Historic - Fairfax County Economic Development Authority

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Enjoy the Show
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.
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.
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.
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.
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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
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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.
Explore the Earth
outdoor pleasures
Fishing and Boating
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; www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks.
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.
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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.
Dig Up the Past
heritage & historic attractions
Heritage Centers
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.
Get Physical
sports & recreation facilities
Dance
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;
www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks.
Golf
Tee up at the 18-hole Greendale Golf Course. 6700
Telegraph Road; 703-971-6170; www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks.
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;
www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks.
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.
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Swimming
Farmer’s Market
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;
www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks.
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; www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks.
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
Fun for All Ages
centers for kids, teens, adults & seniors
Kids Korners
Practice your backhand at one of the Richmond Highway area’s
40-plus tennis courts, many of them lighted. 703-324-8701;
www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks.
Have a Fine Feast
fine dining & down-home cooking
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
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;
www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks.
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; www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks.
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.
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.
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).
Gourmet Food Shopping
Adults
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.
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; www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks.
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Golden Opportunities for Seniors
Special Events
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.
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.
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.
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; 703339-4511. 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; 703-6192962. 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