Photo Albums
Photo Albums : Our 50th Anniversary Celebration
Our 50th Anniversary Celebration
A 50th Anniversary Celebration to Remember!
Bad weather didn’t dampen the spirits of the crowd who convened at Frying Pan Park on October 2 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Fox Mill Estates. Guests included original owners who enjoyed camaraderie and friendship, former residents who connected with past neighbors and friends, and many others, all who call Fox Mill home. We enjoyed a BBQ dinner, viewed special displays of Fox Mill decade-by-decade, watched a video showcasing the neighborhood through the years, read memories shared by neighbors, and celebrated what it means to be a community.
We thank all those who worked so hard to make this celebration a reality. They include Decade Leaders Marian & Jay Andre, Keith Arnold, Karen Brutsche, Kay Vakerics, and Lydia Young who created amazing displays of each decade of our neighborhood. Also, Shelly Cintron who helped with registration, Josh Anderson who created the video, and Kathy Brown who led the dessert contest. Numerous volunteers were on hand to make the event a success and we thank all.
Thank you also to all who took the time to write up your fondest memories of our neighborhood. You sent in your stories of how you came to settle in here, you shared your favorite neighborhood traditions, you sent us pictures. Your efforts have given us a very personal historical collection about the place we call home. The finished project is now available on our website to be shared, enjoyed, and appreciated by all of our residents.
We hope you enjoy this collection of images highlighting this special evening.
Your 50th Anniversary Committee: Cindy Workosky, Chair; Barbara Mehm; Marjorie Crawford; and Christopher Flynn
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We are very grateful to the following merchants for their generous donations in support of our 50th Anniversary celebration raffle. Most of the participants are located in the Fox Mill Center. Please support our retail neighbors by frequenting them and please, when you see them, thank them for their participation. We thank and appreciate:
- Club Pilates (one month free membership)
- GG Hair Salon (Redken hair products)
- Glory Days Grill (5 $10 gift certificates)
- Lucia’s Restaurant ($75.00 gift certificate)
- Nothing Bundt Cakes (3-tier bundt cake)
- Papa John’s (2 pizzas)
- Pride Cleaners ($200.00 in cash prizes)
- Saigon 54 (2 $50.00 gift certificates)
- Style Studio by Neeta Seghal (a set of professional makeup brushes)
- Sun Tae Kwon Do (two free one-month memberships)
In addition to these retailers, several residents have also made anonymous, personal donations. Thank you, too, for your generosity.
THIS IS US
The 1970's
Brand new homes, no trees, and barren yards.
1973 - John and Marilyn Mangels, Unicorn
We moved to Fox Mill as it was a great place for growing our family and a good value house! Our favorite memories are of swim team.
1974 - Todd Jones
This was our first home purchased in Virginia. Our favorite memories are the Fourth of July big wheel parades and the paper bag street candles on Christmas Eve. We love the friendly neighbors and quiet community.
1976 - Betty and Bob Andrews, Kettering Drive
It looked like a wonderful neighborhood to raise a family, even though there was no school!
For many years, a couple of families on our street would organize a crab feast on Labor Day. Dave Hoglund and others would purchase the crabs and Kettering Drive families would contribute side dishes, desserts, and beverages. It was such a fun way to celebrate the holiday!
1976 - The Flynn Family, Claxton Drive
My late wife, Nancy, and I were newlyweds living in a one-bedroom apartment in Reston. Two of my colleagues at work told us about a development out in “the country” where they were in the process of buying homes. We took at look at the Fox Mill development, still very much under construction, and decided it was perfect for us. We picked out a lot and put our money down. There was a wooded area and creek running behind the house that would be great for the future little Flynns. After all these years, it is still the home of the Flynn family. Submitted by: Christopher Flynn
1976 - Mary Ann and Fred Moulton, 2618 Viking Drive
1976 - 2022 Look how our tree has grown! "Mighty oaks from little acorns grow."
