community guide
the care & feeding of hollin hillers
a guide to life in the hills
by stephen brookes
welcome to hollin hills!
associations • the cahh • fohh • the forum • facebook • the supper society • traditions + events • the house + garden tour • the winter potluck • the 4th of july • oktoberfest • holiday sing-along • things to do • the pool • pickleball • bocce • volunteering • resources • the directory • community of vision • the archives • the drc • schools •
what do i need to know about living in hollin hills?
As all sensible people agree, Hollin Hills is the most beautiful modernist community on Earth. Its striking architecture, acres of parkland, distinctive history and culture — not to mention the pools and tennis courts and other amenities — all make for modern living at its best.
But it’s really the people of Hollin Hills who make the community what it is, and in this guide you’ll find a quick look at the many ways Hollin Hillers connect with each other. There’s been a deep sense of community here since the place was launched in 1949, and now — enhanced by the many traditions, organizations, get-togethers, publications, and opportunities to volunteer that have blossomed over the years— that sense has only grown stronger.
so how can i get involved?
It’s actually hard not to get involved in Hollin Hills. There are big community get-togethers — like the Civic Association’s annual picnic in Voigt Park on the Fourth of July, and the Oktoberfest celebration in the fall — as well as smaller block parties, lectures, concerts and other events throughout the year.
And, of course, you can join one of the two pools, play tennis or pickleball (or even bocce), help with the regular clean-up parties in the parks (a great way to meet people, plus ... free donuts!), or sign up for one of the “Supper Society” dinners. You can volunteer for one of the many Civic Association committees, write for the Bulletin or the Hollin Hills Journal, be a docent at the biennial House + Garden Tour, or take part in online discussions on the Hollin Hills Forum or the Hollin Hills Facebook page. There’s really no end of opportunities to meet people and help build the community, no matter your interests or how much time you have.
community associations
the civic association
The Civic Association of Hollin Hills (CAHH) has been at the heart of community life since 1950. It’s an all-volunteer organization that manages a range of community affairs, including maintaining the parks, protecting the historic architecture, hosting the annual get-togethers, running the House + Garden Tour, and much more. Open to any resident, membership in the CAHH is $225 a year, which goes to maintain the community — especially the 30 acres of parkland, which the CAHH owns and manages for all. Join, renew or learn more here.
the friends of hollin hills
Friends of Hollin Hills is a charitable non-profit organization formed in 2017 to support the community, particularly in architectural preservation and improving the parks. They’re engaged in everything from presenting lectures by visiting speakers, to sponsoring the annual Turkey Trot at Thanksgiving — and they put together a major three-day symposium on architect Charles Goodman in 2024. Visit the website here.
the hollin hills forum
The Hollin Hills Forum is a privately-moderated, online discussion group open to current and former Hollin Hills residents. It’s moderated by Alan Warshawer (who launched it with Tom Fina in 2004) and Dennis Brown, and there’s usually a lively debate of some sort going on (politics, gardening, lost dogs, you name it), along with news you won’t find anywhere else. It’s a sometimes maddening but always interesting resource for any Hollin Hiller. Learn more here.
the hollin hills facebook group
The Hollin Hills Facebook group was launched over 16 years ago, and now boasts membership of over 540 current and former residents. Posts cover everything from upcoming local events and neighborhood projects to community history and even misdelivered mail. Of particular interest are the neighborhood chats, which function as community-wide text groups that let neighbors instantly contact each other over Facebook Messenger. The Buy Nothing chat, in particular, is a thriving space. Check them out!
the supper society
The Hollin Hills Supper Society was launched in September 2022 by Catherine Korona and Becky McCarthy, and holds informal potluck dinners every other month (usually with a regional cuisine theme) in different Hollin Hills homes throughout the year. A great way to meet people, if not to diet. Watch for announcements of upcoming events, and join the feast!
traditions and annual events
the house + garden tour
The Hollin Hills House + Garden Tour takes place every two years, when about a dozen Hollin Hillers open their homes to the public for a day — and it is an event! A Civic Association tradition since 1953, it draws well over a thousand modernism enthusiasts from around the country, and is an important fundraiser for the community.
