Historic Fairfax County, Virginia Located along legendary U.S. Route 1 America s Main Street close to the nation s capital, the historic Richmond Highway community features a wide array of cultural, recreational, historical and scenic attractions. The area is home to families who have lived here since George Washington s time including the famous Gum Springs community, an early settlement that became a thriving center for African-American commerce and culture. Today, a steady influx of new residents from every part of the nation and the globe continues to enrich the Richmond Highway community s diverse heritage. With its lively cultural mix and superb community amenities, the Richmond Highway corridor offers an affordable, high quality of life just minutes away from the bustling economic centers of Fairfax County and Washington, D.C. No wonder so many new businesses and residents are discovering all that this location has to offer. This brochure will introduce you to just a few of the terrific things you can see and do year-round. If you live here, work here or are just visiting, you are invited to come out and play, along the historic Richmond Highway. Enjoy the Show See a live theatrical or musical performance or join the show yourself. Explore the Earth Discover some of the world s finest urban parks and wildlife centers ideal for all sorts of outdoor adventures! Dig Up the Past Explore the Richmond Highway s rich historic legacy. Get Physical Work out and play in terrific indoor and outdoor sports and recreation facilities. Have a Fine Feast Sample everything from saltimbocca to sushi in the region s newest gourmet hotspot with plenty of FREE parking. Fun for All Ages Join other kids, teens, adults and seniors having fun at area recreation centers. Shop 'til You Drop Fill your bags with the latest styles, vintage fashions, imported foods, unique antiques and collectibles, and more. Show Civic Pride Connect with others to help make the Richmond Highway an even better place to be. Expand Your Mind Take advantage of a lifetime of learning opportunities for all ages and interests.
2 c i r o t s i H 0 Cultural Opportunities 0 Parks, Nature and Recreational Sites 0 Major Retail Centers M Huntington Metro Station Fairfax County Visitors Center South County Government Center 27 M 50 48 South Kings Highway 43 28 Fort Hunt Rd. 4 35 2 19 40 3 47 9 49 31 51 24 7 George Washington Memorial Parkway 1 20 29 13 33 6 23 14 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway Telegraph Rd. 34 45 21 52 16 25 18 32 5 Dogue Creek Fort Belvoir HISTORIC RICHMOND HIGHWAY 26 Gunston Cove 17 46 11 10 42 30 er 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 Aldersgate Church Community Theater Bryant-Groveton Adult Center Collingwood Library and Museum on Americanism Community Business Partnership George Washington s Gristmill Groveton Senior Center Gum Springs Community Center; Gum Springs Historical Society and Museum Gunston Hall Hollin Hall Senior Center Lorton Library Lorton Senior Center Martha Washington Community Library Mount Vernon Community Children s Theatre Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens Mount Vernon UMC Social Hall Mount Vernon-Lee Chamber of Commerce Pohick Episcopal Church Pope-Leighey House River Farm Sherwood Regional Library Southeast Fairfax Development Corporation The Cave Teen Center The Hideaway Teen Center United Community Ministries Woodlawn Estate Accotink Bay Wildlife Refuge Belle Haven Marina Dyke Marsh Fort Hunt Park George Washington RECenter Greendale Golf Course Gristmill Park Huntley Meadows Park Jackson Miles Abbott Wetlands Refuge Lee District Park & RECenter Mason Neck National Wildlife Refuge Mason Neck State Park Mount Vernon District Park & RECenter Meadowood Farm Mount Vernon Trail Pohick Bay Regional Park & Golf Course Riverside Park Beacon Center Belle View Shopping Center Engleside Plaza Gunston Plaza Hollin Hall Shopping Center Michael's Plaza Mount Vernon Plaza Penn Daw Plaza South Valley Shopping Center Woodlawn Center 44 15 12 38 ac Ri v 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 22 P ot o m Key to Amenities 8 41 Mason Neck Peninsula 39 37 Belmont Bay 36
