Love horses at urban-easy Vienna farm

Horse lovers commonly lament that to keep their beloved horses, they must live far from such amenities of suburban and urban locations as public transit and access to shops and restaurants.

A horse farm on the market in Vienna, known as Cygnet’s Retreat, offers exceptional equestrian facilities, yet residents of the property can be at the Vienna-Fairfax Metro station, run errands or relax in a Vienna restaurant within 10 minutes of leaving home.

Just off Hunter Mill Road at the end of a winding drive at 10505 Wickens Road, Cygnet’s Retreat is on the market for $1,650,000. Sweeping pastoral views from every room of the farmhouse belie its location, within easy commuting distance of Reston, Tysons Corner, McLean and even downtown Washington.

Built in 1968, this raised-ranch-style home rests near the front of a rolling, fenced property of more than 3 acres. This Hunters Valley farm includes professionally landscaped gardens on three sides of the home and a manicured front lawn leading to a front porch and flagstone steppingstones, but the equestrian elements of the property are an even bigger attraction.

Cygnet’s Retreat includes a two-level barn with four stalls and a center aisle for easy access to the individual run-in areas, paddocks and pastures. The barn includes a wash stall, a tack room, and hay and feed storage, and the upper level is designed to facilitate delivery of hay and feed.

The property includes three fenced paddocks and a regulation dressage ring that is lighted, leveled and packed with bluestone, sand and rubber for drainage and for the comfort of the horses while they are training.

The Hunters Valley community also has community dressage rings, riding trails and a cross-country training course. The community riding trails link to Fairfax County Park Authority trails; Fox Lake trails; and the Washington & Old Dominion Railroad Regional Park horse trail, which runs from Vienna to Leesburg.

Cygnet’s Retreat offers a bucolic atmosphere that will appeal to anyone who appreciates the mature trees and peace of the pastures, horses or not. The outdoor vistas are best admired from the custom deck, which extends along the entire back of the home with plenty of space for dining and relaxing. A hot tub rests close to the private deck area adjacent to the master suite.

Inside, the main-level rooms have refinished hardwood flooring. The front entrance to the home arrives in a large foyer with a stairwell to the lower level and a wide opening to the formal living room.

The living room includes a wall of windows overlooking the front lawn. A built-in buffet and cabinet separate the living room from the dining room.

The country kitchen has been updated with ceramic tile flooring and includes a bay window in the breakfast area, which overlooks the pastures behind the home.

Adjacent to the kitchen is the family room, which has a brick fireplace with a brick wood storage area and a beamed ceiling. A sliding glass door links the family room with the deck at the back of the house.

Between the kitchen and garage are a powder room and a laundry room with a window and door to the deck.

The two-car garage includes extra work and storage space.

The main-level master suite has hardwood flooring, a walk-in closet and a second closet.

Story Continues →