Catoctin Creek Distillery

PRESERVE/scapes completed state and federal historic rehabilitation tax credits for the adaptive reuse of a historic auto shop as a distillery and tasting room. 

Catoctin Creek Distilling Company is the first legal distillery in Loudoun County, Virginia, since prohibition.  Owners Becky and Scott Harris established the craft distillery in 2009 and specialize in creating organic and kosher spirits. The company’s popularity and rapid growth caused them to quickly outgrow their original space and to seek a new location for their operations. As part of Virginia’s focus on agritourism, the owners also wanted to open a tasting room and to provide tours to educate the public about the distilling process. Catoctin purchased a 1921 auto shop in the center of the Purcellville Historic District as the new home for their burgeoning small business. The owners wanted the rehabilitation of the building to support sustainable business practices and to incorporate green design in pursuit of LEED certification.

PRESERVE/scapes introduced the owners to the state and federal rehabilitation tax credit program and managed the application and consultation process with the Virginia Department of Historic Resources and the National Park Service. Working closely with the owners and the design team, PRESERVE/scapes ensured that the rehabilitation was consistent with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards, while meeting programmatic needs and highlighting the distinctive features that attracted the owners to this historic property. The credit allowed the company to invest in improvements such as solar panels and an efficient glycol chilling system, while leveraging the preservation of the building’s historic character to create a unique destination.