1976 - Mary Jo and Pat Hamp, Bastian Lane
The Very Special Mill
What can I say, except over 46 years ago my husband, Pat, and I made one of our best decisions, ever! The home we bought in Fox Mill was supposed to be our first home (our beginner house). Well, here we are 46 years later in our beginner house with many additions (home additions, 4 dogs and 2 children). From time to time, we would go house hunting, but we could never find another "home" or community like Fox Mill. Our 2 children and 7 grandchildren have spent hours and hours playing together with neighborhood kids in our cul-de-sac. The picnics, fireworks, biking, skateboarding, snow forts, sledding, kickball games and I could go on and on with something always happening 24/7!
One of our most treasured neighborhood traditions that was started our very first Christmas season here, was a Christmas Cookie Exchange. We started out with 3 dozen cookies to share, and after many years we graduated to 5 dozen cookies. We added a potluck dinner to the very fun, anticipated tradition. To this date, we are still doing our annual cookie exchange. We never missed a year. Even the pandemic couldn't stop us...we exchanged our goodies outdoors or inside garages. This gathering is much loved by so many neighbors, and close friends. A few neighbors have moved, but still want to be a part of this Christmas festivity in our "corner" of Fox Mill.
In summary, all I can say is Fox Mill is one very special place to live for so many reasons!!!
1976 - Barbara Mehm - 2614 Viking Drive
We were living in a townhouse in Lake Braddock. It seemed the neighborhood was on the same timetable to make our moves to single family homes. Two other families on our street were looking around and discovered the two Miller and Smith built homes here in Fox Mill and Hidden Creek (near Herndon High). They went with the other community; Frank and I picked Fox Mill. I am so happy we did. On another side of the Lake Braddock townhouses, another group of three families were thinking the same way. They all moved together to homes on Puritan Court.
I made my first neighborhood friend, Mary Jo Hamp, in the model where decisions were made on the available options. She and I would discuss our choices. I feel lucky, looking back, that I went with the white appliances. Somehow I managed to escape the harvest gold and avocado green options that were so popular in the era. The white had a much longer design life. The orange shag carpet we picked, not so much. I must not have consulted Mary Jo on that one; surely, she would have stopped me! That said, I remember Frank and I having our move-in day dinner, picnic style, in front of the fireplace on that very carpet and we thought it, and life in general, was just great.
The orange shag is gone as have the old appliances. A lot has changed in my home. What hasn't changed is the good feeling I have about the home and where it sits. My boys grew up in the house and still think the refrigerator is theirs (and, of course, it still is!)
When we contracted for our house in 1976, a two-car garage cost $3,000. We didn't get one because we were afraid we would not qualify for the mortgage. Fast forward almost 40 years, a garage was finally added. It cost as much as the whole house did in 1976.
And, Mary Jo? We stay in constant touch, literally. Our property back corners meet! She remains a good friend that I know I can count on. I am grateful to have many such friends here. Fox Mill has been very, very good to me!
One of my favorite Fox Mill traditions is the lighting of the luminaries on Christmas Eve. Our family would always make the drive down Viking Drive and a few other streets to see them all lit. We used to joke that it looked like an airport runway! It was and continues to be, a beautiful sight.
Thanks to the many volunteers over the years who sold the kits of bags, sand, and candles, and to those who so generously made time on the special night before Christmas, to go out to light the luminaries along the common areas.
I would love to see more homeowners participate. This is a community tradition that is worth the effort and commitment!
1976 - Mary Ann Giangerelli, 2710 Viking Drive
I have many wonderful memories from the time I was doing childcare in Fox Mill. One especially dear memory was when I was caring for several of the morning kindergarteners. Our house number, 2710 Viking Dr, was made a bus stop for several years. The children were met in front of our home by myself and our collie, Laddie.
We moved to Fox Mill in 1976 and I did childcare from 1977 to 1990.