The last tour was in 2024, and the next is scheduled for the Spring of 2026. The tour is an all-day, community-wide event with many moving parts, and always needs volunteers to help with everything from ticket sales to acting as docents.
To learn more or sign up to help, please visit the tour website. The tour also has a facebook page and a great instagram page!
the winter potluck
Hollin Hillers chase the gloom of February away with the Winter Potluck, held in the nearby Unitarian Church. It’s been a Civic Association tradition since 1996, when it was first called “Community Appreciation Day” and featured both lasagna and (for reasons that remain a mystery) face-painting.
It’s been held annually ever since, though the lasagna has been replaced with a potluck, and the face-painting with gabbing. It’s a great place to connect (or re-connect) with neighbors, and there’s often a midcentury dress-up theme, which is reason alone to attend. It’s a family event, and plenty of kids join the fun; the need to catch up with pals is universal.
For more information, contact the Social Committee.
the memorial day observance
Since 2021, the Civic Association has held an observance of Memorial Day every May in Voigt Park, to honor those who gave their lives in defense of our country. Initiated by Kevin Roberts, the quiet, dignified ceremony includes a ceremonial wreath-laying and folding of the flag, and reflections on the meaning of the day from local dignitaries and Hollin Hills veterans.
the fourth of july picnic and parade
The July 4th parade and picnic — a Hollin Hills tradition since 1955 — is the big community event of the year, and possibly the most fun you will ever have in your life. Sponsored by the Civic Association, it starts with a colorful parade (featuring bikes, scooters, and brightly-festooned dogs) down Paul Spring Road to Voigt Park, where hundreds of Hillers gather to share potluck dishes, compete in tugs-of-war and egg tosses and sack races, go for pony rides, splash in the creek, and generally make the most of the afternoon. It’s a blast for everyone — see you there!
For more information, contact the Social Committee.
oktoberfest
Oktoberfest has been a venerable Hollin Hills tradition since Jaelith Hall-Rivera and David Rivera came up with it in 2013. Every fall, this CAHH-sponsored party takes over the Hollin Hills Pool parking lot (a.k.a. “Munich on the Potomac”), where Germano-philes, beer-ophiles, and oompah-music-ophiles pull on their lederhosen and gather to eat bratwurst, drink beer and listen to the Mount Vernon German band play “O, Wie Bist Du Schön” and a selection of polkas. Great family fun!
the hollin hills turkey trot
Another time-honored tradition, the annual Hollin Hills Turkey Trot was launched in 2017, when about 160 runners competed in a 5K race around the community on Thanksgiving morning. The race has continued ever since, along with a shorter “fun run” for kids. It starts and ends in Voigt Park, along a course mapped out for the safety of all the runners.
In 2023, the event was adopted by the Friends of Hollin Hills to help raise funding for the parks, bringing in $490. Lace up your Nikes, stretch out your hamstrings, and join in!
the holiday sing-along
For more than 70 years, dulcet-voiced Hollin Hillers have gathered in December for a holiday sing-along in the crisp evening air. The tradition started at the corner of Paul Spring Road and Stafford Road on Christmas Eve in 1951, and more recently moved to McCalley Park, where dozens of candle-lit singers eat cookies, drink cider and always stay impeccably in tune as they tackle “Frosty the Snowman” and other classics. Santa himself usually makes an appearance, handing out candy canes to both the naughty and the nice. A beautiful evening, and not to be missed. For more information, contact the Social Committee.
concerts and lectures
Concerts, talks and demonstrations take place throughout the year in Hollin Hills. Gino Madrid and Jerome Gordon often perform with their classical ensemble, Sound Impact, and Hillers have presented intimate talks in their homes on everything from flower arranging to collecting art. Friends of Hollin Hills also presents speakers on a wide range of topics, and held a three-day symposium on architect Charles Goodman in 2024.
