32nd Annual Loudoun Small Business Awards Finalist Spotlight: Morven Park
Thank you to Owner Executive Director Stacey Metcalfe for sharing Morven Park’s story with us. Congratulations on being named a finalist in our Tourism & Hospitality Business category for the 32nd Annual Loudoun Small Business Awards!
In 1967, the Westmoreland Davis Memorial Foundation opened Morven Park, a historic estate established as a private park open to the public. Once home to Virginia Governor Westmoreland Davis and his wife, Marguerite, from 1903 to 1942, Morven Park was a place they deeply loved in a community they called home. Following the Governor’s passing, Marguerite Davis established the Foundation to honor her husband’s legacy and ensure the property’s history, landscape, and historic buildings would be preserved, protected, and shared with the public for generations to come.
Nearly 60 years later, that vision continues to thrive. Today, Morven Park is Loudoun County’s 1,000-acre backyard and a place where history, education, equestrian sport, and outdoor recreation come together. Visitors can explore the iconic Davis Mansion, experience nationally and internationally recognized equestrian competitions at the Morven Park International Equestrian Center and discover the outdoors across our expansive grounds and trails. Through the Morven Park Center for Civic Impact, we also extend our mission beyond our grounds, providing free K–12 civics education that empowers students to examine community issues, understand their civic responsibilities, and recognize that their voices matter.
What began as a commitment to preserve one family’s legacy has evolved into a dynamic destination that welcomes residents and visitors alike to experience history, celebrate world-class equestrian competition, engage in civic education, and connect with the outdoors. While Morven Park has grown and evolved, our founding commitment remains unchanged: to preserve and protect this extraordinary park and share it with the community for generations to come.
As Morven Park’s CEO what makes me most proud is the dedication, care, and thoughtfulness my team brings to everything we do. Preserving a 1,000-acre historic property while keeping it beautiful, welcoming, and accessible takes an extraordinary amount of hard work. Preparing for major events often means long hours, countless details, and challenges that require everyone to come together and find solutions to deliver on our promise to the community we serve.
Our team’s commitment goes far beyond maintaining a property or producing successful events. Every day, they come to work with a shared understanding of our mission and a genuine love for Morven Park and our programmatic work. Whether they are caring for the historic grounds, welcoming visitors across the property, supporting the promotions of equestrian sport, educating students, or bringing a major event to life, they understand that they are part of something bigger.
We often say that Morven Park is our happy place, and that feeling is at the heart of what we do. I am incredibly proud that our team works so hard not simply to maintain Morven Park, but to ensure that everyone who visits feels welcomed, experiences something meaningful, and leaves with a reason to return to their happy place!
What sets your business apart?
What sets Morven Park apart is the remarkable combination of experiences we offer in one extraordinary place which is often referred to as Loudoun County’s 1000-acre backyard. Few destinations bring together a historic property, internationally recognized equestrian sport, meaningful civic education, and 1,000 acres of beautiful open space, all with a mission rooted in preserving, protecting Morven Park for all.
At Morven Park, a visitor might begin the day exploring the iconic Davis Mansion, return to experience world-class equestrian competition, walk, run or bike our scenic grounds, or attend a community event. Through the Morven Park Center for Civic Impact, we also invest in the next generation by providing free civics education to K–12 students, both onsite and extending our impact well beyond our property to Loudoun County classrooms.
Equally important is our commitment to community. Morven Park is not simply a place to visit for a single attraction or event; it is a place where people can play, learn, discover and return throughout the year for entirely different experiences.
Ultimately, what makes us unique is that we balance preservation with progress. We honor the legacy entrusted to us while continually evolving to serve our community, attract visitors, and create experiences that are meaningful, memorable, and distinctly Loudoun County.
How do you give back to Loudoun?
Giving back to Loudoun County and beyond is central to Morven Park’s Strategic Plan. As a nonprofit organization, our responsibility extends beyond preserving our historic property. We are committed to serving our community by creating opportunities for residents and visitors to learn, connect, and thrive.