In summer of 1977, we signed on the dotted line and contracted for our house, which was to be our “starter home.” Since the new homes were to be heated by those newfangled heat pumps, we made sure to have a north-facing house so the compressor would get the most possible sun (heat) in winter. (Now, we’d rather the house faced south.) The house was on a common “pipe stem” private drive. We settled in September, but it took an entire month to clean the place for occupancy, in the evenings, because the builders left behind so much plain ol’ dirt—like our yards. Landscaping was on us. Our land had been part of a pasture…and you could smell that it had been.
About the heat pumps: at best, one got a slight puff of warmth occasionally, as they were SEER 4. They also had a tendency to either explode or catch fire. After a frigid winter, we had a wood stove installed. Boy, were we glad when Washington Gas solicited for new installations years later!
Another word about pipe stems: We’ve been very fortunate overall in that, as a group, the pipe stem residents have all agreed on major points such as maintenance and the No Parking (by law) requirement. Thankfully, those who proved to be contrary in this regard didn’t stay long.
Our daughter finished her early public elementary schooling at Floris Elementary, as Fox Mill School wasn’t yet in operation. Oakton was her high school.
We celebrated our fiftieth wedding anniversary here and are now great-grandparents and it’s still our “starter home.”
1979 - Kathy and Ed Hurley, 12815 Framingham Court
We moved in Labor Day weekend 1979 and raised three children here. They attended Fox Mill Elementary and I worked there for 10 years. We've always loved the community!
You can see the change with trees in back of house now and there was an open field behind us when we moved in. True to what was told would happen in 10 years, Fairfax County Parkway was built behind us, trees in picture have grown since 1979 and it looks entirely different!
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The 1980's
Yards have filled in, but still not a lot of fences. Many families are getting wood burning stoves to keep their homes warm.
1980 - Chuck and Marty Anderson, 2657 Unicorn Court
Chuck and Marty Anderson moved into their family home, 2657 Unicorn Court, in 1980. Chuck and Marty met when they were just four years old. They went to grammar and high school together in Ashtabula, Ohio. The town name means “river of many fishes” and feeds into Lake Erie. After college and Chuck’s service in the U.S. Navy, they got married. Chuck went on to attend law school.
They lived in Reston for a while and Chuck established his law office. They would often attend open houses in the area, never signing in as visitors or leaving their contact information with the hosting agents. That is, except that one time when they went to that open house on Unicorn...for some reason, they left their name. The rest is history.
When they moved in, they had two children. Three more were to come. Rather than move to a larger home in another neighborhood, they decided to stay in Fox Mill which they had grown to love and appreciate. A large addition to accommodate their growing family was added to the home.
The five Anderson children, Josh, Kristin, Megan, Caitlin and Justin, grew up here, riding bikes, playing on the playgrounds, swimming in the neighborhood pool, playing sports on the local teams, and catching pollywogs in the creek which was very conveniently located near their house. They all attended Fox Mill Elementary School. If these activities sound familiar, it may be that your children are doing the very same things today!
The Andersons have expanded their family homestead to include more properties in the neighborhood.
Josh and Kristin now live right next door to each other on Tewksbury Drive. Caitlin is four doors away. Both Kristin and Maureen, Josh’s wife, now work at the school. All have been active in the PTA. Josh even stepped up to serve as president of our homeowners association for a period.
Chuck recently retired from his practice. These senior Andersons do a fair amount of babysitting which probably includes returning captured pollywogs back to their home in the creek!
