ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA
Carved from the expanses of George Washington’s beloved Mount Vernon—his home for more than 40 years and now one of America’s most revered landmarks—the idyllic 16.5-acre estate known as River View is an unprecedented property on the banks of the Potomac. Records reflect that Washington rode daily across River View when he was home to supervise his lands, and this famed setting high above the water had the unique power to calm the mind of America’s founding father and first Commander in Chief. The property was owned by Washington’s descendants until 1859.
In addition to a stately Federal-style main residence of some 16,000 square feet, River View features a masterfully rejuvenated three-bedroom guesthouse with a one-car garage, a rebuilt and modernized carriage house offering a studio apartment and space for at least four vehicles; impeccably manicured Colonial boxwood and rose gardens inspired by blueprints found on the property; willows, magnolias, and pine groves; and 400 enviable feet of frontage on the river, including a pier and a deep-water channel.
Designed by architect Jim Rill, constructed by West Wing Builders, and completed in 2018, the light-flooded main residence is firmly rooted in a time-honored traditional East Coast aesthetic yet is undeniably sophisticated and modern. Every room enjoys a view of the river, nearly all spaces access a terrace, and both indoors and out, River View is ideal for hosting groups large or small, events intimate or grand.
In addition to an august english white oak-paneled reception room, 7 bedrooms, 10 luxurious baths, and a bright, spacious, and inviting kitchen, highlights include a generous gym with radius windows overlooking the Potomac; a spa with a resistance pool, a steam room, an infrared sauna, and a jetted spa tub; a game room with hand-crafted stone walls, a full bar, a billiards table, a fireplace, two televisions, and views of the river; a wine cellar; and a 15-seat theater and screening room.
The estate has been outfitted with an eye toward ecological sustainability and forward-thinking technology, incorporating geothermal heating systems, state-of-the-art well water management, property-wide backup generators, and security, utility, internet access, and entertainment systems controlled and maintained by central computers. Top security officials designed the estate’s security system.
This treasured American acreage, on the banks of the great river, is a place of true serenity. Eastern light washes across the water’s surface, creating an ever-changing drama of color. Fox, wild turkey, and bald eagle live on the land, and the songs of herons, cranes, and more than 300 species of native and migratory birds are in harmony with the rippling sounds of the Potomac.
The quiet, idyllic nature of River View—secluded at the end of a winding gated driveway—belies is proximity to conveniences, attractions, dining and cultural amenities, and educational offerings. River View is a mere four miles from the heart of Mount Vernon, 10 miles from the nation’s capital, and easily accessible from the region’s three airports.
River View reveals why George Washington proclaimed that “I had rather be on my farm than emperor of the world.”