Enjoy the Show lively arts Community Theater Aldersgate Church Community Theater stages two productions each year of popular musical and dramatic works. 1301 Collingwood Road; 703-619-6063. Aspiring young actors and their families can learn drama, music, set design, make-up, wardrobe design and technical production at Mount Vernon Community Children s Theatre, 1900 Elkin Street, Suite 210; 703-360-0686. Free Concerts The National Park Service and the Mount Vernon Council of Citizens Associations sponsor free concerts every Sunday during the summer at Fort Hunt Park. Past performances have included rockabilly, African folk, contemporary a cappella, Latin rock, 20s and 30s dance and German brass band music. 703-289-2550; www.nps.gov/gwmp/fohu. Fairfax County s Sounds of Summer presents free summer concerts of jazz, classical and other music by various ensembles at the Lee District Park amphitheater. 6601 Telegraph Road; 703-324-8680; www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks Music Ensembles Mount Vernon Community Band (703-360-4061) and Mount Vernon Stage Band (703-604-6349) perform marches, show tunes and light classics to swing, Dixieland, jazz, German folk music and other programs throughout the area. The acclaimed community Mount Vernon Orchestra presents an annual concert series at venues throughout the area. The associated Mount Vernon Youth Orchestra features some of the region s most talented young musicians. For concert schedules and audition information, call 703-799-8229. Fishing and Boating Explore the Earth outdoor pleasures Boating and windsurfing enthusiasts enjoy the Richmond Highway area s scenic waterways. Set sail on the Potomac River from Belle Haven Marina. Launch your sea kayak or canoe into Belmont Bay from the cartop boat launch area at Mason Neck State Park. Put in your large craft or rent a pedal boat, jon boat or sailboat at Pohick Bay Regional Park. From Pohick Bay (Pohick is the Algonquin word for water place ) and Belmont Bay, you also can venture into beautiful Gunston Cove, the Potomac River and Occoquan Bay. Belle Haven Marina, George Washington Memorial Parkway; 703-768-0018. Mason Neck State Park, 7301 High Point Road; 703-550-0960; www.dcr.state.va.us/parks/masonnec.htm. Pohick Bay Regional Park, 6501 Pohick Bay Drive; 703-339-6104; www.nvrpa.org/pohickbay.html. Fish Potomac River tidal shorelines for bass, perch, crappie, channel catfish, bullheads, redbreasts, bluegills, sunfish, gar and carp. Get weekly sportfishing reports, advice on the best fishing spots and a fishing license from the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, 804-367-1000; www.dgif.state.va.us. Historic Gardens Find inspiration, expert gardening advice and heirloom plants at River Farm, one of George Washington s five farms and today the home of the American Horticultural Society. 7931 East Boulevard Drive; 703-768-5700; www.ahs.org/river_farm. Fine examples of early American formal gardens, orchards and farm operations also can be enjoyed at Mount Vernon, Gunston Hall and Woodlawn Estate. For more information, contact the Fairfax County Visitors Center, 703-550-2450; www.visitfairfax.org. Nature Centers Stroll on a boardwalk through the wetlands to a wildlife observation tower at the renowned Huntley Meadows Park. Fairfax County s largest park has thousands of acres of pristine woodlands, flowering meadows and other important habitat. 3701 Lockheed Boulevard; 703-768-2525; See bald eagles soar above Mason Neck National Wildlife Refuge, America s first federal bald eagle sanctuary. Located by Belmont Bay, this 2,300-acre refuge has abundant birdlife, including Virginia s largest great blue heron colony. Highpoint Road, Mason Neck Peninsula; 703-490-4979; http://northeast.fws.gov/va/msn.htm. Bald eagles also nest by the steep bluffs, woodlands and sandy beaches of nearby Mason Neck State Park, where you can hike, picnic, launch a canoe into Belmont Bay and take part in interpretive programs. 7301 High Point Road, Mason Neck Peninsula; 703-550-0362; www.dcr.state.va.us/parks/ masonnec.htm. Meadowood Farm, 800 acres of open space featuring a wild horse and burro showcase, recreation, wildlife habitat and environmental education programs, will open to the public on Mason Neck peninsula in 2003-2004. For more information, contact the Bureau of Land Management, 703-440-1700; www.es.blm.gov/programs/land/meadowood. Fort Belvoir has two wildlife refuges open to the public. Go on a photo safari in Accotink Bay Wildlife Refuge, which features a boardwalk and wildlife observation platform. See beaver, muskrat and dozens of bird species in their natural habitat at nearby Jackson Miles Abbott Wetlands Refuge. The refuges are open to the public dawn to dusk, seven days a week, but temporary vehicle passes are required for non-military visitors. Accotink Bay Wildlife Refuge Environmental Education Center, 703-805-3972. Jackson Miles Abbott Wetlands Refuge, 703-806-4007. Trails Explore the beautiful Mount Vernon Trail. Begin at Belle Haven Park, a popular picnic area next to Dyke Marsh, home to more than 250 bird species. See historic coastal defense fortifications at Fort Hunt Park. Stop at Riverside Park to fish, picnic or run the parcourse, and wrap up your tour at George Washington s home at Mount Vernon. 703-289-2500; www.nps.gov/gwmp/mvt.html. 3
