Stephens City offers suburban convenience with rural tranquility
Located 9 miles from Winchester, Stephens City has a blend of suburban neighborhoods and rural areas, with easy access to parks and shopping. “People moving here are looking for the ability to have a nice home and be close to main thoroughfares,” says Angie Ordonez, a Stephens City resident and Realtor with NextHome Realty Select. “It’s the southern part of Frederick County, so it's close to the big areas where people are going to work, and it allows them to be outside the actual city of Winchester.” Stephens City is home to Sherando Park, and Shenandoah National Park is 18 miles away. Shopping centers provide retail options nearby. Interstate 81 and U.S. Route 11 pass through the community, making it easy to get around the region.
A mostly suburban area with colonial and New Traditional homes
Most of the colonial, ranch-style and New Traditional homes in Stephens City are in suburban-style subdivisions, where roads end in cul-de-sacs and houses have manicured lawns and paved driveways. Many of the subdivisions have homeowners associations, but Ordonez says that the monthly fees are consistently low. “For example, in my neighborhood, it's around $25 a month. They're very reasonable when compared to our Northern Virginia neighbors,” she says. There are also rural areas here, where homes can sit on several acres surrounded by pastures. Most houses range from around $300,000 to $690,000, though homes built in the 2000s on multiple acres can cost between $780,000 and $1.4 million. “Right now, we’re in a seller's market here, but it's definitely a changing market. It's working its way to being a little more balanced,” Ordonez says. “Some properties are still competitive, and some are not. It has a lot to do with the location and condition of the house.” Condos and townhouses can cost between $200,000 and $390,000, plus monthly HOA fees between $20 and $220. Many of the homes and townhouses here are available to rent.
Public and private schools earn Bs
Kids attend Frederick County Public Schools, which earn a B from Niche. They can start at Bass-Hoover Elementary and then go to Robert E. Aylor Middle; both earn a B-minus. At the B-plus-rated Sherando High, students can join over 20 sports teams, including wrestling, golf and football. “Most of the county goes to Sherando High, and there’s a lot of Sherando pride. People come together for the football games,” Ordonez says. Private schools include Mountain View Christian Academy, which earns a B and teaches kindergarten through 12th grade.
Winchester is the closest city, and some commute to D.C.
Interstate 81 is the main thoroughfare through Stephens City, leading about 9 mles to Winchester. U.S. Route 11 runs parallel to the interstate. Ordonez says that some residents make the 80-mile commute to Washington, often carpooling or taking the RideSmart bus from Winchester, a ride that can take an hour and a half. Houses of worship here include Abundant Life Church and Stephens City United Methodist Church. Valley Health’s Winchester Medical Center is about 9 miles away, and Dulles International Airport is a 57-mile trip.
Restaurants and stores are on Fairfax Pike and Main Street
Most of Stephens City’s stores and restaurants are in shopping centers along Fairfax Pike. Ordonez recommends Paladin Bar and Grill, a casual hangout serving American comfort food. Roma Casual Italian and Greek Dining offers wood-fired pizza and pasta. For dessert, New Town Creamery serves sundaes, milkshakes and funnel cakes from a walk-up window. Main Street is home to a few locally owned antique and specialty stores. Grocery stores include Gore’s Fresh Meats and Martin’s. More retail options are nearby in Winchester.
Outdoor activities and two movie theaters for entertainment
The 330-acre Sherando Park is the center of outdoor activities in Stephens City. The park has a nearly 5-acre fishing pond, forested trails, playgrounds and a swimming pool. Kids can join the baseball and soccer leagues that play at the park, and there are also areas for pickleball, disc golf and volleyball. The Family Drive-In Theater opened in 1956 and shows newly released movies on its two screens; the theater is one of the few drive-ins in the state. Alamo Drafthouse is an indoor theater where servers bring drinks and food to moviegoers’ seats. Nearby, the Shenandoah River is popular for kayaking, and Shenandoah National Park has hiking trails 18 miles away.
Events at Sherando Park and on Main Street
Sherando Park is a gathering place for community events. “They always do a big thing at the park for the Fourth of July with music, activities and food,” Ordonez says; the evening is capped off with fireworks. The park also hosts the Kite Flying Festival in April and the Thanksgiving Day 5K and Fun Run in November. On Main Street, the Newtown Heritage Festival each May celebrates the town’s history. The community was originally called Newtown and was known in the 1800s for its production of the Newtown wagon. The festival includes a wagon train display, vendors and live music.
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Written By
Annie Franklin
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Photography Contributed By
Bryan Allen
