DUMFRIES, Va. – Dumfries has finalized its purchase of the Campbell Junkyard property, securing 161 acres along Quantico Creek that town leaders say will anchor a new waterfront district.
Mayor Derrick R. Wood announced the closing Monday, calling the acquisition “a once-in-a-generation opportunity” to reconnect Virginia’s oldest chartered town with its waterfront roots. “This is more than an acquisition. This is a legacy,” Wood said in a statement. “Together, we’re building a new Waterfront Era for Dumfries.”
The Campbell Salvage Yard has long occupied the site off Possum Point Road. For decades, the junkyard’s location on the creek stood in the way of public access to the water. By buying the property for $3.9 million, town officials say Dumfries can reclaim land once viewed as a liability and turn it into an asset for future generations.
Plans call for trails, cultural and recreational spaces, new neighborhoods, and job-creating businesses, while much of the property will remain protected wetlands and open space. The project is tied to Destination Dumfries Vision 2044, a long-term plan that outlines how the town hopes to grow into a more connected and vibrant community.
Environmental cleanup will be part of the process. Earlier this year, Dumfries secured a $1 million Environmental Protection Agency brownfields grant to begin assessing contamination and prepare the property for redevelopment. Town leaders have also looked to projects like National Harbor in Maryland as examples of how to pair public access to the waterfront with economic development.
“This is about balance,” Wood said. “Much of the Campbell property will remain protected wetlands and open space. This commitment to environmental stewardship ensures that growth is responsible, sustainable, and respectful of the land we’ve been entrusted with.”
A community planning process is expected to launch in the coming months. Residents, businesses, and partners will be invited to weigh in on how the waterfront district should take shape. Town officials say that feedback will guide the next phase of design and development.