1980 - Sterling and Marjorie Crawford, Kettering Drive
Sterling was active duty Army and assigned to the Pentagon. We had so many options for selecting a place to live. We looked for our new home all over Northern Virginia! It was exhausting, but we were determined to find the perfect house. When we drove down the pipe stem, I had chills - I just knew that this would be the one. There was another house down the pipe stem, so I knocked on the door. A precious little five year old girl answered and proceeded to show us around the yard and was very welcoming. She was very excited to share that she would be starting kindergarten in the fall in the brand new school, Fox Mill Elementary School! We, too, had a little girl who would be starting kindergarten. We also had a two year old son. The kids spent many hours playing in the stream and at the tot lot. Down the pipe stem, we had a no judgement policy for being seen in our bathrobes at any given hour. We had to move out, rent the house, and move back in our house two more times as Sterling was reassigned. Each time we came back, we were welcomed back. After nine school changes, our daughter got to graduate with kids from kindergarten. We sadly bade the Oswalts good-bye in 2000, but we still keep in touch. However, what a blessing to have young new neighbors move in, the Andres. We shared in their joy welcoming two little girls who are now teens. What a treat to see them grow up! And yes, we still have the no judgement policy on bathrobes. We have our own slice of paradise on Kettering Drive! Submitted by: Marjorie Crawford
1981 - Jeannie Bruns, 12470 Wendell Holmes Road.
In May of 1981 my husband and I were the first owners along the Wendell Holmes Road pond. The house next door was built but unsold and construction had begun on a couple others. There were no street lights installed thus the nights were pitch dark on our side of the gas easement. The pond still had barbed wire fencing along its perimeter from days of old and the nearby family cemetery was definitely deteriorating, but less so than today. If you were a light sleeper, the bullfrogs’ mating calls would keep you awake. Barn swallows quickly built their nests in our eaves and kept the population of mosquitos in check around the pond. We could see the horses grazing across the pond at Robaleed from our back windows. Occasionally riders rode their Robaleed horses along the easement and around the unfinished lots here on Wendell Holmes.
Interest rates were sky high in 1981, so this bit of rurality continued longer than expected while the builder, Costain, gradually constructed more homes. Over time, the Robaleed farm was sold and the foxes and deer began to mingle with us as their wooded shelters disappeared. Now, 40 years and two grown daughters later, it is still a blessing to live in this beautiful Fox Mill Estates community along with wonderful neighbors.
We moved here in 1983 when stationed at the Pentagon,
Our favorite neighborhood traditions are seeing the Christmas decorations (we love seeing homes lighted) and the annual 4th of July parade.
1984 - Kate Karangelen Kalish, Quincy Adams Court in 1984 and then again in 2007 when I purchased my childhood home
I attended Fox Mill, Franklin and Oakton and graduated in 1999. I left for college and for about two additional years. I got married
and returned not only to the neighborhood, but to the house I grew up in!
I remember the Book-it Club at Pizza Hut and being able to earn a certificate by reading, that entitled you to a personal pan pizza. I can remember then walking to the Pizza Hut to get it. I also remember collecting all of the Pizza Hut swag including a set of Care Bear glasses that I still have and now don't allow my children to use!
Circa 1983- By the way, I was 3 years old . They are silly, but a fun memory!
1984 - Chris and Bobbie Cippel
We moved to Fox Mill Estates in 1984 after a number of our friends had moved here and were very happy with the people and the school. I had a newborn daughter and a 4 year-old son who explored everything.
One of the very first mornings in the neighborhood, I was sitting outside on the doorstep of my Fox Mill Estates home, holding my newborn and watching my son while he explored our new yard. He let out a horrific scream... My curious son had seen something hanging inside a bush at his eye level, and he decided to stick his toy into it. It was a hornet’s nest we did not know existed so soon after our moving in.
Immediately, before I could figure out the source of the problem, 2 of my neighbors came rushing over from different directions to see what was going on. My son was stung 4 times from his chest up to his chin. One of the neighbors who responded so quickly was a registered nurse and stayed for a while to make sure my little boy would have no serious reaction to the stings since this was his first experience with hornets-and thankfully his last for many years. I was surprised and very happy for the help and care that we received from our new neighbors and our wonderful neighborhood!
My son is now 41 years old and has 3 sons of his own. They love to visit us and explore the same yard where their Daddy grew up.