things to do
have a swim
There are two convenient pools available to residents, located at opposite sides of Hollin Hills. The Hollin Hills Pool, located at 1602 Paul Spring Road by the Fort Hunt entrance, is home to the illustrious Bluefish swim team. The Hollin Meadows Swim and Tennis Club, located at 2500 Woodlawn Trail, has a 25-meter pool and a complete tennis program.
tennis and pickleball
Hollin Hills has six private pickleball courts and two tennis courts, which were opened in the summer of 2022. The courts are located next to the Hollin Hills Pool, at the Fort Hunt Road entrance. Players must be members of the Pickleball & Tennis Club to use the courts. The Hollin Meadows Swim and Tennis Club also offers tennis.
there’s even sledding
When we’re lucky enough to get a little snow, grab your sled and head over to the top of Sutton Potter Park. Known fondly as “suicide hill,” the steep-ish slopes there are Hollin Hills’ answer to Aspen, and you’ll find families having fun in the flakes … however fleeting they may be.
what’s left, bocce?
Well … yes! There’s actually a bocce court in Hollin Hills; you’ll find it in Voigt Park, along Rippon Road. Built by aficionados of the sport, it’s available to all. So far there’s no actual bocce club, but keep an ear out for the occasional tournaments!
volunteering
helping out with the parks
Hollin Hills has seven parks covering more than 30 acres, which raise the quality of life here immensely. But these parks are not public land. They’re owned and managed by the Civic Association, and it takes a lot of work to keep them in good shape — so their health depends on everyone.
If you’d like to help out, join the Civic Association (most of your dues go to park maintenance) and watch for updates from the CAHH on the weekend clean-up parties in the parks, which are a lot of fun. Or, take on a larger role by becoming a “warden” for one of the parks. Contact the chair of the Parks Committee for more information.
how to be a “greeter”
Greeters are an important part of the community — they’re the volunteers who welcome new Hollin Hillers to the neighborhood and help them get settled in. It’s been a community tradition since 1950. For more information, or to become a greeter, contact the CAHH Membership Committee.
useful resources
the hollin hills directory
The Civic Association publishes a community Directory every two years; the most recent edition came out in 2024. It’s a 118-page handbook with directories organized both by street and by name; a map of the community; a guide to resources; a directory of Hollin Hills entrepreneurs; an FAQ about Hollin Hills; articles about the architecture and landscape; a guide to the seven parks of Hollin Hills, with official parks policy; and guides to the design review process, the biennial House + Garden Tour; and much more. The 2024 edition was written and designed by Stephen Brookes, with a cover illustration by Dennis Carmichael.
The Directory is only available to residents, and is provided free to members of the Civic Association. For a copy, please contact the CAHH Membership Chair.
hollin hills: community of vision
The 185-page book “Hollin Hills: Community of Vision” was produced in 1999, and remains an essential source of information about the history, culture, landscape and architecture of Hollin Hills. Produced under the leadership of Scott Wilson, and elegantly designed by Michael Hentges, it contains essays by John Burns, Dennis Carmichael, and many other members of the community. Now in its third printing. No Hollin Hills library is complete without it — click here to learn more or buy.
the hollin hills archives
Hollin Hills has a fascinating history, much of it documented in newspapers, magazines and community publications such as the Hollin Hills Bulletin. You can explore a selection from the archives, or learn about the history (and search for specific people or events) in our illustrated timeline.
For primary sources: the official archives of the Civic Association of Hollin Hills are held at George Mason University’s Special Collections Research Center. The collection consists of publications, newsletters, photos, blueprints, records and more, and is open to anyone researching the community. Click here for more info.
