On the Go: Montalto Challenge

See Charlottesville like you’ve never seen it before!

By Ashley Mauldin

With nearly 450,000 visitors each year, Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello is a Charlottesville must-visit. But what many people don’t realize is that when they visit Monticello, they’re only seeing a small portion of Jefferson’s original property. But this weekend, we’ll have the chance to see a portion of his land that’s usually closed off to the public: Montalto!

Originally purchased by Jefferson in 1777 as his first land acquisition, this “high mountain” (as Jefferson called it) was meant to be the foundation for an observation tower he planned to build. Over time, Jefferson sold portions of this mountain to acquire other sections of land around Monticello and never got around to building his tower. After he died, the property underwent numerous transitions in ownership, including James Addison Patterson, who built an 11,000 square foot house on top of it, and later the Brown family. The mountain soon became known as Patterson’s Mountain or sometimes Brown’s Mountain, but later reverted back to its original name when the Thomas Jefferson Foundation bought back the 1,278-foot-high mountain in 2004. In 2011, the Foundation completed its restoration and expansion of the original Patterson home, turning it into the Robert H. Smith Center, the “upper campus” for the Monticello property. This space is normally gated off and used for private events—except for a few times a year.

This April, the Thomas Jefferson Foundation will host its annual Montalto Challenge, a 5k walk/run from Kemper Park to the top of Montalto. All proceeds from the race will go towards preservation of the Saunders-Monticello Trail, the trail that’s run during the race. Upon completion of the Challenge, participants are invited to enjoy music, beverages, and snacks, while taking in the gorgeous surroundings.

While the race is sure to be true challenge, the end result will give you an entirely different perspective of Charlottesville and a glimpse into Jefferson’s past. From the Blue Mountain Ranges to the “sea view” to the East, there’s no view like the one you’ll receive on top of Montalto. Click here for more information about the event and here for photos from last year’s event.

We hope to see you there!

Ashley Mauldin is the Market Development Manager at Nest Realty. When she’s not working, you’ll find her soaking up the beautiful Charlottesville scenery on a run around town, or enjoying local vineyards with her husband, Will. 

Photo credit: Ashley Mauldin