Sharon Springs Neighborhood Overview
Overview
Sharon Springs is not a neighborhood within a city, but rather a small, unincorporated community nestled in the heart of Burkes Garden, Virginia. Burkes Garden itself is a unique and remote highland basin, often called "God's Thumbprint" due to its distinctive oval shape surrounded by Garden Mountain. This geographic isolation defines Sharon Springs, offering a profoundly rural and tranquil lifestyle far from urban centers. The community's history is deeply tied to the agricultural heritage of the basin, with land passed down through generations of farming families.
The character of Sharon Springs is one of serene, pastoral beauty and self-reliance. The landscape is dominated by expansive farm fields, grazing cattle, and forested mountain ridges that create a breathtaking natural amphitheater. Life here moves at a deliberate pace, governed by the seasons and the land. Residents are deeply connected to the environment and to each other, forming a close-knit community where neighbors are not just acquaintances but essential partners in rural living.
Housing & Real Estate
The housing stock in Sharon Springs consists almost entirely of single-family homes on large lots, ranging from historic farmhouses and rustic log cabins to more modern manufactured homes. Properties are typically measured in acres rather than square feet, with many homes sitting on parcels of 10, 20, or even 100+ acres that include pastures, woodlands, and streams. This reflects the area's agricultural and self-sufficient lifestyle, where land is a working asset.
Price ranges are wide but generally modest compared to suburban markets, heavily influenced by the acreage, condition of the home, and outbuildings like barns or workshops. The market is small and properties can be rare, often selling through word-of-mouth or local networks. Ownership is overwhelmingly dominant, with rental opportunities being exceptionally scarce. Recent trends show a slight increase in interest from buyers seeking extreme remoteness and natural beauty, though the limited inventory maintains a stable, slow-moving market.
Schools & Education
Students from Sharon Springs are served by the Tazewell County Public Schools system. The designated schools are typically Burkes Garden Elementary School, located centrally in the basin, followed by Tazewell Middle and Tazewell High School, which require a significant commute over Garden Mountain. The small size of Burkes Garden Elementary fosters a tight-knit, family-like educational environment with multi-grade classrooms, a hallmark of remote rural schooling.
The district quality is reflective of its rural setting, with strengths in community involvement and personalized attention due to low student-to-teacher ratios. Educational options are inherently limited; there are no nearby private or charter schools. Access to specialized programs or extensive extracurricular activities requires travel. For higher education, residents commute to colleges such as Southwest Virginia Community College or Concord University, each over an hour's drive away.
Parks & Recreation
Formal parks and recreational facilities are non-existent in Sharon Springs itself. Recreation is intrinsically tied to the private land and the vast, publicly-accessible natural surroundings of the Jefferson National Forest. The George Washington and Jefferson National Forests envelop Burkes Garden, providing a boundless playground for outdoor enthusiasts. Countless miles of trails for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding are accessible directly from the basin's rim or within a short drive.
The primary recreational activities are hunting, fishing, foraging, and wildlife observation. The area is renowned for its deer and turkey hunting. Streams in the national forest offer trout fishing. The most iconic local activity is simply exploring the scenic byways, such as the loop around the basin, which offers stunning vistas. Community-organized recreation is informal, often centering on seasonal events like harvest gatherings, hunting camp open houses, or maintaining the local community center.
Local Dining & Shopping
Commercial amenities in Sharon Springs are virtually absent. There are no restaurants, cafes, or shops within the immediate community. For basic groceries, hardware, or a meal at a restaurant, residents must undertake a substantial drive to towns like Tazewell, Wytheville, or Bluefield, each at least 30-45 minutes away over mountain roads. This necessitates careful planning and a well-stocked pantry, reinforcing the self-sufficient lifestyle.
The closest approximation to local commerce is the Burkes Garden General Store and Farm Market, a beloved central hub for the entire basin. It serves as a critical pitstop for essentials, local produce, and a place for social connection. Otherwise, commerce is based on informal, hyper-local networks: trading garden produce, sharing hunting harvests, or purchasing eggs, meat, or crafts directly from neighbors' farms. The annual Burkes Garden Fall Festival is a major event that brings in vendors and visitors from across the region.
Who Lives Here
The population of Sharon Springs is a homogeneous mix of multi-generational farming families and a smaller number of "back-to-the-land" transplants who have sought out its profound isolation. Many residents have deep ancestral roots in the basin, with surnames appearing on local gravestones for over a century. This creates a stable, deeply rooted community where history and tradition are living entities. Newcomers are often drawn by a desire for solitude, a connection to nature, and a rejection of suburban or urban pace.
The community vibe is one of quiet independence coupled with mutual aid. Residents are fiercely self-reliant, capable of handling everything from home repairs to vehicle maintenance, yet they reliably come together to help a neighbor in need—whether for barn raising, clearing a storm-downed tree, or checking in during harsh winter weather. People are drawn here by a shared value for peace, natural beauty, hard work, and