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All the United States Virginia Herndon Murphy Dairy Farm
AO Edited

Murphy Dairy Farm

A decaying garage hidden amid the dense forest is all that remains of a once-prosperous dairy farm.

Herndon, Virginia

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Murphy Dairy Farm   exploringwithesch / Atlas Obscura User
Murphy Dairy Farm   exploringwithesch / Atlas Obscura User
Murphy Dairy Farm   exploringwithesch / Atlas Obscura User
Murphy Dairy Farm   exploringwithesch / Atlas Obscura User
Murphy Dairy Farm   exploringwithesch / Atlas Obscura User
  lightworx242 / Atlas Obscura User
Murphy Dairy Farm   blimpcaptain / Atlas Obscura User
Murphy Dairy Farm   blimpcaptain / Atlas Obscura User
Murphy Dairy Farm   blimpcaptain / Atlas Obscura User
Murphy Dairy Farm   blimpcaptain / Atlas Obscura User
Murphy Dairy Farm   blimpcaptain / Atlas Obscura User
Murphy Dairy Farm   exploringwithesch / Atlas Obscura User
Murphy Dairy Farm   exploringwithesch / Atlas Obscura User
Murphy Dairy Farm   exploringwithesch / Atlas Obscura User
Murphy Dairy Farm   exploringwithesch / Atlas Obscura User
Murphy Dairy Farm   exploringwithesch / Atlas Obscura User
Murphy Dairy Farm   exploringwithesch / Atlas Obscura User
Murphy Dairy Farm   exploringwithesch / Atlas Obscura User
Murphy Dairy Farm   exploringwithesch / Atlas Obscura User
Cement debris.   exploringwithesch / Atlas Obscura User
Murphy Dairy Farm   exploringwithesch / Atlas Obscura User
Murphy Dairy Farm   exploringwithesch / Atlas Obscura User
Murphy Dairy Farm   exploringwithesch / Atlas Obscura User
Murphy Dairy Farm   exploringwithesch / Atlas Obscura User
Decaying chair near the garage.   exploringwithesch / Atlas Obscura User
Graffiti on the inside of the garage.   exploringwithesch / Atlas Obscura User
Murphy Dairy Farm   exploringwithesch / Atlas Obscura User
Awning on the north side of the garage.   exploringwithesch / Atlas Obscura User
Murphy Dairy Farm   exploringwithesch / Atlas Obscura User
Murphy Dairy Farm   exploringwithesch / Atlas Obscura User
Murphy Dairy Farm   exploringwithesch / Atlas Obscura User
Murphy Dairy Farm   exploringwithesch / Atlas Obscura User
Murphy Dairy Farm   exploringwithesch / Atlas Obscura User
Murphy Dairy Farm   exploringwithesch / Atlas Obscura User
Murphy Dairy Farm   exploringwithesch / Atlas Obscura User
Murphy Dairy Farm   exploringwithesch / Atlas Obscura User
Murphy Dairy Farm   exploringwithesch / Atlas Obscura User
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Tucked away in a heavily wooded area located just off Frying Pan Road in Herndon, Virginia, sits the remains of the Murphy Dairy Farm.

The farm was constructed during the early 1850s according to the Fairfax County Inventory of Historic Sites, although little information is available regarding the history of the dairy farm. Aerial photographs of the site from 1937 all the way through the late 70s/early 80s show that the farm included a house, garage, barn, a wood frame smokehouse, and a few other smaller structures. These photographs also show that the farm seemed well maintained and was likely prospering during its years of operation.

Around the time the Murphy Dairy Farm was constructed, the Washington & Old Dominion Railroad was established and ran through the town of Herndon. The railroad would play a vital role in the success of the region's dairy farms, as farmers were able to ship their milk to Washington D.C. to be processed and distributed.

By 1990, the wood frame smokehouse had been moved a short distance over to Frying Pan Farm Park, while the barn and many of the other smaller structures were demolished. The remaining abandoned house would also be destroyed sometime later, leaving only the decaying garage that still stands today.

Related Tags

Farms Dairy History & Culture Abandoned

Know Before You Go

The remaining garage sits in the densely forested area on the north-west side at the intersection of Frying Pan Road and Sunrise Valley Drive. Trespassing and parking are illegal and there are no sidewalks along these busy roads. The structure is best viewed from the outside and at a safe distance.  It cannot be viewed from the road.

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Added By

exploringwithesch

Edited By

AF, lightworx242, blimpcaptain

  • AF
  • lightworx242
  • blimpcaptain

Published

May 12, 2020

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Sources
  • https://www.dhr.virginia.gov/VLR_to_transfer/PDFNoms/029-5179_Floris_HD_2009_NR_FINAL.pdf
  • https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/planning-development/sites/planning-development/files/assets/documents/historic/inventory-master-list.pdf
  • https://www.herndon-va.gov/about-us/history
  • https://www.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=0612f9deb6bb4f0a9fa5cdce0cc75144
Murphy Dairy Farm
13900 Frying Pan Rd
Herndon, Virginia, 20171
United States
38.946046, -77.423423
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