On Tuesday, December 9, 2025, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a special exception amendment application to permit the construction of a new barn addition. The approval will allow for much-needed improvements and upgrades to existing facilities and amenities at The Barns at Wolf Trap.
The Barns at Wolf Trap is owned and operated by the Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts, a nonprofit organization established in the late 1960s by founder Catherine Filene Shouse. A renowned performing arts center, The Barns hosts more than 80 performances annually, including the Wolf Trap Opera Company’s summer productions. The venue is comprised of two salvaged 18th-century barns that were purchased and reconstructed on the present site in 1981.
The approved expansion will seamlessly integrate a third barn, adding approximately 9,300 square feet to the existing performing arts center. Approximately 5,650 square feet will be dedicated to improved pre-gathering areas, with an additional 3,650 square feet used for storage cellar space. While no changes are proposed to the venue’s auditorium capacity or stage configuration, the expansion will double pre-show dining and seating capacity, add new restroom facilities, and improve kitchen and storage areas to better support existing operations. Limited site improvements were also approved, including new bicycle racks, an internal crosswalk across the entrance road, and additional parking lot trees. No changes will be made to the parking layout, site entrances off Trap Road, or hours of operation.
A potential barn has already been identified for the project — a 100-year-old Quaker-style structure owned by a local donor. Like the existing barns onsite, the structure will be thoughtfully reclaimed and repurposed. Its relocation is necessitated by the Virginia Department of Transportation’s Route 15 widening project in Loudoun County, creating a unique opportunity to preserve a piece of local history. With the site plan process now underway, the Wolf Trap Foundation is targeting completion of the new addition by Fall 2026.
Kathryn Taylor successfully shepherded this request through Fairfax County’s special exception amendment process. Walsh Colucci represented the Wolf Trap Foundation in securing the approvals needed to expand and enhance The Barns, further honoring Ms. Shouse’s legacy of creating a place where the performing arts and nature can thrive together.
