Bookings available beginning May 1, 2026
About the Farm
The farm dates back to 1799, beginning with the Caleb Darby family. The historic log cabin on the property predates the Darbys, but its original builder remains unknown. In the 1860s, the post-and-beam bank barn was assembled with interlocking, pegged construction.
We, the Rielley children and grandchildren, are committed to honoring Rye Lea Farm’s history by restoring and celebrating this special place. We are now opening our gates for picnics, photography, and small gatherings; offering a space filled with heritage, memory, and Maryland farm hospitality.
Rye Lea Farm is a family-owned property located in the heart of Montgomery County’s Agricultural Reserve. This historic farm has been owned by the Rielley family for more than fifty years and has been a place of childhood memories, hard work, and a deep connection to the land.
Over time, the house was expanded and outbuildings were added. This was typical of 19th-century Montgomery County farms, creating a landscape of barns, fields, and hand-built features that reflected the rhythms of rural life. As one of the long-standing farmsteads on Darnestown Road, it helped shape the agricultural character of the upper Potomac community that still exists today.
