Today we’d like to introduce you to Laura Immelman.
Hi Laura, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I have always loved animals and I always dreamed of owning land, opening a venue and having farm animals. In 2022 we purchased 74 acres in Waterford, VA and begin building what would become Scarlet Springs Farm. Our business journey so far is one built out of love, sweat and a lot of hard work. From naming the farm to open our doors to our first guests, my husband, mother and myself have built this business from the ground up. Our first project was restoring the original farmhouse on the property and converting it into a Bed & Breakfast. Built in 1801 and made of stone this gorgeous house has become a destination for couples and families alike, as they travel into Loudoun county to enjoy wineries, attend a wedding or just as a weekend escape from Washington, D.C. We then began work on our venue spaces. The Oasis event space is grassy and tree lined. We built a covered pavilion, a gorgeous firepit, added tree swings and hung romantic cafe lights and uplighting to give the space an elevated & enchanting feeling. I decided to add luxury picnic dining experiences to reach out to our local customers who may not need overnight accommodations and partnered with a local chef, Between the Hills Catering for elevated, and locally sourced food. We converted a barn into our gorgeous luxury picnic venue and named it the Ridgetop Stable, with sweeping views of 74-acres of rolling hills. I knew we needed something extra charismatic to add to these experiences so we decided to purchase mini-highland cows that guests could pet, pet, brush & feed before their picnic. I lovingly named the cows after Bridgerton characters and today we have a herd of over a dozen highlands! We also have blacknose valais sheep who are incredibly fluffy and fun for guests to interact with. We also restored our 1803 stone bank barn to host indoor private parties and weddings. We began offering venue rentals for private parties and stepped into the wedding space shortly thereafter, offering everything from intimate elopements to gorgeous luxury tented receptions for 200.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
We are first generation farmers, so there’s certainly been a learning curve with much of what we have learned to do. Luckily, we have some incredible mentors and are not at all afraid of trying something new, getting dirty and working hard so with every challenge we have faced, we’ve been met with great reward.
As you know, we’re big fans of Scarlet Springs Farm. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Scarlet Springs Farm is a one-of-a-kind business that offers guests a beautiful place to connect with nature, interact with incredible highland cows and valais sheep and commune over incredible, locally sourced food. We offer an elevated farm escape– whether it’s for a day or for a long weekend and we pride ourselves on providing a curated experience for each of our guests. Our luxury picnics are one of our most popular offerings, where guests get the chance to meet, pet and brush our mini-highland cows and valais sheep followed by charcuterie & cheese, a brunch board or a full 3-course meal featuring local ingredients and prepared by our partner chef. Our High Tea with the Highlands is one of our other flagship offerings and is a Bridgerton-inspired tea party with beautiful theming, fun animal encounters and an incredible full high tea experience complete with locally sourced tea, tea sandwiches and sweet treats. Our in house design team offers gorgeous tablescaping with locally source flowers, votives, platware, flatware and glassware, which set the stage for events of all kinds– from engagements to elopements, birthdays, anniversaries and even weddings. This is a small family business, if you visit Scarlet Springs you will meet the owners and we welcome guests with open arms onto our farm– our home– which makes this escape feel more personal and unique, and the love and passion we feel for our animals, farm and offerings are unmatched.
How do you think about happiness?
I love spending time with my animals. Brushing my highlands and snuggling my lambs has truly unlocked a happy place I did not know existed. They are gentle, calm and incredibly tame– and their puppy-dog friendly nature leaves our guests wanting a cow of their own. I enjoy putting the time into caring for them and making them be calm, easy to handle animals for myself, my own kiddos and of course our guests.
Pricing:
- Luxury Picnics start at $65 per person
- See our website for details on our current packages, pricing and offers
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.scarletspringsfarm.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scarletspringsfarm/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556770447075
