White's Ferry Ceases Operations Following Legal Dispute

Alessia Grunberger
Updated ·2 min read

GERMANTOWN, MD — White's Ferry, the last remaining cable ferry service on the Potomac River, said it is ceasing operations Monday after a court ruling in Loudoun County, Virginia.

The ferry, which has been operating since 1786, is located about six miles from the town of Poolesville in Montgomery County, Maryland. For years it has been shuttling vehicles and passengers across the Potomac River to Loudoun County, Virginia, where it docks.

In a Facebook posting on Monday, White's Ferry said it is no longer allowed to dock in Virginia because "no public landing exists on the Virginia shoreline at White Ferry's Road."

"The Circuit Court of Loudon County Virginia has ruled, in the case of Rockland Farm, LLC, et al. v. White's Ferry, Inc., that no public landing exists on the Virginia shoreline at White Ferry's Road and the ferry is prohibited from landing at that location in Virginia," the statement read.

A Legal Dispute Between Rockland Farm and White's Ferry

Rockland Farm, which owns the land in Virginia, alleges that White's Ferry has used the property without paying rent since the end of a licensing agreement in 2004. According to court documents, the agreement was terminated after White's Ferry had construction done on the property without the go-ahead from Rockland Farm.

Siding with Rockland Farm, Circuit Court Judge Stephen E. Sincavage ordered White's Ferry to pay more than $100,000 in damages.

Loudoun County, Town of Poolesville React

Loudoun County Supervisor Caleb A. Kershner said in a statement that he is "extremely disappointed in the shutdown of White's Ferry," adding that the lawsuit "illustrates a critical need to pursue a future bridge crossing between Virginia and Maryland."

According to the county's transportation department, White's Ferry typically served between 600 and 860 vehicles per day.

"We will not be in COVID lockdown forever and the region's transportation volumes will return at some point to pre-COVID volumes," Kershner said. "(T)here is no better time than the present to get serious about regional transportation needs between Virginia and Maryland."

In an interview with Patch, Poolesville's town manager, Seth Rivard, said officials are also worried about the impact the closure will have on small businesses in Montgomery County.

"It impacts our small businesses, particularly those that (rely on customers) to come over on the weekends ... to shop, eat, and do everything of that nature," he said.

He added that the town's commissioners will work with "county and state representatives to leverage resources ... and proactively find ways to ensure that the ferry remains open." The commissioners are expected to discuss the issue Monday night.

This article originally appeared on the Germantown Patch