Montgomery County officials reach deal to acquire White’s Ferry landing
Montgomery County officials reach deal to acquire White’s Ferry landing
Montgomery County officials have confirmed a deal has been reached with the owners of White's Ferry to acquire the ferry operations and the dock area in Poolesville.
POOLESVILLE, MD. - Montgomery County officials have confirmed a deal has been reached with the owners of White's Ferry to acquire the ferry operations and the dock area in Poolesville.
The agreement with ferry owners Chuck and Stacy Kuhn brings local government directly into the fold as leaders work to restore a vital Potomac River crossing that has been dormant for years.
READ MORE: Future of White's Ferry up for discussion following legal battle
A formal announcement detailing the agreement is expected Friday morning at 10 a.m., featuring Montgomery County leaders and ferry owner Chuck Kuhn.
Closed since 2020
Timeline:
The closure traces back to December 2020, when operations abruptly shut down after a court ruled the ferry was trespassing on private Virginia shoreline owned by Rockland Farm, according to previous FOX 5 D.C. reporting. Prior to its closing, the ferry operated and connected Maryland and Virginia for nearly 250 years, carrying cars, commuters, farmers, tourists and local businesses across the river.
In February 2021, Chuck and Stacy Kuhn purchased White’s Ferry, the store and the Maryland shoreline to protect the historical crossing and attempt to reach a settlement.
READ MORE: White's Ferry owners offer to donate historic ferry to Montgomery County
FOX 5 followed the private negotiations as they stalled over the next few years, with multi-million dollar buyout offers rejected and disputes persisting over per-vehicle landing fees.
According to earlier reporting, the Kuhns offered in April 2024 to transfer or donate the ferry operations to Montgomery County, clearing the path for local government officials to take over direct ownership and work to reopen the crossing.
(Photo by Michael S. Williamson/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
However, the donation proposal did not immediately result in the ferry reopening because it was contingent on Montgomery County working directly with Loudoun County to gain legal access to the Virginia shoreline, per FOX 5 D.C. Because the property dispute with Rockland Farm on the Virginia side remained unresolved, simply accepting the Maryland assets was not enough to get the boat back in the water.
Additionally, the transfer required time for Montgomery County to negotiate terms, assess operational logistics and establish a formal legal and financial framework to manage the ferry and pursue an agreement across state lines.
What they're saying:
Jim Brown, president of the Poolesville Town Commissioners and a negotiator in the talks, told FOX 5 that Montgomery County taking over the ferry and the Maryland landing allows them to negotiate with Virginia as a public entity to help mitigate landing disputes.
The years-long closure has cut off a vital connection across the river, resulting in longer commutes, fewer visitors and an economic hit to nearby businesses, according to FOX 5 D.C. reporting.
Locals and business managers, including Bridgette Ramazon of the White's Ferry Store and Grill, express optimism that reopening the ferry will relieve severe traffic bottlenecks on Route 15, boost tourism and revitalize activity along the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal.
The Source: Information from Montgomery County officials and previous FOX 5 D.C. reporting.