1984 - Lynn
My sister and her family moved to Fox Mill in late summer 1983. We joined them on Halloween for trick-or-treating in Fox Mill, which was all lit up and hundreds of kids in costumes happily went house to house. We had an amazing time. Since we were renting a home in Fairfax, looking to buy, we realized this would be the right place to look. My sister said to give her time. She and my brother-in-law played bridge with neighbors only five doors away and they planned to sell their home once their new home was finished being constructed. We met with that couple, toured their current home, and bought it in June 1984. My sister, her family, and my family lived as neighbors for over 20 years before they retired out of state. We have been here for 38 years, love our neighbors, and plan to retire in place.
Memories of Fox Mill Shopping Center: We remember that there was a florist, Fox Mill Florist, that used to be at the end where the Wells Fargo Bank is today. To the left of the florist was Minnesota Fabrics, a women’s clothing store, Richey Shoes, and a fabulous card and gift store called Jackie Lynn's Hallmark. To the left of Giant was the Town and Country Paint and Wallcoverings store with a manager, who had an amazing eye for color.
When the developers were building homes along John Milton and its side streets, they hosted a Christmas Holiday craft show/open house in each of their model homes. My sister and I picked up the most unique gift items. Fox Mill Shopping Center also hosted a Fall Craft Festival in mid-1980s on the sidewalks in front of the stores. I bought a 3-D “Merry Christmas” spelled out in fabric letters (bright green Christmas print) that hangs in its place of honor over our fireplace every year.
1987 - Pam West, Magna Carta
We moved to Fox Mill because it was in a great location, and a clean and quiet neighborhood. Our favorite memories are wonderful friends & neighbors and shoveling snow in the pipe stem with various neighbors. Favorite of all is all the wonderful support from my neighbors throughout the years! Close to all the necessities and remains a clean, quiet neighborhood. Clubs and pools available for all the kids.
1987 - Dennie and Eddie Byrne, 12846 Tewksbury Drive
When we were looking for a larger house in 1987, we had narrowed our search to two homes: one in Folkstone, and one in Fox Mill Estates. My husband and I loved the open, less suburban appearance of Folkstone, but with 4 children we chose Fox Mill – sidewalks, neighborhood pool, school nearby and lots of big wheels. We have never regretted that choice as we, and our children, have made lifelong friends here.
It was obviously a good choice as evidenced by the number of children that have grown up and moved back with their own families.
Here are some of them: (you may know of others)
Irelynn Byrne Legler and Kerianne Byrne Schoenfeld (our daughters)
Karen Costello and Mike Costello
John Baker and Tanya Lucas
Kristin Anderson Boyce and Josh Anderson
Keith Arnold
Kendra Moran Bruce
Drew Hershey
Jen Gordan Stinchcomb
Audrey Wood
Chrissie Clancy Davis
Heather McLean Clark
Rachel Miles Haymond
Kate Karangelen Kalish
One summer day, one of our sons grabbed a raft from our garage and went running down to the creek that runs parallel to Tewksbury Drive. When asked what he was doing, he replied that he and his friends were going to swim down at the new pond. Since there had never been a pond in our part of the neighborhood, I wandered down to see what the neighborhood kids were doing. I found them rafting in the “pond”. I quickly realized that a family of beavers had built a dam and created the “pond”. We convinced the kids that it wasn’t a good place to swim or raft. The beavers began to decimate the trees nearby. It took a couple of phone calls to the county to capture and relocate the animals.
All of the kids remember the annual, late-July, Fox Mill Tennis Club animal roast. They “remember” a pig was on a spit. The reality, as we remember, was several huge beef and pork roasts loaded onto the spit above the fire (a former jailhouse door served as the grill) early in the morning. A group of the long-time homeowners (the ”old” guys) supervised, while drinking lots of beer. A crew of homeowners also cleaned up the area around the tennis courts and strung tarps between the tennis court fence and the nearby trees to create shade. Then electricity was run to operate someone’s multi-speaker music system for the evening. By mid-afternoon the kegs of beer were brought in and set up, which seemed to attract a lot more of volunteering dads. Ice-filled coolers for all of the non-beer refreshments were set up and filled, as well. Families began to arrive in the late afternoon, lugging food to contribute, tennis rackets and swimming gear. There was usually a tennis tournament of some sort, follow by all the kids hitting tennis balls everywhere on the enclosed courts. Kids and families went back and forth to the pool. The picnic lasted well into the night (or until the kegs were empty and no one was willing to make a run to the Giant). As the next generation began to take over the animal roast, the huge slabs of meat were replaced with hot dogs and hamburgers. Families continued to bring sides and desserts. Kid games were organized in the roped-off parking lot and a dunk tank was set up.
