Great Falls Real Estate > Great Falls Community Info

Great Falls was originally established as an amusement park with a dance hall, merry-go-round and picnic sites. That was long ago and much has changed, yet much has stayed the same. The dance hall and merry-go-round are gone, but the beauty of the park and the majesty of the falls remain. While it is largely rural in character, it has developed into a close-knit village with a relaxing atmosphere.

Students in the community are served by the Fairfax County School District. Individual students and groups annually earn honors and awards in all academic, extracurricular, and athletic areas in regional, state, and national competitions. Sperling’s Best Places has even listed the schools of Great Falls as some of the best in the area.

Great Falls Park, a site that is part of the George Washington Memorial Parkway, is an 800-acre park located along the Potomac River 14 miles upriver from Washington, D.C. The park is known for two things: its scenic beauty at the head of Potomac River fall line and the historic Patowmack Canal.

One of the few all-brick mills in Virginia, the Colvin Run Mill is an example of the many mills that served northern Virginia in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The rebuilt structure recreates the atmosphere of its early times. A tour of the Mill offers the chance to share in watching and listening to its massive machinery and to admire the skill of craftsmen.

Great Falls continues to change and grow in population. But whether they are new to the area or lifelong residents, the people of Great Falls are proud of the rich heritage that shapes their communities.