.
Are pets allowed? Pets are not allowed at this event.
Is the property handicapped accessible? Unfortunatley the property is not conducive to guests with physical disabilites.
Do you conduct other events/tours in Virginia? Yes we do. Please visit www.johnplashalphoto.com for a comprehensive list of events. In addition to the Presidents Heads events, we will also offer 2023 tours of the Belmead on the James and Swannanoa that have not yet been scheduled as of late November 2022.
I am traveling from afar and in search of lodging recommendations. Any suggestions? Farmville is just a few minutes away and has many lodging accommodations that fit ALL budgets. If you rent a place in town, make sure they have a policy that allows you to cancel without penalty at least 48 hours in advance, in case the event is canceled due to treacherous conditions.
Who do I contact if I have questions? Please contact John Plashal at "john@johnplashalphoto.com" with any questions.