For many of us, summer vacations were limited to the first week in August, after swim team ended and fall sports had not yet begun. There was a fairly large group of us that went to Bethany Beach each year during that time period. Each family rented their own house; however, group dinners rotated between us. We all hung out on the beach during the day, watching each other’s children. After dinner, parents generally played cards and the kids went to the boardwalk. In those years, Bethany Beach was not crowded and older children supervised their younger siblings at the arcades. These “neighborhood” vacations are another testament to the family atmosphere developed at Fox Mill Estates. The term, “it takes a village” still resonates as we observe grandchildren thriving here.
Both Fox Mill Pool and Pinecrest Pool were the centers of summer activities for many kids growing up here. Days were spent hanging out with friends at the pool, competing in swim meets and attending a variety of organized events.
As the kids became older, the pool became a source of employment for some of them – lifeguards, swim team coaches, swim lessons, and even pool managers.
The 1990's
Folks are starting to remodel, adding on porches and garages. Lots of trees.
1990 - Lydia & Glen Young, Wendell Holmes Road
I grew up in Arlington and I will always remember how, when my husband said Reston area, I thought, ‘I think I know where that is. That’s really, really far away almost like being in the country.’ Remember, there was no Reston Town Center nor were there any high-rises other than the building on the corner of Reston Parkway near the toll road known as The International Building. Also, I had no concept of commuting!
We are very spoiled having the shopping center on the corner. When we moved in, it had my favorite fabric store, Minnesota Fabrics, a chain no longer in existence, and other favorites, so it seemed meant to be. The house had a sign ‘by appointment only’ and our realtor discouraged us from trying to see it, saying no one who is serious about selling has a sign like that. Come to find out, the family that lived here had three small children so no wonder they wanted a warning! We wanted a home where we could raise children and stay and live the rest of our lives. We found our perfect house, and we have great neighbors, some of whom were here before us and are still here.
The 2000's
Young families move in as some of the old timers start to leave
2006 - Anonymous
We moved here because Fox Mill Elementary School offers the Japanese Immersion program.
Fox Mill is a great, kid-friendly neighborhood. We enjoy our involvement with the South Lakes cheerleading squad!
2007 - The Kopek Family, 12727 Magna Carta Road
We found an affordable house on Magna Carta at the quiet end of a pipe stem. It seemed like a nice neighborhood to grow into with shops, a great elementary school, and a pool within walking distance.
The 4th of July celebration has always been a family favorite. The kids love decorating their bikes and participating in the parade. The activities after the parade are so much fun.
The neighborhood camaraderie is the best! We’ve met many neighbors and families in the neighborhood and they all make for an amazing community.
2008 - Alec Deac
Moved for the school and style of neighborhood. Made friends for life. Walkable, dog and human super friendly, safe and quiet.
We had been looking for a good school area and found that Fox Mill Elementary was a highly-rated school. We wondered if we could afford a house here, and luckily found just the right one, priced right with a big yard, right near the school!
My favorite tradition in the neighborhood is the school’s 6th Grade graduation parade.
I love a lot of other things here – the friendly people I meet on my daily walks, the two parks, the old trees, the sidewalks and the big yards. All of our neighbors are friendly.
The 2010's
Some old timers dig in and make their homes more elder friendly.
2010 - Anonymous
We moved here because we loved the school and the way the community was set up.
The 4th of July activities are a favorite of ours.
Our neighbors are the best!
