History of Kingsmill: From Colonial Roots to Modern Resort Community

Kingsmill, located along the James River in James City County, Virginia, boasts a rich history dating back to the early 17th century. In 1607, English settlers, led by Captain Gabriel Archer, briefly considered the Kingsmill area for their first permanent settlement before choosing Jamestown due to deeper waters. By 1617, Richard Kingsmill, a member of the Virginia Company, received a 300-acre land grant, laying the foundation for what became Kingsmill Plantation. In the 1730s, Colonel Lewis Burwell III expanded the plantation to 1,400 acres, constructing a grand brick manor, outbuildings, and Burwell’s Landing, a key port with a tavern and ferry that served as a social and economic hub for colonial Williamsburg. Archaeological discoveries, including brick walkways and artifacts, reveal a thriving plantation life, with remnants preserved today.

The Kingsmill area played significant roles in both the Revolutionary and Civil Wars. During the Revolutionary War, Burwell’s Landing and Quarterpath Road were battlegrounds between British troops and American patriots, reflecting the region’s strategic importance. In 1862, the Civil War’s Battle of Williamsburg raged across Kingsmill, with Confederate and Union forces clashing, resulting in 3,500 casualties and devastating the local economy. The plantation’s manor burned in 1843, leaving only the kitchen and office dependencies, which remain among Virginia’s earliest brick outbuildings, now visible near the Plantation Golf Course.

In the early 20th century, Kingsmill’s land, less suited for agriculture, fell into disuse until Anheuser-Busch, under August Busch II, acquired it in the 1960s. Beginning in the 1970s, Busch Properties developed Kingsmill into a 2,900-acre planned residential community and resort, preserving 40% as green space. 

The Kingsmill Community Services Association (KCSA), incorporated in 1973, oversees the gated community. The Kingsmill Resort, a separated entity, opened in 1975, features three golf courses, including the River Course and Arnold Palmer’s Plantation Course, previously hosting 37 PGA and LPGA events. The last LPGA event was held in 2021.   

Archaeological efforts, funded by Anheuser-Busch in the early 1970’s and led by Dr. William Kelso, uncovered over 15 sites, with artifacts displayed at the resort and regional museums.

Today, Kingsmill on the James is a gated community and a co-located resort.  Managed separately by Escalante Golf, the resort offers rooms, a spa, tennis courts, and dining options.  The KCSA community features diverse homes, from townhomes to riverfront estates, and is part of Virginia’s Historic Triangle, near Colonial Williamsburg. 

Recent development proposals have raised concerns, leading to its 2025 listing as one of Virginia’s Most Endangered Historic Places by Preservation Virginia.