4 Get away from it all in no time at all trek the miles of scenic trails that criss-cross Richmond Highway area parks and recreation areas, including Mason Neck State Park, Huntley Meadows Park and Pohick Bay Regional Park. Bring your binoculars to spot eagles and other wildlife. Cross-country skiers enjoy snowy park trails in the winter. Heritage Centers Dig Up the Past heritage & historic attractions Collingwood Library and Museum on Americanism houses an important collection of Americana and genealogy resources. Open daily except Tuesdays. 8301 East Boulevard Drive; 703-765-1652; www.collingwoodlibrary.com. Call or stop by the Fairfax County Visitors Center for detailed information on points of interest along the historic Richmond Highway corridor. Located at the Comfort Inn Gunston Corner in Lorton. Open every day except Thanksgiving and Christmas from 9 AM to 5 PM. 703-550-2450; www.visitfairfax.org. Gum Springs Historical Society and Museum presents the unique and fascinating history of the African-American Gum Springs community through exhibits and heritage events. 8100 Fordson Road; 703-799-1198; www.gshsfcva.org. Historic Treasures A popular picnic area along the scenic George Washington Memorial Parkway, Fort Hunt Park provided coastal fortifications to the nation s capital during the Spanish-American War and was the setting for top secret military intelligence operations during the Second World War. 703-289-2550; www.nps.gov/gwmp/fohu. Learn why the father of our country was also a technology pioneer at George Washington s Gristmill. 5514 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway; 703-550-0960; www.mountvernon.org. Gunston Hall, the estate of George Mason father of the U.S. Bill of Rights is located on scenic Mason Neck Peninsula. Events include archaeological digs and an annual kite festival. Open daily. 10709 Gunston Road; 703-550-9220; www.gunstonhall.org. Visit George Washington s home at Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens throughout the year for special activities and events. South end of George Washington Parkway; 703-780-2000; www.mountvernon.org. George Washington worshipped at historic Pohick Episcopal Church, an active Episcopalian congregation. Seasonal events. Open daily. 9301 Richmond Highway; 703-550-9449; www.pohick.org. See the Pope-Leighey House, a classic example of Frank Lloyd Wright s Usonian vision of compact, beautiful and affordable homes for a modern America. 9000 Richmond Highway; 703-780-4000; www.nationaltrust.org. A wedding gift from George Washington to his nephew, stately Woodlawn Estate hosts a variety of events such as craft exhibitions, rose garden teas and Christmas displays. 9000 Richmond Highway; 703-780-4000; www.nationaltrust.org. Dance Get Physical sports & recreation facilities Swing, mambo and cha-cha the night away at a social dance held every other Saturday night at Mount Vernon United Methodist Church and other area locations check Web site for current information! 703-731-6250; www.victordance.com. Ice Skating/Ice Hockey Mount Vernon RECenter has Fairfax County s only publicly owned indoor ice arena. Designed for year-round use, it includes a warming room, pro room, skate rental area, skate sharpening services, hockey team locker rooms and an NHL official-size rink. 2017 Belle View Boulevard; 703-768-3224; Golf Tee up at the 18-hole Greendale Golf Course. 6700 Telegraph Road; 703-971-6170; Play a round at Pohick Bay Regional Park Golf Course one of the most challenging courses in the Washington, D.C., area. 10301 Gunston Road; 703-339-8585; www.nvrpa.org. League Sports Get in the game join baseball, basketball, softball, football, soccer and volleyball leagues for kids, teens and adults. For information, call 703-324-5522. Parks and Recreation Centers Fairfax County Park Authority Recreation Centers open early and close late seven days a week and feature indoor pools, fitness centers outdoor sundecks, locker rooms, saunas and showers. George Washington RECenter, 8426 Old Mount Vernon Road; 703-780-8894. Lee District RECenter, 6601 Telegraph Road; 703-922-9841. Mount Vernon RECenter, 2017 Belle View Boulevard; 703-768-3224; Camp, swim, golf, fish, picnic, ride a horse, cross-country ski, play miniature golf or rent a canoe at Pohick Bay Regional Park, 6501 Pohick Bay Drive in Mason Neck Peninsula; 703-339-6100, www.nvrpa.org/pohickbay.html. Running and Hiking Events The popular George Washington Parkway 15K/5K Classic takes place the third Sunday in April along the George Washington Memorial Parkway. 703-549-4447; www.bestrace.com/gwparkwayclassic. Share the spirit of walking. Contact the Northern Virginia Hiking Club (703-440-1805) or the Northern Virginia Volksmarchers (703-250-4008) to learn about volksmarches and other area hiking events.