2011 - Abby Ho, 2602 Viking Drive
We moved here because my husband grew up here.
We like the 4th of July parade and swim team!
2013 - Eric Aufderhaar, 2706 Viking Drive
There are so many reasons that Fox Mill is a great place to live. A wonderful neighborhood school, two great pools, sidewalks on both sides of the street, and more!
The 4th of July parade is our absolute favorite tradition as it brings so many people out!
We’re happy we’ve found our “forever” neighborhood and love all the time we’ve spent here.
2014 - Kate Hammond, 2758 Viking Drive
We were looking for a neighborhood that was walkable and a place where our kids could ride their bikes to their friends’ houses. We love the school and its Japanese Immersion Program.
Our neighbors at the top of Viking are caring and fun and we support each other. We have great gatherings. We love the Fox Mill Pool parties!
2016 - Anonymous
We liked the neighborhood feel. You can walk to the playground or the grocery store.
The 4th of July bike parade feels like the kind of “small town” tradition you would see in a movie.
We moved here because of the family-friendly atmosphere and the great school.
Our favorite tradition would be trick or treating on Halloween. The costumes and decorations are the best!
We are lucky to have made many friends in the neighborhood.
2017 - Rosie Yepez, Bradwell Road
We moved here because we like foxes and because we like our backyard next to the woods.
We enjoy the spring egg hunt and the 4th of July celebration.
Some of our favorite neighbors are: Steve Lefave – kind, honest and helpful; Mr. and Mrs. Singh – the nicest people; and Aaron McDowell – funny, good-hearted and super nice.
The 2020's
Lots of remodeling going on. Lots of older trees being replaced by new saplings.
2020 Elizabeth James, Kettering Drive
We moved to Fox Mill as it was recommended by a family friend. Our favorite memories are of walking the little ones to school. The best thing about our neighborhood are the volunteers!
We moved here for the great schools, family environment and welcoming neighborhood. The community is centrally located to D.C., the metro, and the airport. We enjoy the bike parade and block parties.
2020 - Brooke Davis, 2735 Viking Drive
We work in the area and when looking for a home close to work, we visited Fox Mill. We saw kids and families out riding bikes, walking, etc. The neighborhood parks and pools were a huge plus!
We are still learning about the neighborhood but we love the parades and neighborhood get-togethers.
We live next door to the Shapiros and Delli-Collis and love them!
2020 - Ensieh Shohjaeddini, 12823 Wrexham Road
We moved here for the kid-friendly neighborhood. Our favorite tradition is the spring event.
2021 - Martina Cully, 12676 Magna Carta Road
We love the family-friendly design of the neighborhood – playground, local school, etc. You always see people walking around. Fox Mill Elementary School is highly rated.
The Hendersons are great neighbors. We love walking to school with our neighborhood friends and playing on the playground together after school. We love the creek.
We have enjoyed our first year here!
What our Fox Mill Kids say about their neighborhood:
Their favorite neighborhood tradition is the Fourth of July parade. They also like the spring egg hunt.
The kids think the community has a lot of good spirit. They say the neighborhood is fun and they enjoy the friends they have made. They add that their neighbors are kind, friendly, and helpful. They like their school. They like the nature in our neighborhood and, of course, they love the creeks.
Magruder's on Maple in Vienna had great produce. Only the newbies or uninitiated would dare to try to bring their shopping carts into those aisles. Word was, park your cart nearby and go in on foot! Sadly, Magruder's is gone. And when it went, so did my access to the Old Philadelphia brand pineapple vanilla ice cream they used to carry. Of course, I guess I miss the vegetables too...only not as much.
Mrs. Thomas' garden was a delight. It was where the new development of Iris Hills now exists on Lawyers Road, just outside the entrance to Fox Mill Estates. Mrs. Thomas opened her garden to the public for the viewing and purchasing of her great collection of plants. She had irises, poppies, peonies and more! What made her business so special was that she took your order then she dug up and prepared your plant at the proper time for it to be transplanted. That about always guaranteed you success! Some of our gardens continue to boast the perennial beauty and bounty of those original Margaret Thomas plants. We are lucky. Margaret Thomas is gone now as is that original garden. I can still picture the painters who were often set up there trying to capture that beautiful scene when I drive by Iris Hills today.