We actively partner with local nonprofits, community organizations, businesses, and tourism partners to advance shared goals, expand access to meaningful experiences, and strengthen the community we call home. Our partnerships with Loudoun County Public Schools, Leesburg and Loudoun Economic Development, Parks, Recreation and Community Services, Loudoun Youth, Visit Loudoun, the Loudoun Chamber of Commerce, The Community Foundation of Loudoun and Northern Fauquier Counties and other community organizations demonstrate the power of collaboration in addressing community needs and creating positive change.
We also believe that giving back means making history and civics education accessible to everyone. Through our 246 Years Project, we have created a free, publicly accessible database that helps individuals research and discover the stories of people who were enslaved in Loudoun County. This initiative provides a valuable resource for descendants, researchers, and the broader community, helping to uncover and preserve stories that might otherwise remain untold. It reflects our commitment not only to preserving historic places, but also to deepening our understanding of the people and experiences that shaped our community and country. For Loudoun County students, the Morven Park Center for Civic Impact, provides free civics education to K–12 students, helping young people understand their role in shaping their communities and empowering them to become informed, engaged citizens.
We also make our 1,000-acre property a resource for the community, welcoming visitors to explore our grounds, experience our history, enjoy the outdoors, and attend or host events that bring people together. Our equestrian competitions and other public events attract visitors from across the region and beyond, supporting Loudoun County’s tourism economy while showcasing everything our community has to offer. 
Whether we are educating the next generation, making historical resources freely available, collaborating with fellow nonprofits, supporting local initiatives, or creating opportunities for residents and visitors to connect, our goal is to be a good community partner and steward of this extraordinary place. We are proud that Morven Park is not only a destination for visitors, but also a resource, educational partner, and gathering place for the Loudoun County community.
What would it mean to you and your business to win a Loudoun Small Business Award?
Winning a Loudoun Small Business Award would be an incredible honor for our entire team. Morven Park is a nonprofit with a mission that reaches far beyond our 1,000 acres, and the work we do is made possible by a team of dedicated individuals who care deeply about this special place and the community we serve.
This recognition would celebrate their hard work, often behind the scenes, to preserve our history, care for our grounds, deliver exceptional equestrian events, provide meaningful educational opportunities, and welcome thousands of visitors to experience all that Morven Park and Loudoun County have to offer.
It would also be a wonderful opportunity to shine a light on the role nonprofit organizations play in strengthening our local community and contributing to Loudoun County’s tourism and economic vitality. Most of all, it would be a meaningful affirmation of our team’s shared commitment to our mission and the legacy we are entrusted to protect. I would be incredibly proud to share that recognition with them.
How do you see your business evolving over the next five years?
Over the next five years, we envision Morven Park continuing to grow as one of Loudoun County’s premier destinations, attracting visitors from across the country and around the world while remaining a treasured educational and historical resource for our local community.
Our Strategic Plan provides an ambitious roadmap for the future. We are focused on expanding the national and international recognition of the Morven Park International Equestrian Center, attracting world-class competitions, growing spectator attendance, and enhancing the overall visitor experience. These efforts will not only strengthen Morven Park’s reputation as a premier equestrian destination but also contribute to Loudoun County’s tourism economy by bringing new visitors to our hotels, restaurants, shops, and local businesses. 
Equally important is our commitment to education and community impact. Through the Morven Park Center for Civic Impact, our goal is to expand our reach by partnering with public and private schools, and institutions of higher learning to ensure that more young people have access to free, meaningful civics education that empowers them to find their voices and make a difference in their communities.
We will also continue investing in the preservation of our historic buildings, the stewardship of our 1,000-acre landscape, and improvements that make Morven Park an even more welcoming and engaging destination for visitors of all ages.
What excites me most about the next five years is the opportunity to build upon nearly 60 years of public access while embracing new possibilities. Our vision is to ensure that Morven Park remains a place where history is preserved, world-class experiences are celebrated, future generations are inspired, and our community always feels at home in their happy place.