Swimming Take the plunge at a Fairfax County RECenter, then relax in a poolside sauna. George Washington RECenter, 8426 Old Mount Vernon Road; 703-780-8894. Lee District RECenter, 6601 Telegraph Road; 703-922-9841. Mount Vernon RECenter, 2017 Belle View Boulevard; 703-768-3224; Take the heat out of a hot summer s day in the outdoor pools at Martin Luther King, Jr. Park, 8115 Fordson Road; 703-780-9778 or Pohick Bay Regional Park, 6505 Pohick Bay Drive; 703-339-6102; www.nvrpa.org/pohickbay.html. Tennis Practice your backhand at one of the Richmond Highway area s 40-plus tennis courts, many of them lighted. 703-324-8701; Dining Out Tempt your palate with a delectable array of international cuisines including Chinese, Continental, Indian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Latin American, Mediterranean, Mongolian barbecue, Thai and Vietnamese. Or enjoy authentic regional American specialties at mom & pop-style restaurants serving up excellent barbecue, Cajun, Carolina low country cooking, Chesapeake Bay crab feasts, burgers, buffets, chicken wings, seafood and steak. And forget the traffic nightmares of Georgetown, Bethesda or Clarendon Richmond Highway restaurants are easy to find and surrounded by ample FREE parking. So you can spend more time enjoying your meal, not circling the block. Get more information on Richmond Highway restaurants from the Mount Vernon-Lee Chamber of Commerce, 703-360-6925; www.mtvernon-leechamber.org. Food Festivals Have a Fine Feast fine dining & down-home cooking Enjoy lively food festivals, delicious holiday meals and other culinary events at historic homes, churches, shopping centers and other Richmond Highway area locations. Sample colonial fare, homemade apple butter, fine Virginia wines, spicy blue crabs, fresh strawberries, roasted oysters, Oktoberfest brews, exotic international treats and more. Check the Mount Vernon Gazette (703-838-0302; www.connectionnewspapers.com), the Mount Vernon Voice (703-360-0800), The Washington Post (www.washingtonpost.com) and the Fairfax County Convention and Visitors Bureau (www.visitfairfax.org) for current event listings. Gourmet Food Shopping Give your favorite dish an international twist add a Latin American, Middle Eastern, Asian, Caribbean or Indian flavor with spices, imported treats and specialty foods from our growing array of ethnic grocers. Farmer s Market Bag farm-fresh produce at the Mount Vernon Farmer s Market. Tuesdays, 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM, May through November. Sherwood Regional Library, 2501 Sherwood Hall Lane; 703-324-5390; Kids Korners Fun for All Ages centers for kids, teens, adults & seniors Fairfax County Community and Recreation Services sponsors art workshops, drama, dance classes and other fun activities for children at various locations. 703-324-4386; www.fairfaxcounty.gov/rec. Check out the fun at your local library, where you can find a variety of free activities and events for kids such as story time, puppet shows, music and crafts. Lorton Library, 9520 Richmond Highway; 703-339-7385. Martha Washington Community Library, 6614 Fort Hunt Road; 703-768-6700. Sherwood Regional Library, 2501 Sherwood Hall Lane; 703-765-3645; www.fairfaxcounty.gov/library. Fairfax County RECenters offer classes, camps and pre-school programs for kids. George Washington RECenter, 8426 Old Mount Vernon Road; 703-780-8894. Lee District RECenter, 6601 Telegraph Road; 703-922-9841. Mount Vernon RECenter, 2017 Belle View Boulevard; 703-768-3224; Teen Stuff Learn computers and music, shoot hoops, pump iron, play softball, go on field trips and more at Gum Springs Community Center, 8100 Fordson Road; 703-360-6088. Join your friends at Rock & Blade Skating with a DJ Friday nights at the Mount Vernon RECenter ice arena. 2017 Belle View Boulevard; 703-768-3224; Play pool, table tennis, basketball or volleyball at Fairfax County Teen Centers, which also feature music, community service, character education and other activities. The Cave at Cameron Elementary School, 3434 Campbell Drive; 703-704-6796. The Hideaway at the South County Center, 8350 Richmond Highway; 703-704-6234; www.fairfaxcounty.gov/rec. Get hands-on computer experience at Gum Springs Community Center s Computer Clubhouse (703-360-6088) and at Computer Learning Centers located at the Sacramento Neighborhood Center (703-619-2962), Mount Vernon Woods Elementary School (703-619-2823) and the Lorton Community CLCP (703-339-4511). Adults Don t miss a thing. Get your free subscription to Parktakes a quarterly catalog of class listings for aerobics, arts and crafts, golf, dance, swimming, music, martial arts, team sports and loads of other recreational fun. 703-324-8588; 5