In addition, the Goodman Archive of Architectural Designs is held at the Library of Congress, with more materials in the Goodman collection at the National Building Museum. You can also find original landscape plans for Hollin Hills on our landscape plan page.
the original landscape plans
Plans for most of the individual properties in Hollin Hills were prepared by professional landscape architects Lou Bernard Voigt, Dan Kiley and Eric Paepcke, and set the green, park-like look of the community. Many of these plans are available in the archives of the Library of Congress and Harvard University, and copies can be obtained for a reasonable fee. We have about eighteen of the plans on this website; please click here to see them, and for instructions on how to obtain your own plan.
the design review committee
The Civic Association’s Design Review Committee (DRC) is a group of architects and design experts who provide guidance to homeowners on exterior property renovations, and determine whether proposed renovations are in harmony and conformity with the association’s Design Review Guidelines and the community Covenants, which are contained in our deeds.
Preserving the unique architectural character of this historic district is vitally important, so if you’re planning any changes, be sure to run your plans by the DRC and Fairfax County’s Architectural Review Board. Click here for a quick guide to the design review process.
the cuisine of hollin hills
Cuisine has always been a big part of life in Hollin Hills, with gourmet and supper clubs popping up over the decades. Hillers shared their favorite recipes in the monthly Bulletin, and in 1999, they were colected in the Civic Association’s 50th Anniversary Cookbook, which includes dozens of Hollin Hills recipes going back to 1951. Some may seem a bit too midcentury to modern palates — the “Bacon Mushroom Rolls”, for instance, begin with cutting the crusts off of 30 slices of white bread, then rolling them in butter and canned mushroom soup — but there are no fewer than twelve different recipes for cole slaw.
preserving the historic heritage of hollin hills
Hollin Hills was included in the National Register of Historic Places in 2013, in recognition of the significance both of its architecture and its community planning and development efforts. The status reflects “the creativity of Robert C. Davenport's financing and the inventiveness of Charles Goodman's modem house designs,” according to the National Park Service, “featuring open plans, non-traditional modern appearance, and prefabricated components.” Read more about it here.
In addition, Hollin Hills was designated by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors as an Historic Overlay District in 2022, an important and historic move that will help preserve our unique architectural heritage. Learn more about the HOD here.
area schools
Students living in Hollin Hills most often go to Hollin Meadows Elementary School, Carl Sandburg Middle School, and West Potomac High School. Other area schools include Stratford Landing Elementary, Burgundy Farm Country Day School, and the St. Louis School.
“aging in place” in hollin hills
Many residents are aging in place in Hollin Hills, and help is available to those who may need it. The organization Mount Vernon at Home organizes volunteers to assist seniors. Their mission is “to build a village of caring friends and volunteers offering solutions to support the lifetime independence of our members allowing them to age in place.” You can call them at 703-303-4060.
trash and recycling
Fairfax County handles trash and recycling pickup for Hollin Hills. Our weekly pickup day is Tuesdays, and residents are requested not to put their bins at the curb before 3 pm the day before pickup. Be sure your bins are curbside by 6 am the day of pickup. The Fairfax County Trash and Recycling website has all the details on what is trash, recycling and yard waste, and how to request a special pickup for brush and bulk items.
Clockwise from top left: Mark Warner; Tim Kaine; Paul Krizek; Scott Surovell
our elected representatives
Our US Senators for the State of Virginia are Tim Kaine (D) and
Mark R. Warner (D). In the US House of Representatives, we’re represented by Donald S. Beyer Jr. (D) (8th Congressional district of Virginia).
In the Virginia Senate, we’re represented by Scott O. Surovell (D) (36th District), and in the Virginia House of Delegates we’re represented by Hollin Hills resident Paul E. Krizek (D) (44th District).
Our representative on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors is Daniel G. Storck (D) (Mount Vernon District), and Karen L. Corbett Sanders represents Mount Vernon District for the School Board.
To learn more about registering to vote in Virginia, go to the website of the Virginia Department of Elections.