Holly Hills

Holly Hills Neighborhood Spotlight Williamsburg VA

Holly Hills is a beautiful community of single family detached homes located within the city of Williamsburg, Virginia in the heart of the Historic Triangle. Within walking distance to Colonial Williamsburg, Merchants Square, and the campus of William and Mary. Approximately 150 homes were built in the Holly Hills neighborhood.

 There are three International Airports within driving distance and an Amtrak depot in Williamsburg. Colonial Williamsburg, Yorktown Victory Center, Jamestown, Busch Gardens, Water Country USA, Williamsburg Winery and The College of William & Mary provide many exciting entertainment and educational opportunities.  Conveniently located to many shopping locations within a five to ten-minute drives are Food Lion, Fresh Market, Publix, Trader Joe’s, Harris Teeter as well as Merchants Square with William Sonoma, Talbots, Belk and Chico.  Major Outlets as well as Wal-Mart, Lowes and Home Depot are within a 15 minutes drive.

The residents of Holly Hills are a diverse group of people with varying educational, business, economic and cultural backgrounds.   The CORE Committee effectively meets this challenge by organizing a spectrum of events and activities which gain enthusiastic and lively support from the Members of the Association. The Neighbor Awareness For Neighbor (NAFN) group ensures that new residents are familiar with what the Association and area have to offer and make sure that all new comers feel welcome to participate in any activity that interests them.

This group also ensures appropriate Emergency Response whether the emergency is a family crisis or a broader area threat such as storm damage.  The NAFN group is organized on an area basis within the community with qualified trained people to assist in protecting our neighbors and property.  This is a community that cares for one another but also respects the privacy of our neighbors.

Homes for sale in Holly Hills-Williamsburg VA

Are you looking for homes for sale in Holly Hills, Williamsburg, Virginia? Below is a list of all active listings in Holly Hills Williamsburg.

When you create an account on Mr Williamsburg.com you can save searches and have new listings in Holly Hills sent to you as soon as they hit the market.

History of Holly Hills:
The history of Williamsburg is well known to all of you but the history of the area now known as Holly Hills is also full of interest. We are grateful to Anne Geddy Cross for providing much of this information in an article in the Williamsburg Gazette a few years ago.

Holly Hills is located on part of what was the Rich Neck Plantation patented in 1635 by George Menefie and was acquired by Richard Kemp, Secretary of the Colony, who built a house near what is now Yorkshire Drive that passes through Holly Hills. Richard Kemp died in 1650 and his wife, Elizabeth, married Sir Thomas Lunsford for whom one of the streets in Holly Hills is named. Sir Thomas was a notorious supporter of King Charles but unlike Charles he managed to keep his head by leaving for the Colony. One of his claims to notoriety is his record shortness of tenure as lieutenant of the Tower of London; four day. Elizabeth was Sir Thomas’ third wife and he died in 1653 to be buried in a Williamsburg graveyard. Around 1665 the property passed to Thomas Ludwell, Secretary of the Colony, who renovated and enlarged the buildings. The property stayed in the Ludwell family until 1808.

Robert F. T. Cole purchased Rich Neck from the estate of William Edloe and his brother Lucius Edloe in 1846.. William Edloe’s widow, Elizabeth Travis Edloe had married Robert Cole’s father, Jesse Cole in 1842. Both had been widowed. Jesse Cole died in 1845. Robert Cole inherited his father’s home in Williamsburg now called “The Taliaferro-Cole House” and then purchased Rich Neck. Cole died in 1887 and his son, Henry Denison Cole, inherited hisproperty. In 1951 “Den” Cole’s widow, Caroline Lane Cole, sold part of the Rich Neck property to the Sisters of Mercy to build Walsingham Academy.

In 1940 Mrs. Cole gave her niece, Carrie Cole, who had been raised by the Coles, and her husband, Vernon M Geddy, Sr. a piece of land at Rich Neck on which to build a new home. They called it “Holly Hill” for the many large hollies in the front yard. Mr. Geddy, an attorney, was the first Executive Vice President of Colonial Williamsburg. He was a descendant of James and Ann Geddy, a silversmith in 18th century Williamsburg.

Mrs. Geddy inherited the rest of the Rich Neck farm in 1952 when her aunt died. During her lifetime Mrs. Geddy sold part of Rich Neck, including what is now Walnut Hills, Village Green, Rich Neck Heights and the shopping center at the corner of Jamestown Rd. and Rt. 199. When Route 199 was built, it cut off some of the property, which later became part of Williamsburg Landing.

Mrs. Geddy told many wonderful stories about driving her horse and buggy “out to the farm” as a youngster. After Mrs. Geddy’s death in 1987 her daughter and son sold part of Rich Neck to a developer who called his new development “Holly Hills” after Mrs. Geddy’s house. The remaining acreage along College Creek was purchased by the City of Williamsburg. Vernon M. Geddy, III and his family still own his grandparents’ home “Holly Hill”.

Credit to Anne Geddy Cross for providing much of this information in an article in the Williamsburg Gazette a few years ago.

Holly Hills is located on part of what was the Rich Neck Plantation patented in 1635 by George Menefie and was acquired by Richard Kemp, Secretary of the Colony, who built a house near what is now Yorkshire Drive that passes through Holly Hills. Richard Kemp died in 1650 and his wife, Elizabeth, married Sir Thomas Lunsford for whom one of the streets in Holly Hills is named. Sir Thomas was a notorious supporter of King Charles but unlike Charles he managed to keep his head by leaving for the Colony. One of his claims to notoriety is his record shortness of tenure as lieutenant of the Tower of London; four day. Elizabeth was Sir Thomas’ third wife and he died in 1653 to be buried in a Williamsburg graveyard. Around 1665 the property passed to Thomas Ludwell, Secretary of the Colony, who renovated and enlarged the buildings. The property stayed in the Ludwell family until 1808.

