Wolf Trap is a community with nearly 16,500 residents in the heart of Fairfax County. The area is named after the Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts, a popular summertime destination for outdoor concerts. "When people say Wolf Trap, they're talking about the performing arts center," says Scott Waters, a Realtor with Real Broker, LLC, who was born and raised in the area. "Even though Wolf Trap is a census-designated place, most residents have Vienna addresses and say they live in Vienna, Great Falls, or Reston if they’re right along Hunter Mill Road."
Dulles Toll Road bisects the community's network of winding, tree-lined streets dotted with spacious multi-million-dollar homes. Patches of woodland with interconnecting trails offer an escape from the nearby traffic-packed Tysons Corner corridor. Paired with a highly-rated school district, nearby amenities and a CAP Index of 1 out of 10, compared to the national average of 4, Wolf Trap is an affluent suburban community less than 20 miles from Washington, D.C.
Wolf Trap is a legendary outdoor music venue and National Park hosting events around the year in Wolf Trap.
Wolf Trap has a variety of home styles and sizes to accommodate families of different sizes.
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Million-dollar ramblers to $3 million estates
Some neighborhoods feature a mix of 1960s split-level, bi-level, colonial- and ranch-style homes that sit close together. These properties typically range between $800,000 and $1.2 million. But potential buyers need to be ready, because the market is sizzling-hot and properties tend to go under contract quickly. "Homes here stay on the market for about seven days," says Laura Schwartz, a Realtor with McEnearney Associates who has been selling real estate in the area for 16 years. Lush lawns, tidy landscaping and two-to-three-car garages are standard. Other streets give way to spacious Colonial Revivals, New Traditionals and custom-built estates priced from $1.2 million to $3.5 million. These estates often boast circular driveways and private in-ground pools. Properties get larger and pricier near the Great Falls border. "Great Falls has always been known for its affluence, but over the past 20 years, a small ranch near Vienna has tripled in price, even without renovations," Waters says.
Wolf Trap has smaller bi-level homes for those looking to start a family in the Wolf Trap community.
Colonial homes with well manicured landscaping line many of the streets in Wolf Trap.
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W&OD Trail, horse paths and other neighborhood green spaces
The Washington and Old Dominion Railroad Regional Park, known locally as the W&OD Trail, runs through the community. This 45-mile path attracts biking enthusiasts and joggers, while a 32-mile gravel horse trail runs parallel. The Meadowlark Connector Trail connects W&OD pedestrians to Meadowlark Botanical Gardens, which features 95 acres of blooming and lush foliage in the spring and holiday light displays in the winter. Horseback riding trails, large lots and Angelica Run Horse Farm, a local boarding stable, cater to local equestrians.
Well-hidden swimming pools, including those at Hunter Mill Swim & Racquet Club and Cardinal Hill Swim & Racquet Club, are scattered around the community. Networks of trails, both paved and unpaved, weave through the community, connecting residents to neighborhood parks with playgrounds and sports courts. In the heart of the community, Wolf Trails Park features additional trails, sports courts and a large playground.
Wolf Trap residents are also close to Lake Fairfax Park, a 476-acre green space anchored by a 20-acre lake that entices anglers, kayakers and peddle-boaters. Additional amenities at the park include sports facilities, a skate park, a water park, nature trails and public campgrounds. The nearby Westwood Country Club, a members-only club with a championship 18-hole golf course, offers a different kind of green.
The W&OD trail is a popular path for taking bikers and joggers through Wolf Trap and beyond.
Wolf Trap puts residents in close proximity to the exciting amenities that Lake Fairfax Park has to offer.
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Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts
In the summer, Wolf Trap draws crowds from all over the region, attracting big-name performers such as John Legend and The Avett Brothers. The park presents a line-up of musicals, operas, comedy shows and jazz concerts from May through September. The property is home to two state-of-the-art amphitheaters: The Filene Center and The Barns. The Filene Center features a covered outdoor pavilion with just over 7,000 seats and a large lawn for general admission seating. "My parents would always get lawn seats when I was a kid," Waters says. “People bring their chairs, blankets and snacks. It's a laid-back, family-friendly venue." The park also boasts nature trails that pass by the Children's Theatre-in-the-Woods, the site of live performances and puppet shows.
Children's Theater in the Wolf Trap National Park hosts events like live puppet shows throughout the year in Wolf Trap.
Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts boasts nature trails, outdoor theaters, and large music venues in Wolf Trap.
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Shops and restaurants in Tysons Corner and Vienna
Wolf Trap is also close to Reston, Vienna, McLean and Tysons. The community borders Tysons Corner, one of the largest shopping destinations in the region. "When I was growing up, the malls were always there, but the rest of Leesburg Pike consisted of car dealerships," Waters says. As Metrorail's Silver Line expanded into Tysons, luxury high-rise apartments and condominiums replaced car dealerships and other low-density business parks. "Tysons is like its own city," Waters says, of the area that today serves as home to several hotels, skyscrapers and a high-speed transit system. Tysons Corner Center is a bustling shopping mall with over 300 stores and eateries. Still, it has also developed over the years, adding a rooftop area that connects to the Metro and an adjacent apartment complex. Tysons Galleria boasts luxury designers like Louis Vuitton and Chanel and is often less crowded than Tysons Corner Center.
Large grocers, big-box retailers and a range of local and chain restaurants are scattered throughout Tysons, Vienna and Reston. Along Leesburg Pike, Joon is a fine-dining restaurant known for its authentic Persian cuisine. The nearby Capital One Center has been a leader in greenifying Tysons with a rooftop dog park, mini golf course and the Starr Hill Tysons Biergarten and stage.
In Vienna, small-town living comes to life with a lively commercial corridor brimming with local businesses along Maple Avenue and Church Street. While other eateries have come and gone, the Vienna Inn has been a community staple, serving up casual American fare and chili dogs since 1960. Wolf Trap residents can also enjoy one of Vienna's numerous events. "Vienna has a huge Halloween Parade, a town festival called Viva Vienna over Memorial Day weekend, Oktoberfest and summer events called Chillin' on Church," Schwartz says.
Tysons Corner Center attracts Wolf Trap shoppers with over 300 stores as well as unique seasonal events like the Enchant Light Experience.
Wolf Trap residents can enjoy nearby events like Viva Vienna during Memorial Day weekend.
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A-rated schools around Wolf Trap
With thousands of residents across nearly 10 square miles, several school pipelines serve Wolf Trap's numerous subdivisions. At least nine elementary schools, four middle schools and four high schools serve the community, including South Lakes High, James Madison High, Marshall High and Langley High. Almost every school boasts an A rating from Niche, including Colvin Run Elementary, Cooper Middle and Langley High School, which ranks among the top 20 best public high schools in Virginia on Niche.
Nearby private institutions include Oakcrest School, an all-girls school for sixth through twelfth grade. The Madeira School is another nearby all-girls boarding and day school for ninth through twelfth graders.
South Lakes High School provides quality education to the youth in the Wolf Trap area.
Langley High School serves grades 9-12 to teenagers located in Wolf Trap.
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Commutes on the toll road and I-66
The Fairfax Connector offers public transit around the county. However, Wolf Trap is a heavily car-dependent community. Tysons Corner spans Virginia State Route 7, known locally as Leesburg Pike, a few miles away, while the nation's capital is a 17-mile drive via the Dulles Toll Road and Interstate 66. Some commuters use the Metro, with nearby stops in Vienna and Tysons Corner. Dulles International Airport is a 12-mile drive, and Reston Hospital Center is 10 miles away.
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