by Vickie Holt

Originally from Oregon, David Larsen received a degree in Business and Technology in Electronics from Oregon State University.  After working for a few years in the industry as an engineer, David became a teacher in electronic instrumentation at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia – a position from which he retired after thirty-one years in 1998.  But it wasn’t all academics and electronics.  During his tenure at Virginia Tech, David also assisted the Office of International Development.  For many of those years, he worked with land and farming, starting up a Christmas tree farm and marketing organization.
With his hands in the land as early as the mid-sixties, David was able to establish the Laurel Creek Farms corporation (LCF) in 1968.  Named for the first area of land developed.
David was later joined in the business by his wife, Gaynell.  In February of 2002, they were also joined by Dee Wallace, who completed the three-person group.  Originally from Nebraska, Dee came to Virginia in 1992 for college.  Once working with LCF, she was also creator of Floyd Virginia Magazine!  Wallace tells us the original idea was to have a publication that would help promote LCF.

The Group develop real estate and sell it “by owner” with owner financing available, and their unique approach to development, sales, and leasing have helped the company remain sustainable.  When approaching development, the LCF Group works with rural land and adds value without overdeveloping.  Once the land and lots are developed, the Group sells the properties directly to the buyer.   Their subdivided lots and large tracts have supplied space for housing of all types, small farmettes, and large-scale agriculture.
LCF Group helps people find their dream lot or tract, even if it’s not a current offering of LCF.  LCF also leases various properties, homes, and offices to meet the growing demand for places in Floyd, with vacancies posted online and to social media.
Wallace says LCF has built its reputation by working directly with people.  “Talk to anybody in Floyd County, and there will be a different thread that leads to LCF.  Some still remember the Brookfield Christmas tree farm and the hayrides.  Also, many have homes on land that was developed by LCF.”
One of the best-known Floyd properties owned and developed by LCF is Chantilly Farm.  Chantilly has served ten seasons as a premier events venue and camping destination.  Now, this gorgeous two-hundred acres is under new ownership and has been newly named, “Floyd Family Campground” (FFC).
A company specializing in the development of campgrounds made the purchase and plans are in the works to expand the camping and glamping options.
To help them move forward, the new owners have kept former Chantilly manager, Christian Cromer, on board as General Manager.  In addition to being the son of LCF’s Dee Wallace, Cromer was around more than ten years ago when the first shovel broke ground on Chantilly Farm.  “It’s good to have the background,” says Cromer, who is very much looking forward to how Floyd Family Campground will develop.  After having spent most of his ten years in the office, he will finally have his boots on the ground, taking a more active part in the development.
“There will be a heavy focus on lodging,” says Cromer, explaining that four of the Chantilly cabins have already been renovated and updated with AC units and kitchens.  There are also plans for updating the bunkhouses.  “There are other developments in the works, too” he continues.  “We’ll be working with Paul Sullivan on more hiking and biking trails.”
Cromer and his team at FFC is working tirelessly to serve existing and new RV’ers, tent campers, groups, and outdoor recreation enthusiasts.  Since peak season is currently underway and the fall “leaf peepers” are set to arrive soon, in-person customer service and COVID-initiated touchless check-ins are ongoing.
Everyone is curious about the latest developments, as well as the future of the property.  Floyd Family Campground has updated contact information on the chantillyfarm.com website and they make regular posts to social media as Floyd Family Campground.
The former owners at LCF look on with interest, too, as they reflect on the past ten-plus years, which included surviving through many months of the worldwide coronavirus pandemic.
“We feel blessed,” says Wallace, “that some of our offerings, specifically camping and outdoor recreation, continued to be in demand throughout 2020 when many events businesses came to a literal halt, with no revenues whatsoever.  We felt we could still engage our base and encourage people through a difficult time.  Certainly, we commend FFC for their bravery in coming into a tough business climate and seeing their way forward.”
Both groups are proud of the campground and venue which has hosted a variety of events over the years:  concerts and festivals, outdoor recreation events, weddings, reunions, and more.  The annual Bluegrass & BBQ Festival, hosted from 2011 until 2019, brought the biggest names in Bluegrass and mountain music to Floyd, earning it a reputation as one of the best Bluegrass festivals on the East Coast.  The annual Floyd Auto Fair resumed at the Farm this year, and still to come are the Floyd Livestock and County Fair, as well as the VW Bus Campout in September.  Power Up Plenty!/Tour de Dirt and the annual Floyd Chamber Spooktacular are also on the schedule for October, providing no restrictions prohibit them.
The trail system that was developed through the woodland acres, as well as the 9-hole disc golf course, have both been healthy activity options over these many months.  “The trails at Chantilly are currently the only trails open to mountain bikes in the whole county of Floyd,” says Floyd County resident and bike enthusiast, Paul Sullivan.  “I know I am biased from being the builder of a number of these trails, but they really are fun and if you do them all you can get in over six miles, which is pretty significant.”
“It’s exciting to see that this project will take on a new life in the coming years,” says former events director, Jason Gallimore.  “And it’s pretty remarkable to look back and see what we’ve been able to accomplish here over the last decade.”
During the transition of ownership, information about lodging, facilities, and events at the new Floyd Family Campground can still be accessed online by searching Chantilly Farm.  To directly access the new website, visit floydfamilycampground.com.
The LCF Group offers visitors a home base for their Parkway Adventure.  Tenants may stay in a transitional/seasonal space while they travel, look for land or home, or while they wait to build.  Full hook up (30/50 amp) spaces are provided for RV or tiny home parking. To learn more and see the latest offerings from the LCF Group, visit virginiamountainland.com, or visit the LFC offices in person at 129 Needmore Lane in Floyd.

LCF Group • David Larsen, Gaynell Larsen, and Dee Wallace
www.virginiamountainland.com • 540-808-4984
129 Needmore Lane, Floyd, VA 

Floyd Family Campground • 540-251-2250
www.floydfamilycampground.com
2697 Franklin Pike SE, Floyd, VA