The Washington, D.C. area is known for its transiency, which is what makes Great Falls, Virginia stand out. About 20 miles northwest of the White House and situated along the Potomac River, the roughly 25-square-mile community is close-knit. With its first land grant given out in 1709, Great Falls’s rural heritage is apparent in its old-timey village center and residences—horse farms, Tudor mansions and Craftsman houses on unusually expansive acreage for the D.C. region. With a population of about 15,500 and a median household income of $230,450, according to census data, Great Falls is mix of Beltway power brokers and Dulles tech corridor workers who want to live an idyllic, country lifestyle outside of the spotlight.
Notable stops and shops
L’Auberge Chez FrançoisF
Family owned since 1954, the restaurant is a Great Falls institution. Chef Jacques Haeringer—son of late founder and beloved culinary figure François Haeringer—serves classic and contemporary French-Alsatian food in a farmhouse setting. Go for happy hour; order the tarte flambée.
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Our Mom Eugenia
Brothers Phil and Alex Hobson run the neighborhood Greek restaurant with their mother, chef Eugenia Hobson. Try the saganáki, which is fried kefalograviera cheese set aflame with brandy.
The Old Brogue
The low-key Irish pub is run by the Kearney family, whose hospitality roots stem from Derry, Ireland.
The Saddlery
As its name suggests, The Saddlery, owned by Sarah Kirk, is a riding shop selling saddles, equestrian fashion, bridles, halters, grooming supplies and other horsey accoutrements.
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Event of the week
Katie’s Cars & Coffee is a weekly Saturday morning gathering from 6 to 9 a.m. when auto aficionados invite people to look at their high-end cars, which they park in front of Katie’s Coffee House.
Membership to have
River Bend Club has an 18-hole championship golf course that was renovated by Keith Foster in 2011.
Advice for the buyer
Research a property’s zoning. The Great Falls Citizens Association (GFCA) was formed in 1968 to keep an eye on the quality of community life. Because Great Falls is not a city—meaning its residents don’t have a government to represent their interests—the GFCA works to maintain the area’s country flavor with aggressive zoning, especially challenging any construction.
$4.75 million
At the end of Hickory Run Lane, this 13,056-square-foot home features luxury amenities in the midst of a heavily wooded 6-acre lot. Built in 2015, the structure’s architectural notes, inspired by French and Belgian châteaus, provide a more classical feel alongside modern touches including an elevator, central vacuum, and intercom. Agent: Daniel Heider, TTR Sotheby’s International Realty
$12.5 million
Built to evoke the best of a Cotswold country home, the 20,550-square-foot Alderly estate is a sizable mansion that emphasizes small touches: a wisteria-covered pergola, a kitchen garden, an entryway fireplace, a koi pond. Though only a mile from village center, the estate’s hedge of Japanese cedar sets the 5 acre lot firmly apart. Agent: Penny Yerks, Washington Fine Properties LLC
$7.99 million
This estate has two houses: A 12,000-square-foot main residence designed in the Georgian style and a nearby guest quarters with two bedrooms, three bathrooms, and an elevator. The property makes use of its expansive acreage with a pool, fountains, outdoor kitchen, a clay tennis court, an indoor golf barn, a basketball court, and formal gardens. Agent: Mark C. Lowham, TTR Sotheby’s International Realty.
Correction: Sarah Kirk owns an equestrian shop in Great Falls, Va., called The Saddlery. The name of the shop was incorrectly spelled in an earlier version of this story.
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