Old log cabins with real history are getting rare, especially with this much land around them. At 1471 Poplar Camp Road in Ferrum, Virginia, a log cabin with exposed log walls, a cozy loft and a rock foundation sits on 19 acres in the Blue Ridge foothills of Franklin County. It has one bedroom, one full bath and 1,056 square feet, along with a modern ductless mini-split system for heating and cooling. It’s listed at $95,000, or about $90 per square foot.
One important note on age: the listing calls this a “pre-Civil War cabin,” but its official year built is recorded as 1906. Records for very old rural buildings often show the date of a later addition or the earliest available record rather than the original construction date. Ask the agent what documentation backs up the cabin’s age. The listing also gives few interior details, and financing terms are not listed.
19 Acres in the Blue Ridge Foothills
The acreage is a big part of the value here. Nineteen acres give you room for privacy, gardens, woodland walks, hunting or a future homestead project. Poplar Camp Road winds through classic Franklin County countryside, and the cabin’s setting has a true back-to-the-land feel.
The property runs on a private well and a private septic system, and there is no HOA. With this much land at this price, it’s worth walking the boundaries with the agent to see what the property includes.
Exposed Log Walls, a Rock Foundation and a Cozy Loft
Inside, the cabin’s history shows. Exposed log walls give the main room genuine character, and the rock foundation speaks to the way mountain homes were built generations ago. A cozy loft in the 1.5-story layout adds sleeping or storage space above the main floor. Floors are listed as wood, and the listing also mentions linoleum.
Modern comfort comes from a ductless mini-split system, which handles both heating and cooling efficiently without ductwork. The kitchen includes a wall oven and a refrigerator, and the full bath is on the main level.
The Practical Details
- Age (important): Marketed as a pre-Civil War cabin, but recorded as built in 1906. Ask for documentation.
- Heating & cooling: Ductless mini-split system.
- Water & sewer: Private well and private septic. Plan for well and septic inspections.
- Appliances included: Wall oven and refrigerator.
- Construction: Log with wood siding on a rock foundation. Have the logs, foundation, roof and wiring inspected, as you would for any very old cabin.
- Bedrooms & baths: One bedroom and one full bath, with a loft for extra space.
- Disclosures: No foreclosure or as-is terms are listed. Financing terms are not stated.
The Numbers
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Price | $95,000 |
| Location | 1471 Poplar Camp Rd, Ferrum, VA 24088 |
| Home Size | 1,056 sqft |
| Bedrooms/Bathrooms | 1 bedroom / 1 full bathroom (plus loft) |
| Lot Size | 19 acres |
| Year Built | 1906 per records (marketed as pre-Civil War) |
| Price per sqft | $90 |
| Water/Sewer | Private well / Private septic |
| Taxes | $410 per year |
| Condition/Special Conditions | Age claim to verify; limited interior details listed |
| HOA | None |
Why Ferrum, Virginia
Ferrum is a railroad village with an iron-flavored name. According to a history by Edith McGhee Sigmon, before the railroad came, the area’s post office was called Sophronia and operated out of George Turner’s store near the headwaters of Story Creek. The village began taking shape in 1889 with construction of a rail line by the Southern Railway Company, whose first president, Colonel Houston, ran the Crozier Iron Works in Roanoke. Railroad men were interested in the local iron ore and opened a mine south of town. Around 1892, the new depot was named Ferrum at the suggestion of the Reverend Thomas P. Duke. Fittingly, ferrum is Latin for iron.
The Norfolk and Western Railway opened through the valley in 1892 and bought the line in 1896. Old-timers called the winding route the “Punken Vine.” Ferrum soon became the biggest shipping point on the line for logs, crossties, barrel staves, tanbark and lumber products.
In 1913, the church-related Ferrum Training School was chartered here, and it later became Ferrum College. Today the campus is home to the Blue Ridge Institute and Farm Museum, which preserves the folk life of the region. A log cabin on 19 acres near Poplar Camp is a fitting piece of that Blue Ridge story.
Interested in touring 1471 Poplar Camp Rd or want more details on the Ferrum, VA area? Reach out to the listing agent >> ZILLOW.