Robert F. T. Cole purchased Rich Neck from the estate of William Edloe and his brother Lucius Edloe in 1846.. William Edloe’s widow, Elizabeth Travis Edloe had married Robert Cole’s father, Jesse Cole in 1842. Both had been widowed. Jesse Cole died in 1845. Robert Cole inherited his father’s home in Williamsburg now called “The Taliaferro-Cole House” and then purchased Rich Neck. Cole died in 1887 and his son, Henry Denison Cole, inherited his property. In 1951 “Den” Cole’s widow, Caroline Lane Cole, sold part of the Rich Neck property to the Sisters of Mercy to build Walsingham Academy.

In 1940 Mrs. Cole gave her niece, Carrie Cole, who had been raised by the Coles, and her husband, Vernon M Geddy, Sr. a piece of land at Rich Neck on which to build a new home . They called it “Holly Hill” for the many large hollies in the front yard. Mr. Geddy, an attorney, was the first Executive Vice President of Colonial Williamsburg. He was a descendant of James and Ann Geddy, a silversmith in 18th century Williamsburg.

Map/ directions to Holly Hills

Mrs. Geddy inherited the rest of the Rich Neck farm in 1952 when her aunt died. During her lifetime Mrs. Geddy sold part of Rich Neck, including what is now Walnut Hills, Village Green, Rich Neck Heights and the shopping center at the corner of Jamestown Rd. and Rt. 199. When Route 199 was built, it cut off some of the property, which later became part of Williamsburg Landing.

Mrs. Geddy told many wonderful stories about driving her horse and buggy “out to the farm” as a youngster. After Mrs. Geddy’s death in 1987 her daughter and son sold part of Rich Neck to a developer who called his new development “Holly Hills” after Mrs. Geddy’s house. The remaining acreage along College Creek was purchased by the City of Williamsburg. Vernon M. Geddy, III and his family still own his grandparents’ home “Holly Hill”.

Read more about The Archaeology of Rich Neck Plantation here

Sale prices in Holly Hills in the City of Williamsburg VA  ranged from the $500’s to $800k in the past year

Home sizes ranged from 2398 to 3294 square feet of living space. In the last 24 months there were 16 home sales in Holy Hills . the sold home prices ranged from $565,000 for a 2952 sq foot home to $1,2000,000 for a 5138 square foot home. the average sales price per square foot was $215.54. 2 homes are currently under contract, one listed at $1,490,000,000 and one listed at $549,000. All sales figures are supplied from the Williamsburg Area Association of Realtors MLS ( WAAR)

HOA Manager: Berkeley Realty Management Company

Telephone: (757) 229-6810

Some of this information was derived from the Holly Hills Homeowner Association website which can be found here

Top 10 reasons to move to Holly Hills

1. Walk to …Colonial Williamsburg where you can use your Good Neighbor Card and to the Farmer’s Market on Duke of Gloucester Street …Merchants Square with over 40 shops and restaurants… Matoaka Amphitheater for concerts…PBK Hall its performing arts series for to the Golden Horseshoe Golf Course…to College Creek Landing where you can launch a canoe or kayak
2. If you are looking for nearby fitness options join the Golden Horseshoe which offers a Wellness Membership giving you access to the Spa, Fitness Center, Indoor/ Outdoor Pools, Tennis and more .
3. Less than a mile to the scenic Colonial Parkway
4. Less than a mile to the Williamsburg Regional and the Swem Libraries
5. A short walk to McCormack-Nagelson Tennis Center
6. Intimate community with just 56 home sites
7. Low HOA fees—only $213 a month
8. Low City of Williamsburg taxes—only $3000 annual on $500,000 home
9. Explore walking trails nearby-Great City Walks
10. See shows at the Kimball Theater in Merchants Square

Comments from Holly Hills Homeowners:

Holly Hills is a special neighborhood with lovely, well-maintained homes in an easy, safe walking distance to Merchants Square, concerts and the Historic Area. Most of all though, Holly Hills is special because of the warm, friendly, people.
● “Holly Hills home prices are gems that tend to hold their value even in tough times. Homeowners know the real value of their gems that offer unique beauty, quality, location and good neighbors.”For us its about the little things. I know people like being in the City because taxes are low, but for us, it’s more about being ‘in town.’ We can walk down to the farmers’ market on Saturday mornings, or to the Friday evening concerts at the amphitheater. We have sidewalks, so walking is easy. It’s almost like living in the historic area. I like being on this side of town – it’s VERY convenient, regardless of whether you’re headed east to NPN/Peninsula, or anywhere else. A quick hop to get on 64, get to the airport, etc. I also like that it’s such a consistent and pretty approach…unlike some of the other spots in the area where you drive through messy areas to get to nice ones. And, we’re not very political, so we love that it’s NOT gated, and that there is no homeowners’ association to speak of (I think our annual dues are around $200). We belong to the Golden Horseshoe, so we play golf, and we have the pool – for far less $ than the gated communities, and I think they’re nicer amenities (2 pools, Inn setting, etc.) than the other neighborhoods have. We’ve been here since our early 30’s.

Psssst! I wanted to let you in on a little secret. While I am a real estate agent…I am a different kind of real estate agent. I am creating a revolution in realty by combining everything you love about this area all into one place. Known around town as Mr. Williamsburg, I combine my extensive knowledge of the Williamsburg, Richmond, and Hampton Roads areas with my expertise in helping buyers and sellers navigate the ever-changing local real estate market to create a top-notch experience that checks all of your boxes.

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