A planned residential community near Chantilly
Greenbriar is a quiet, planned suburban community between Fair Oaks and Chantilly. Its inception began in the 1960s, when Levitt & Sons, a real estate development company known for its planned communities across the nation, turned what was formerly farmland into a uniform subdivision. Greenbriar boasts nearly 2,000 single-family homes along winding residential streets with alliterative names starting with "M" or "P," such as Meadow Hill Lane, Marble Lane and Majestic Lane or Pebble Lane, Parson Lane and Pavilion Lane.
Greenbriar Town Center is a busy shopping center that anchors the community along U.S. Route 50. Sidewalks cater to pedestrians, while wooded trails and parks bisect the neighborhood's uniform streets. "My grandparents were a part of the first wave of residents to move in," says Scott Waters, a Realtor with Real Broker, LLC, who was born and raised in the area. "And they only moved out when they were too old to care for themselves. You have convenient access to amenities, parks, good schools and highways. I'm no latchkey kid, but when we would have family events, they'd send us off to the grocery store and were never concerned about kids walking alone."
1960s and 1970s single-family homes
Quiet residential roads give way to 1960s and 1970s Cape Cods with steeply pitched roofs and brick ramblers priced from the mid-$600,000s to the mid-$700,000s. Classic Colonial Revivals and bi-levels with Romanesque columns are scattered in between and typically sell for slightly more, ranging from the mid-$700,000s to nearly $1 million. One-to-two-car attached garages, modest fenced-in backyards and paved sidewalks are standard. "Some homes haven't changed since the 1960s, some have drop-dead gorgeous renovations, and then you have everything in between," says Joe Dettor, a Realtor with Keller Williams Fairfax Gateway, who has lived in Greenbriar for over 30 years. "They're older homes, and we don't have basements, but that keeps the price down." Greenbriar also has small clusters of townhouses ranging from $425,000 to $800,000 and condo units ranging from $300,000 to $500,000. However, these complexes are not a part of Levitt & Sons’ original development.
Education in Greenbriar
Fairfax County Public Schools serves the community, which Niche ranks an A and the No. 6 best school district in Virginia. Students living on the neighborhood's east side may attend the B-rated Greenbriar East Elementary School, while those on the neighborhood's west side may attend Greenbriar West Elementary School, which garners an A. Students from both schools reunite for seventh and eighth at the A-rated Rocky Run Middle School and continue to the A-rated Chantilly High School. Chantilly High is known for its Governor's STEM Academy, which offers career-focused programs that range from the culinary arts to cosmetology.
Neighborhood parks, pools and nearby golf courses
Greenbriar borders some of Fairfax County's busiest roadways. However, residents are still within walking distance of several green spaces. The Rocky Run Trail is a shaded 3-mile gravel path that weaves along a bubbling creek and passes by playgrounds and picnic areas. The trail leads west to Greenbriar Park, which features several sports fields, including a lighted turf soccer field, tennis courts and a community center. The trail also leads past Greenbriar Commons Park in the heart of the neighborhood. The park features a small playground, picnic areas and a community pool.
At Greenbriar Pool Club, families can gather for swim meets, catch up with neighbors, cool down with an ice cream cone or play a game of beach volleyball. The club is a mainstay of the community, but passes are limited to 600 families. Pool goers don't necessarily need to live in Greenbriar, but to become a member, buyers must purchase or rent a membership from someone with a membership. "Buying a membership from someone is around $2,700, but it kind of depends on what the seller wants to sell it for," says Danny Lee, Realtor with Samson Properties and Greenbriar resident. Passholders also pay a $475 annual maintenance fee.
Greenbriar residents are within 5 miles of four different golf courses, including the International Country Club, ICC for short, a members-only club with an 18-hole golf course, a clubhouse with a restaurant, an outdoor pool and tennis courts. "Everyone knows at least one person who is a member, even if you don't live in Chantilly," Waters says.
Greenbriar Civic Association events
The Greenbriar Civic Association publishes a monthly flyer with news and events, including summertime concerts, Easter egg hunts, and meet-and-greets with Santa at Greenbriar Commons Park. "Everyone brings a chair and just likes listening to the band they hired," Dettor says. The Commons is also a popular viewing spot for ICC's fireworks displays.
Retailers and restaurants in Greenbriar and Fair Lakes
Along U.S. Route 50, Greenbriar Town Center is home to Giant Food and retailers such as Marshalls. “Greenbriar Town Center is very walkable from most places in Greenbriar," Lee says. "There's a stairwell that goes to the back corner of the shopping center, and I walk through with my kids a lot." Popular eateries include chains like First Watch, known for their health-conscious breakfast options, and Bonefish Grill, a semi-upscale restaurant serving Chilean Sea Bass, Filet Mignons and more. Greenbriar Town Center was also the location of Dogfish Head Alehouse, a popular neighborhood restaurant that closed at the end of 2023. "Dogfish Head Alehouse used to be the neighborhood watering hole. Now that it's closed, we're going to Buffalo Wing Factory," Dettor says.
Additional box stores are in the neighboring Fair Lakes Shopping Center, where an iconic statue of a woman and dog mark patrons' arrival. “If you don't get it in Greenbriar, you get it in Fair Lakes," Dettor says. Down the road, Fair Oaks Mall features around 160 shops and restaurants. However, many residents drive an extra 10 miles to Tysons Corner Center and Tysons Galleria, one of the region's largest shopping malls.
Commutes on Route 50 and Interstate 66
Fairfax Connector buses run along U.S. Route 50 and Stringfellow Road. Greenbriar residents are about 8 miles from both Reston and Vienna Metro stations. However, Greenbriar is primarily a car-dependent community bordering Route 50, Fairfax County Parkway and Interstate 66. I-66 leads about 22 miles east to Washington, D.C. Dulles International Airport is about 8 miles north of Greenbriar, and Inova Fair Oaks Hospital is 2 miles northeast.
