Bunny Mellon’s Oak Spring Farm is a historically significant estate located in Upperville, Virginia. It was the home of Rachel “Bunny” Mellon, an American horticulturist, gardener, philanthropist, and art collector. Bunny Mellon, who had a profound influence on landscape design, was also known for her close friendship with Jacqueline Kennedy, whom she assisted in designing the White House Rose Garden.
The estate encompasses several hundred acres and features a meticulously maintained garden and library. The library houses one of the most extensive collections of books on botany and horticulture, reflecting Mellon’s lifelong interest in gardening and botanical sciences. The gardens at Oak Spring are a testament to her design philosophy, blending formal and informal elements with a focus on simplicity and natural beauty.
First and foremost, Bunny Mellon and her second husband, Paul Mellon, oil and banking heir and art collector, were prone to keep their private lives outside the public eye. However, this was challenging for people of such considerable means. Bunny was named one of the wealthiest women in the USA. Bunny Mellon had limitless funds and extraordinary taste to implement her passion for design and landscaping in life.
Together with her husband, they owned several houses and apartments in Virginia, Paris, New York City, Cape Cod, Nantucket, Washington, and Antigua, their West Indies island paradise. Each home was tastefully decorated and reflected the inimitable style of Bunny Mellon. Today, we’ll conduct a thoughtful and fascinating overview of her four-thousand-acre farm in Virginia, the main home Bunny sincerely loved. It is situated in Upperville, Fauquier County, Virginia, nearly 50 miles from Washington, D.C.
Oak Spring Farm is shadowed by the Blue Ridge Mountains. The name originates from the old oak trees and natural springs crossing the estate’s land. The original historic property included three main houses, over twenty cottages (including the guesthouse, which was built for Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis), and barns.
Bunny Mellon acquired Oak Spring Farm through her marriage to Paul Mellon, an art collector, philanthropist, and the son of Andrew W. Mellon. The couple purchased and developed the estate together after their marriage in 1948.
The Oak Spring Farm farm has extensive equestrian facilities. One hundred fifty horses lived in the spacious stables, including Sea Hero, the winner of the Kentucky Derby in 1993. Bunny’s husband, Paul Mellon, was an avid racehorse breeder.
For more details, please check our video about Bunny Mellon