Once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own 27 plus acres of riverfront property in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. Imagine owning an estate renowned for its unobstructed views of the Potomac River and impeccably maintained gardens. Just 20 minutes from Washington, DC, River Farm, a sweeping 27.5-acre property located on the Potomac River, is on the market for the first time in nearly 50 years. The charm of the past envelops you immediately upon entering the property. As you wind through the circular driveway you will see the 11,000 square foot stone manor house nestled in an elegant park-like setting. As you gaze across the gardens, you'll take in expansive views of the Potomac River. The existing home is currently being used as offices for the American Horticultural Society, but as you step through the front door of the stately manor house, it's easy to envision its history as a private residence. To the right, you'll find a large parlor with a beautiful view of the river and just beyond the foyer, a dining room perfect for entertaining. Walk down the hallway, a gracious ballroom with a spectacular vista of the grounds. Ascend the stairs to the second level, and you'll find six bedrooms and four bathrooms. The lower level of the home contains ample storage. Original trim, windows and floors are found throughout the home, and the Potomac is visible from many of the rooms. Just off the ballroom is a large bluestone terrace framed on one side by a stately hedge of English boxwood. As you tour the property, you'll encounter a series of perennial gardens, a children's garden, and a naturalistic four-acre meadow. River Farm also includes a carriage house, cottage and two storage garages. *HOME AMENITIES: Over 4,000 square feet of entertaining space; Large covered porch and smaller enclosed porch; Original trim, windows and floors; Six bedrooms, six bathrooms; Spacious slate patio; Extensive formal and informal gardens with historic plantings; Carriage house; Cottage. *HISTORY: River Farm's first owners were the Brents, an English Catholic family active in early colonial Maryland. In 1653 or 1654, Giles Brent obtained 1,800 acres for his son, Giles, Jr. and his wife, a princess of the Piscataway tribe. This grant of 1,800 acres, named Piscataway Neck, included the land that is now River Farm. In 1760, George Washington bought the land for 1,210 pounds. Along with the purchase of three other nearby tracts, Washington consolidated his holdings into a single, contiguous plantation of approximately 7,400 acres. River Farm became the northernmost of Washington's five farms. Malcolm Matheson bought the property in 1919 and remodeled the home into a charming early-20th Century country estate that stands today. In 1973, American Horticultural Society (AHS) board member and philanthropist Enid Annenberg Haupt provided funds for the AHS to purchase the property. The grounds now house the offices of AHS and are used for weddings, events and gardening. *NEIGHBORHOOD/COMMUNITY OF FORT HUNT: The serene property is only 20 minutes south of Washington, DC, but you'll feel a world away. River Farm is located south of Old Town Alexandria in the quiet and leafy Wellington neighborhood of Fairfax County. The scenic, 18-mile Mount Vernon Trail passes just outside the front gates. Additional recreational opportunities abound. The Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve is just three minutes north, and Fort Hunt Park is an equal distance to the south. Drive Times - Old Town Alexandria: 12 min. National Airport: 18 min. Downtown DC: 28 min. Amazon HQ2: 21 min. Pentagon: 20 min. Fort Belvoir: 17 min. National Harbor: 13 min.
