Community Calls for Action
Residents of Poolesville and surrounding areas gathered on Tuesday at the former location of White’s Ferry along the Potomac River, advocating for its reopening.
This event marked the fifth anniversary since the ferry ceased operations due to the absence of a legal landing site on the Loudoun County, Virginia, side of the river.
Officials from Poolesville, located in Montgomery County, Maryland, who organized the rally emphasized that all parties involved should “set aside old issues and forge an agreement to get the boat crossing the river again!”
The historic ferry service was acquired by Chuck and Stacy Kuhn in 2021 with aspirations to revive it. The landowners on the Loudoun side, Rockland Farm, are seeking a per-vehicle fee to facilitate access to their property, as reported by local sources.
The ferry historically served as a crucial transportation route between Poolesville and Leesburg long before bridges were built in Montgomery County.
Link Hoewing, chair of the Fair Access Committee for Western County, noted that many residents used to frequent Vanish Brewery in Loudoun but now face a lengthy 45-minute drive due to the ferry’s closure.
Tom Kettler from the Poolesville Chamber of Commerce expressed concern over local businesses suffering due to this vital connection being severed for five years.
Bipartisan efforts have been made by Maryland and Virginia state officials to resolve this private business dispute and restore ferry services.
Virginia Delegate David Reid stated that “we as a commonwealth need to be able to solve” this issue. He plans to introduce legislation aimed at forming a working group within the House of Delegates focused on resolving ferry-related matters.
The state of Maryland has proposed a $3 million financial incentive package aimed at restoring ferry operations. Rockland Farm and Potomac Crossing LLC must reach an agreement by July 1, 2026, to access these funds, which include $1.5 million from state appropriations.
