Turkey Branch

Hear the soft crunch of deer stepping across the fallen leaves from oak, hickory and maple trees in the suburbs of Washington. Though many communities surrounding the capital are fast-paced, in Turkey Branch, life is easygoing.

Because the neighborhood has several homeowner associations, architectural styles, home sizes and amenities vary. Find secluded estates with five-car garages in the Reserve at Hunters Ridge, attached homes with shared amenities in Ridgefield Village and transitional-style homes with riverside views in Occoquan Oaks. While some subdivisions appeal to those looking for a little less maintenance, others draw in those wishing to be immersed in nature. “When you get into a place like Occoquan Oaks, you can have up to five acres,” Kim McClary of Long and Foster explains. “It’s so peaceful, and you’ve got the wildlife.” Because property sizes can span from a few square feet to many acres, home prices range. Find four-bedroom town houses close to County Center between $415,000 and $450,000 and five-bedroom single-family homes on multi-acre lots for $1,100,000 to $1,400,000 farther north.

Though students won’t be able to walk to school from Turkey Branch, they will attend Prince William County Schools, which Niche gives an A-minus rating. Many elementary students begin 6 miles away at Signal Hill Elementary before transitioning to Parkside Middle, where they can participate in after-school clubs for coding, BMX and chess. For high school, students attend Osbourn Park, which earns an overall A rating and ranks among the Best Public High Schools in Virginia according to Niche. At OP, students can take Advanced Placement courses or participate in specialty programs like Navy JROTC, Practical Nursing and Firefighting. As with elementary and middle school, OP is located within Manassas, requiring students to take advantage of the bus or other ride options.

Though many homes in Turkey Branch appear secluded, all your essential retailers are close by. As McClary describes, “There’s everything in the world. Banks, just everything, but nothing in a huge shopping center—all local.” Gather groceries at Harris Teeter, break a sweat at Planet Fitness or chow down on a short stack at IHOP, all within the Shops at County Center, located at the southernmost end of the neighborhood. Waterfront properties are 4 miles from the shopping plaza, while houses in the Bren Forest and Ridgefield Village subdivisions are only steps away. No matter where you plant your roots in the neighborhood, however, you won’t need to branch out too far to find what you need.

When you’re looking for a change of scenery, reach recreational activities within a few miles in any direction. Take a 20-mile hike in the summer breeze before the leaves fall from the trees along the Bull Run Occoquan Trail or paddle along the river with provided kayaks at the Fountainhead Regional Park. If a round of golf is more your speed, book a tee time at the Old Hickory Golf Club, its championship-style layout and forested borders only 4 miles away from your woodland retreat.

At home, the sound of the river rushing through the rocks and the soft murmur of birds in the trees make it easy to forget you’re only 30 miles from Washington. “Basically, this part of Prince William County is very close in, and it gets you into the District of Columbia in short order. From a commuter perspective, I think it’s a commuter’s dream location. Proximity to the nation’s capital? All 5-star to me,” McClary says. Nearby thoroughfares prove equally convenient if your travels take you further into Northern Virginia rather than the heart of Washington. “It’s a great location for commuting because the Prince William Parkway is so close, but if you need to go to Tysons, you can go up through Fairfax Station. It’s the best of both worlds. You can really scoot if it’s not rush hour,” McClary expands. In Turkey Branch, you don’t need to sacrifice the soothing sounds of nature to keep city streets close.

Written By

Alicia Swain

Photography Contributed By

Tyson Le

Video By

Samantha Houtchens