An Eleven-Stall Stable Steps From the C&O Canal Towpath
$675,000 Ripe for Reimagining
Bordering McMahon's Mill on the C&O Canal Towpath in Washington County — 13.48 acres of Maryland homestead land, with Potomac River views through the trees.
Built in 1778, this farmhouse has already had its heavy lifting done — new electric service, a 2023 roof, a replaced main water line, and a constant-pressure water system are all in — but it is still mid-restoration, with patched walls and original floors waiting on someone to carry the work through. Horse people will notice the 11-stall stable first: a real, working barn with an electric-fenced pasture, not a converted garage. A private waterfall crosses the property on its own footbridge, steps from a stone chimney ruin left standing from an even older structure. 4 bd / 1.5 ba, 2,485 sq ft, on 13.48 acres.
Listed at $675,000. Listing courtesy of Mary Lee Kendle, The Glocker Group Realty Results.
Homestead Potential
Water & Infrastructure
The Potomac River view here is real, but it is a view — this property does not carry river frontage or direct access, despite bordering the C&O Canal Towpath. What it does have is a private on-site waterfall and stream, plus a recently replaced main feed water line and a new constant-pressure water system — real infrastructure upgrades most 1778 homes never see.
Crop & Income Potential
This is not cropland — the cleared ground here is pasture, already fenced for horses rather than tilled for planting. Washington County's agricultural identity along this stretch of the Potomac leans toward livestock and hay, exactly what the electric-fenced pasture and 11-stall stable are already built for.
Sustainability
The 11-stall stable and a large storage shed mean animal infrastructure and storage are already handled, which covers most of what a working horse property actually needs beyond pasture. Inside the house, the current owners' renovation is real but unfinished — new systems are in, walls are patched but not painted, floors are original but need refinishing. Budget for finish work here, not structural rescue.
The Boundaries
Bordering both the C&O Canal Towpath (federal parkland) and the historic McMahon's Mill site means boundary lines here matter more than most. Get a current survey and confirm exactly what access, easements, or restrictions come with sitting this close to federal towpath land before finalizing any plans involving the waterfall, the bridge, or the tree line along the river.
Beyond the Property Line
Local Flavor & Small-Town Character
Williamsport was settled in 1740 at the confluence of the Potomac River and Conococheague Creek, and the C&O Canal turned it into a busy 19th-century port — Lock 44, the Lift Bridge, and the Conococheague Aqueduct are all still standing landmarks in town today. The annual Williamsport Canal Days festival, run with the C&O Canal Association, celebrates that history every year.
Agricultural Resources & Neighbor Networks
The University of Maryland Extension office for Washington County, based in nearby Boonsboro, supports farmers and landowners across the county with research-based agriculture and natural-resource programs, including 4-H and livestock guidance directly relevant to a horse property like this one.
Outdoor Recreation & Natural Surroundings
Big Slackwater, the stretch of C&O Canal Towpath running from McMahon's Mill to Lock 42 right past this property, was restored into a scenic concrete path along the Potomac's rocky riverside cliffs, with a boat ramp and picnic area just minutes away. Dam 4 backs up the river here for roughly 13 miles, making this one of the most scenic and accessible stretches of the entire towpath.
Listed on Zillow
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