6 Golden Opportunities for Seniors Area residents 55 years of age or older can join exercise classes, bridge games, hobby and craft classes, discussion groups, trips and other activities at Fairfax County Senior Centers. Groveton Senior Center, 8350 Richmond Highway; 703-704-6216. Hollin Hall Senior Center, 1500 Shenandoah Road; 703-765-4573. Lorton Senior Center, 7720 Gunston Plaza; 703-550-7195; www.fairfaxcounty.gov/rec. Shop 'til You Drop shopping historic richmond highway With nearly 3 million square feet of retail space, the Richmond Highway is one of Fairfax County s most popular shopping destinations. Find the latest fashions in clothes and home décor, or join savvy bargain hunters at area antique stores, thrift shops and community yard sales. Try your hand at silkscreening, painting, beading, framing or sewing with help from more than a dozen arts and crafts supply stores and galleries. Or begin that renovation, redecorating or landscaping project with tools and advice from local home and garden centers. For area shopping information, contact the Mount Vernon-Lee Chamber of Commerce, 703-360-6925; www.mtvernon-leechamber.org. Show Civic Pride leadership & volunteer activities Looking for a way to serve and improve your community? Enjoy meeting people with similar interests? Want to help preserve and protect the environment? Have special knowledge and skills you d like to share? Richmond Highway area organizations offer many opportunities to make a difference. Business and Development Mount Vernon-Lee Chamber of Commerce, 703-360-6925; www.mtvernon-leechamber.org. Southeast Fairfax Development Corporation, 703-360-5008; www.sfdc.org Civic Groups Mount Vernon Community Coalition, 703-780-5497. Mount Vernon Council of Citizens Associations, 703-768-7091. Volunteer Opportunities Fairfax County Volunteer Coordinator, 703-821-5493. Good Shepherd Housing and Family Services, 703-768-9404. Gum Springs Community Center, 703-360-6088. Lorton Community Action Center, 703-339-5161. New Hope Housing, 703-799-2293. United Community Ministries, 703-360-9088. Special Events Enjoy fundraising galas, benefit performances, concerts, craft fairs, community days and other popular events staged by local organizations throughout the year. Check the Mount Vernon Gazette (703-838-0302; www.connectionnewspapers.com), the Mount Vernon Voice (703-360-0800), The Washington Post (www.washingtonpost.com) and the Fairfax County Convention and Visitors Bureau (www.visitfairfax.org) for current event listings. Expand Your Mind lifetime learning resources Computer Training The Richmond Highway area has a variety of computer learning centers to boost your technology skills: Lorton Community CLCP, 9504 Richmond Highway; 703-339-4511. Mount Vernon Woods CLCP, 4015 Fielding Street; 703-619-2823. Northern Virginia Community College, 2709 Popkins Lane; 703-323-3168. Sacramento Neighborhood Center, 8792-E Sacramento Drive; 703-619- 2962. Sherwood Regional Library, 2501 Sherwood Hall Lane; 703-765-3645. UCM Adult Computer Training School, 7842 Richmond Highway; 703-360-9088. Continuing Education and Job Training Reach your educational goals, learn new job skills, pick up a foreign language, study culinary and fine arts and more through classes and programs offered by the Fairfax County Office of Adult and Community Education. Groveton-Bryant Learning Center, 2709 Popkins Lane; 703-660-2000; www.fcps.edu/adult.htm. Visit the Employment Resource Center at the South County Government Center to access a wealth of free services and resources to help you find a new or better job. 8350 Richmond Highway; 703-704-6286. Public Libraries Find a treasure trove of books, music, videos and other materials at area libraries, or stop by for book discussion groups, lectures, exhibits, book sales and other events. Lorton Library, 9520 Richmond Highway; 703-339-7385. Martha Washington Community Library, 6614 Fort Hunt Road; 703-768-6700. Sherwood Regional Library, 2501 Sherwood Hall Lane; 703-765-3645; www.fairfaxcounty.gov/library. Small Business Assistance Launch your business ideas with entrepreneur-friendly resources including seminars, one-on-one advice and financing assistance from the Community Business Partnership, 6911 Richmond Highway, Suite 290; 703-768-1440; www.cbponline.org. PRODUCED BY THE FAIRFAX COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, Author: Lisa Madigan Tate; Designer: Vicki Serraino APRIL 2003