Hickory Grove

“Farms, farmettes and a few clusters of single-family home communities.” This is how veteran Realtor Natalie McArtor describes the western Prince William County neighborhood of Hickory Grove. Far from a brushoff, McArtor, an Associate Broker and longtime local, says, “It’s what people want. They are moving here from all over. They want the rural lifestyle, larger homes and larger lots.” In other words, people want to return to simple living in a place where their money goes further—and they are finding it in Hickory Grove.

As McArtor says, family-owned farms, large and small, comprise much of Hickory Grove. Set in the foothills of the Bull Run Mountains, the landscape features open meadows, dense forests and gently rolling hills. As for the communities McArtor references, the 1980s introduced an influx of newcomers, an event certainly due to the opening of I-66, which created a pathway from west to east and made commuting into DC possible. These newbies sought small developments with large lots adorned with classic colonials and cozy brick ramblers lining leafy country roads. Later in the 2000s, overcrowding and skyrocketing home prices drove urban dwellers to the hills, as it were—and the perfect hills seemed to be awaiting them here. With larger budgets than their predecessors, custom luxury homes became the ‘mode du jour.’

Today, Hickory Grove remains a rural hideaway from the city’s madness, and homes are available in various styles. You’ll find homes built from the late 1970s through the mid-‘90s ranging in price from $550,000 up to $900,000. On the lower end, you can expect three bedrooms, two baths and up to 2,500 square feet with 1 acre or more. On the higher end, your square footage could jump to 4,500 with as many as 10 acres. Homes built after 2000 start around $1 million and go as high as $2 million or more. These stately homes come in graceful brick and elegant stone with high-end amenities, four to six bedrooms, up to 9,000 square feet and five to 10 acres

The Evergreen Inn and Country Club debuted in Hickory Grove in 1968, providing a premier golf club in a central Northern Virginia location. The 1827 manor house turned inn now offers a luxurious resort complete with a pool and clubhouse. The course, too, stays true to history as it wraps around its natural setting, preserving the slopes, fields and woodlands upon which it sits. The country club lends an upscale element to this quiet region and gives you a community hub for golfing, swimming, tennis, gourmet dining and social activities for the whole family.

To keep your active family busy, many of Hickory Grove’s original farms now offer equestrian activities, from horse riding lessons to summer camps. Just 10 minutes to the south, James S. Long offers a youth sports hub with soccer fields, baseball diamonds, basketball courts, tennis courts and a large playground, or you can head to Pev’s Paintball and Airsoft Park to the north in Aldie. For grown-ups, the Winery at La Grange, about 15 minutes south, offers an 18th-century manor house that boasts tales of ghostly sightings and delicious local wines.

Exceptional academics are also easy to find. Students can attend Prince William County Public Schools like Graveley Elementary, which gets praise from parents for their dedicated faculty. At Regan Middle, tweens can discover their passion in after-school clubs ranging from drama to Model UN to writing. Finally, your teens will wrap up at Battlefield High, a school known for academics and athletics, along with a solid A-rating from Niche.

Grocery and retail options are limited outside of local farms like Laz E Hill Farm, where you can order farm-raised heritage beef, pork and chicken. At T&W Boer Goat Farm Market and Flowers, you’ll find a farm stand and fresh flowers. To stock the pantry more substantially, Route 15 provides a straight shot down to Dominion Valley Market Square, where a Giant grocery store and gas station await. You can also pick up a piping hot pizza at Tony’s New York Pizza, voted Virginia Living Magazine’s Best Pizza from 2018-2021. If you’re in the mood for a pint, pop into Olde Dominion Tavern for local craft brews, $4 wine specials and a menu crammed with upscale comfort foods like fried chicken served with jalapeno honey and five cheese truffle mac.

If you’re looking for country living that merges with modern convenience, Hickory Grove delivers the perfect combination.

Written By

Anna Strock

Photography Contributed By

David MacNeill

Video By

Joan Wall