About thirty five years ago, which is not that long ago in the lives of many of us, a developer took note of a large parcel of beautiful wooded property between Fox Mill Rd. and W. Ox/Lawyer's Rd.  There had been some working farms on the land, but one by one, they had been taken out of farming, and allowed to return to forest growth. 

The developers were successful in arranging to purchase several contiguous land purchases, which totaled about two hundred acres.  However, a branch of the Little Difficult Run Stream ran through the land, and most of the property adjacent to the stream did not perk, which made septic systems mandatory, but not available everywhere, whereas the flood plain was not suitable for building, but was quite desirable, nonetheless.  The county had plans to run a sewer line down W. Ox Rd. to Lawyers Rd. but it was still several years away. 

Still, the area seemed ripe for development.  A fellow named Robert E. Simon had been working with another developer named James Rouse, and they had come up with an idea of a new planned community in the rural western part of Fairfax County, home of the oldest distillery in Virginia, the Virginia Gentleman Bourbon Distillery. 

Their idea was to build the major new planned community, in steps, with the adjoining villages in the woods, as they called them,  surrounded by all the amenities modern people desired, but with a distinctly sylvan or bucolic nature.  They planned to build a lake in each of the villages, together with shopping centers, and a major downtown in the middle of it all.  Added to the new planned community, a major international airport, Dulles, had just been built a few miles to the west, with a designated highway to the beltway, with plans to continue the road to Washington, DC.

The development of what was to become our community, Folkstone, would be minutes away from both the new airport and planned city of Reston, and in the middle of a triangle with the corners being Herndon, Vienna and Fairfax, and but a few miles from Tyson's Corner.

But the developers had a problem.  Because so much of their planned development would not perk, the developers had no choice but to make a deal with the county zoning commissioners.  They eventually worked out an agreement to give about half of their property to the county, for a forested park, in return for the right to develop the other half on lots that would average about one half acre each. 

Finally, the developers planned to give the Folkstone Homeowner's Association about thirty acres of land, with twenty acres of it to be between Folkstone Dr. and Ft. Lee St. for the purpose of building a community swimming pool and tennis court facility. 

Although the community had been told that the large parcel of the Folkstone Common land in question would perk, it turned out that when steps were initiated to build the community pool, the land didn't perk after all.

So what do you do with twenty or so acres that don't percolate.  Well, in this case, nothing.  Plans to build a community pool and tennis club just died.  An effort to install a pair of tennis courts at county expense died as well, as some homeowners voiced dissatisfaction with the requirement by the county that such courts must be open to the general public.
































































Did You Know ?!!!
Welcome to this very special section.  Here you will find a collection of stories depicting the history of our very special Community, as witnessed by some of our long-time residents.
Enjoy!
Through the Eyes of Bob Ray
Between two sections of the grassy area, sits a wooded grove.  This grove is presently being improved with the plantings of azaleas, rhododendrons, and a variety of other perennial plants and bushes that will greatly beautify this area.  A park bench may be added in the middle, to sit and enjoy a little of Mother Nature.  The general plan, if approved by the Board of Directors, is to continue to improve the garden type atmosphere of this area, with the hope it can eventually be made into a Memorial Garden to remember our loved ones, by use of small markers planted next to designated trees or bushes.  This Grove area is being beautified through the contributions and actual labor of Paul and Carolyn Beck of Ft. Lee St.  They would very much welcome help in this project by anyone who likes gardening and is willing to assist.   We are much indebted to the Becks for all that they've done for the community.






The large eighty plus acre forest that sits between the two sides of Folkstone has a very well marked but rustic trail that makes a roughly two mile concentric path that runs from one end of the park to the other, with bridges at either end, and several small footbridges in between, installed by Folkstonians.  It runs close to the Little Difficult Run on the south side and through several types of forests on the north end.  There are several foot bridges that cross the many tributaries to the stream, which also connects with the Fox Mill District Park on the east side of Fox Mill Rd, and likewise can be used to traverse all the way through to W. Ox Rd, by way of a development off W. Ox Rd. (Southfield) or hiking through a rather rough trail connection to the light at Franklin Farm.  
The Folkstone Forest Park in the major common area did have an original trail through the wooded part, which had been improved with the aid of an Eagle Scout project.  This trail has recently been upgraded still further through the combined efforts of another Eagle Scout Candidate, Nick Stevens, and Folkstone Homes Assn. at no cost to the homeowners.    The trail has three new footbridges, to make a pleasant walk in the forest quite easy.   The park has a wide variety of native trees and plants, which are planned to be labeled, for the benefit of Folkstone hikers, bikers and walkers.  Some attractive plants are also planned to be added.
The south part of the Folkstone Park off Ft. Lee St. was cleared by the developer and planted with grass for use as a ball-field, kite flying area, and general green place to use to play a pick up game of touch football, or for use by the community for egg rolls, picnics and the like.  Folkstone Homes Assn. has provided grass mowing in this area since its conception.
Hikers, or other lovers of nature who would like to participate in maintaining our trails, simply by walking through them, and picking up whatever few bottles and cans that are occasionally to be found, or trimming back bushes and such are welcome.  We already have a number of people who voluntarily assist in this effort just to be good citizens, but it's been suggested that we might form a more interactive arrangement in the future.  If that should interest you, let Bob Ray know by calling him at 703-476-7297, or emailing him.
This Day in History
This Day in History provided by The Free Dictionary
THE HISTORIC VALE SCHOOLHOUSE (BUILT IN 1888)
At the crossroads of Fox Mill and Vale Roads in Oakton, stands an historic two-room schoolhouse.  More...