Do you remember when Reston Parkway was just two lanes? The trees would form a canopy over the road. When leaves were falling in the autumn, it was surreal. It also looked beautiful in the snow.
The Hunters Woods Shopping Center had a public library branch. It also had a hardware store that not only had your usual nuts and bolts but also housed a small satellite post office in the back. The agent there, I think her name was Kim, gave customers polite and personal attention. She was a delight.
Friday or Saturday night was always something we looked forward to. It included going over to Blockbuster Video in the Fox Mill Shopping Center. It was fun to run into your friends, unless of course they had snagged the last copy of the VHS you were planning to rent! There was always the chance your movie choice would show up in the tapes that were just being returned. So, you hung around waiting anxiously and jockeying for the best position to grab it when it appeared and became available. Oh, and don't forget to rewind...there are penalties!
I always look to see how high the creeks are after a heavy rain.
Remember when the Dulles Toll Road was just the Dulles Access Road. No toll, but you had better be sure you wanted to go all the way to the airport...there were no exits!
The A&P. Before the Giant came, some of us shopped at this classic grocery store. It was in the Pines Shopping Center in Herndon. One of their coffees was called "Eight O'Clock Coffee". It's 8 o'clock somewhere, people!
Once on a shopping visit to Margaret Thomas' gardens, a long-time area resident, who was visiting with Mrs. Thomas, shared some of her memories with me. She said there was once a dentist on Old Ox Road who pulled teeth on his front porch and threw the extractions out on his front lawn. I wonder if insurance covered that?
We watched the school being built from our front row seats across the street. I now watch it being rebuilt.
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Fox Mill Elementary School Renovation
Herndon, Va. — "Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) has awarded the Fox Mill Elementary School Renovation project to general contractor Howard Shockey & Sons, Inc.
According to FCPS, the existing 71,718 square-foot building will be renovated and expanded by about 19,000 square feet, bringing the school’s size up to 91,123 square feet.
The addition will include a new courtyard and secondary entrance, a new basketball court, and an expanded parking lot. New electrical, plumbing, and heating, ventilation, and cooling systems will be installed.
Fox Mill will also get a new main entrance with “updated, more modern front elevation,” and the existing hallways will be redesigned to “simplify and provide easier navigation through the building,” FCPS said. The architect for the renovation is MTFA Architecture of Arlington, Virginia.
Fox Mill currently has a design capacity of 840 students and a program capacity of 683 students. The planned renovation will actually shrink the design capacity to 650 students. Enrollment at Fox Mill dropped from 598 students in the 2019-2020 school year to 544 students in 2020-2021. The school has fluctuated between 81 and 92% capacity utilization over the past decade, peaking at 643 students in the 2014-2015 school year.
This will be the first time that Fox Mill has been renovated since its doors opened in 1979, though it did get an addition in 1980.
Fox Mill Shopping Center
The Fox Mill Shopping Center was built in 1978. The shopping center has had a variety of tenants over the years.
Do you remember going to the Fox Mill Shopping Center to visit:
Pizza Hut Radio Shack Fox Mill Pets Clean As A Whistle (cleaners)
McDonald’s Chic Hair Blockbuster Video Jackie Lynn’s Hallmark
Reston Jewelers Five Guys Richey (shoe store) Hunan East Salon USA
Kay Bee Toys Fox Mill Florist Minnesota Fabrics Spectrum Lamp & Shade
Town and Country Paint and Wallcoverings Parcel Plus Signet Bank
Hair Cuttery
We also had a children’s clothing store, a women’s clothing store, an art framing and craft store. Someone also recalls an Italian restaurant in the general area that the Pizza Hut moved into. Do you also remember when Subway was located in the office building at the center?
