Next year is the 100th anniversary of the purchase of the Michie Tavern by Josephine Henderson, an early pioneer in the field of tourism. The structure was originally located between Earlysville and Free Union, but in 1927 Henderson paid to have it dismantled and moved 16 miles from Buck Mountain to its current location on Carter’s Mountain on the road to Monticello.
“Monticello had been [open] for several years and was drawing thousands of visitors,” reads a history page on the Michie Tavern’s website. “Henderson was merely following the precepts of her preservation peers when she decided to move Michie Tavern to a more accessible location.”
For the past 58 years the tavern has been owned by the family of Greg McDonald but in recent years they’ve put the 6.71 acre property on the market. In early 2024, the Thomas Jefferson Foundation announced they were going to purchase the site but declined to follow through.
On July 2, a private company closed a transaction to purchase the tavern and its property for $3.3 million.
“We are delighted that Shah Family Holdings has purchased Michie Tavern, ca. 1784,” an information release quotes Greg MacDonald. “Our family has worked to preserve this landmark and create memorable experiences for visitors. We’re thrilled another local family will carry the tradition forward.”
The property is within the rural area but the Board of Supervisors has granted multiple special use permits over the years to allow for the gift shop and for off-site parking. That’s according to a Letter of Zoning Compliance issued in March 2023 in response to a query.
“The Property is subject to the Steep Slopes and Entrance Corridor Overlay Districts described in Section 30 of the Zoning Ordinance,” reads the letter.
The deal was brokered by Mackenzie Commercial Real Estate Services.
“It was incredibly important to us that the buyer we secured would be a good steward of Michie Tavern moving forward and carry on that legacy Greg built over 60 years. This conclusion represents tremendous news for the many customers that have fond experiences of Michie Tavern, as well as the greater Charlottesville area which deserves restaurants with rich traditions and one-of-a-kind environments.”
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Paid subscribers cover the cost of conducting research for this article which was originally published in the July 10, 2026 edition of Charlottesville Community Engagement. You can either subscribe through Substack or make a charitable contribution.
This particular one is posted here several weeks after it went in the newsletter. Two paragraphs were added at the end.
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