By Reynolds Hester

Drive 14 minutes west from Collegiate School, and you can find yourself at one of Richmond’s largest hidden gems. Luck Stone’s Boscobel Plant provides a view of Richmond’s rural beauty, overlooking Chesterfield and Powhatan counties, that most people never get the chance to see. Although it is located on the outskirts of the city in Goochland County, the quarry overlook provides some of the most jaw-dropping panoramic views of the sunset in the area.

Sunset at Luck Stone Boscobel Plant.

Before the company’s name change in 1982, the Boscobel Plant was purchased in 1930 by the Sunnyside Granite Company, becoming “the first crushed stone operation in Virginia to convert from steam-powered to electric-powered operations.” The Boscobel Plant is “the company’s fifth-largest site by volume,” and serves the local counties of Goochland, Henrico, and Chesterfield along with counties in eastern Virginia. 

According to information about the plant on the company’s website, “Boscobel mines Petersburg Granite, an igneous formation thought to be of late Paleozoic age (about 330 million years old)… Quartz, orthoclase, plagioclase, muscovite and small amounts of dark-colored minerals combine to give the stone its rich appearance.”

Sitting high above the James River, the overlook at Boscobel offers a view with no obstructions, creating the perfect opportunity to see the glistening sunset filled with cotton candy skies of pink and orange.

“Danger. Open-pit. No trespassing.”

Mackenzie Ferguson (‘22), who lives within close proximity of the plant, said that “I enjoy going to Luck Stone because it is a designated spot to watch the sunset. It’s more than just going to the river to look at the sky.” On clear days, visitors can see miles of treetops in Chesterfield and Midlothian. To add to the experience, the company has created a space that enables the quarry and its surroundings to be viewed with ease. A beautiful lawn surrounds a small patio with benches perched at the highest point near the plant, providing perfect photo opportunities.

To ensure the safety of all guests, the quarry is lined with a sturdy fence far enough from the drop-off, clearly labeled “Danger. Open-pit. No trespassing” to deter anyone from venturing too close to the edge.

For some people in the Richmond area, the Boscobel plant has brought more than just pretty views. At the beginning of the COVID- 19 era, my friends and I needed a way to see each other in person while maintaining socially distance. One activity that filled many of our summer nights was making dinner, or picking up take-out from restaurants such as Palani Drive, and driving to the Luck Stone Boscobel plant to watch the sunset, eat our dinner, and enjoy each others’ company during one of the most isolated times of our lives.

Courtyard at the Boscobel plant.

If you are looking to get away from life in the bustling city, or maybe eat dinner and take pictures with your friends while you enjoy the Richmond area from above, the Luck Stone Boscobel Plant is the place to go. Don’t be worried about crowds, because of its peculiar location, only a select few really know about this gem. Grab your friends and family, or maybe even take time for yourself and enjoy the beauty that Richmond offers.

All photos by Reynolds Hester.