| 21085 The Woods Road
Leesburg, Va. 20175
Phone: 703-669-0316
Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday Operating Hours The 725-acre Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve is now open to the general public between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday. After hours activities may be approved and scheduled by contacting Banshee Reeks staff at 703-669-0316 to obtain a permit.
Designating Banshee Reeks Park as a Nature Preserve ensures that all the plants, animals, habitats and cultural resources are protected. The wildlife, rolling hills, and frontage along Goose Creek make it well worth the special trip. For more information about the preserve and volunteering, please contact Ron Circé at 703-669-0316. Directions to Banshee Reeks Take U.S. Route 15 South from Leesburg. Approximately 1/4-mile South of the Leesburg Bypass, turn left onto Route 621, Evergreen Mills Road. Proceed South along Evergreen Mills Road about five miles. Turn right onto The Woods Road (Route 771). Proceed down The Woods Road for approximately one mile. Entrance to Banshee Reeks is on the left. History The word "banshee" is a Gaelic term for a female spirit and the word "reeks" is a Gaelic term for hills and dales. Legend has it that around the 1840s, the owner of the farm was of Irish or Scottish decent. After a night in town he came back to the farm and heard strange cries and sounds in the woods, what he thought might have been banshees. Since the farm was very hilly, he is supposed to have said that he heard, "banshees in the reeks." In the years since, the name has become Banshee Reeks. The park is open on a scheduled basis to groups by calling 703-669-0316. Volunteer Opportunities The third Saturday of each month is a Volunteer Day at Banshee Reeks Park. This is sponsored by the Friends of Banshee Reeks and is a great way to become familiar with the preserve. Some of the activities include: setting up aquariums; collecting things for the nature center (feathers, old nests, bones, etc.); laying out, marking, and measuring trails; and helping to draw maps of the preserve. No registration required. See you there! |