Bull Run Mountain Estates

It was over 70 years ago that folks first started escaping to the Bull Run Mountains, constructing vacation and weekend homes hidden among the trees. Retirees and blue-collar families began joining the mix as permanent residents in the 1980s and, in the 2000s, fed up with urban turmoil and traffic, professionals turned westward, traded in their sensible sedans for four-by-fours and began building contemporary family homes. They were all seeking privacy, natural beauty and outdoor living—and they found it at Bull Run Mountain Estates.

"Bull Run Mountain Estates gives people an affordable resort lifestyle," says Natalie McArtor, an Associate Broker with Samson Properties in Prince William County. "It's secluded, but it's right off Route 15, which means amenities like shopping, golfing and wineries and breweries are close."

With some lots nearly 1,300 feet above sea level, Bull Run Mountain Estate offers an eagle-eye view of the surrounding countryside through blankets of lush foliage. Narrow, winding roads twist up the mountainside, and an eclectic array of homes greet you as if to announce that cookie-cutter blueprints have no place here. With a range of ages, sizes and lot characteristics, homes start at $400,000 and go up to $1 million and more. At the base of the mountain, you can get a 1970s split level with 1,600 square feet, three bedrooms and a flat half-acre lot for $550,000, or move up the mountain for a 1980s wooden A-frame, with three bedrooms, 1,600 square feet and 1.3-acres priced in the low-$400,000s. A modern Colonial built into the mountainside with four bedrooms, 2,400 square feet and sunset views to die comes in around $650,000.

Some might say the downside of this idyllic mountainside retreat would be the steep roads, services sometimes going out, and trees falling when the weather hits. But that's what keeps this community close. Whether loaning a backup generator or clearing trees, people help people here, and that's something money can't buy. An active civic association also keeps life running smoothly, managing everything from road concerns to a community center that houses meetings and events.

There aren't schools in the neighborhood, but fortunately, Prince William County Public Schools serve the area. Your kids will benefit from top-rated programs like those at Gravely Elementary, Reagan Middle and Battlefield High School. Each of these schools has earned an A-minus or higher from Niche.

When school's out, activities off the mountain are plentiful. A quick 20-minute trip down Route 601 puts you at Silver Lake Regional Park. With a 23-acre lake stocked with bluegill and largemouth bass, it's an angler's paradise. The park also offers kayaking and 4 miles of hiking and equestrian trails. If golfing gets you going, take your pick of picture-perfect greens at Bull Run Golf Club, a public club less than 10 minutes away. Or wind your way down to the private Evergreen Country Club and enjoy a championship golf course alongside an elegant clubhouse that provides swimming, tennis, gourmet dining and social activities for the whole family.

While rumors exist of old stills hidden deep in the woods, today's crowd prefers local establishments like the Winery at La Grange. This 20-acre working vineyard, about 15 minutes to the south, offers tastings in their cozy 18th-century manor house or on the patio overlooking the grounds. For locally crafted brews, head 15 minutes north on Route 15 to Quattro Goombas Brewery and enjoy pints, pizzas and plenty of live music.

You won't find grocery stores or retail on the mountain, but it only takes about 10 minutes on Route 15 to get to Dominion Valley, where Giant offers groceries and gas. Or in 15 minutes, you can be in Haymarket, where you'll find a Walmart Superstore, an Aldi, a Kohl's, and a historic downtown packed with quaint eateries and boutiques. Just east of Haymarket, the Virginia Gateway Shopping Center offers a Giant, a Target, a Home Depot and a Cabela's that will keep you equipped for outdoor activities all year long. Virginia Gateway also offers upscale retailers, a movie theater and popular restaurants like Firebird's, Nando's and Uncle Julios.

It's true—mountain life isn't for everyone. But for the close-knit, independent community at Bull Run Mountain Estates, privacy, natural beauty and convenient amenities make every day feel like a holiday.

Written By

Anna Strock

Photography Contributed By

David MacNeill

Video By

Sara Warthen