Where two centuries of American history meet modern luxury.
4027 Colonel Mendez Way, Fairfax, Virginia 22032
Most homes have an address. This one has a lineage. The Powell-Ostrander Estate traces its origins to the 1694 Ravensworth Land Grant — one of the largest colonial patents in Virginia, issued to Colonel William Fitzhugh of Stafford County. The 21,996-acre grant shaped the future of what would become Fairfax County.
The land passed through the Fitzhugh family for over a century before reaching Richard Ratcliffe — the founder of the Town of Providence, which became the City of Fairfax. This home sits on land he personally owned and devised. You are not just buying a property. You are becoming the next steward of a founding family's estate.
The Ravensworth Land Grant — 21,996 acres issued to Colonel William Fitzhugh, one of colonial Virginia's most influential patents.
The original gardener's cottage is built — the historic core still preserved within today's home. Connected to the Willard Hotel Winery operations.
Elisha C. Ostrander, a New York entrepreneur, acquires the farm. During the Civil War, he is arrested by Union forces and held in the Old Capitol Prison — the drama of a nation at war, playing out within these walls.
Captain Manville Augustus Austin, Metropolitan Police, takes ownership for 31 years — an era of orchards, vineyards, and quiet prosperity.
A visionary custom build wraps the original 1820s structure in modern luxury — preserving every beam, every story, while adding Wolf & Sub-Zero, five fireplaces, and Energy Star efficiency.
Before it was an estate, this land served a purpose that connected it to the highest echelons of Washington, D.C. society. Historical records identify this site as the location of the Willard Hotel Winery — the production source for the wine served at the Willard, known as the "Hotel of Presidents."
Every president from Franklin Pierce to Dwight Eisenhower stayed at the Willard. Ulysses S. Grant famously coined the term "lobbyist" there. Martin Luther King Jr. wrote his "I Have a Dream" speech in its rooms. And the wine they drank? It came from here.
The original cottage core of this home — the same exposed wood beams you can touch today — was part of that winery operation, in existence by at least 1820. This isn't a plaque on a wall. This is a living piece of the supply chain that fueled the capital's most storied institution.
Why choose between the soul of a historic farmhouse and the precision of modern construction? The Powell-Ostrander Estate gives you both — authentically. The 1820s core was not demolished or hidden. It was honored, preserved, and seamlessly integrated into a 2011 custom build.
The street that bears this home's address honors one of America's most decorated paratroopers. Colonel Mendez, West Point Class of 1940, commanded the 3rd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the legendary 82nd Airborne Division.
On D-Day — June 6, 1944 — Mendez dropped behind German lines in Normandy. Fourteen days later, he personally led a charge to capture the town of Prétot-Vicquemare, earning the Distinguished Service Cross, the military's second-highest honor. France honored him with his own public square: La Place du Colonel Mendez.
In a region where many neighbors are high-ranking military officers, defense officials, and government leaders, residing on Colonel Mendez Way carries a weight of honor that no other address can replicate.
From the rustic wood-burning hearth in the historic parlor to the sleek dual-sided gas unit — a gathering spot for every mood.
Wolf range, Sub-Zero refrigeration, custom cabinetry, pot filler, and a 12-foot grand island — built for serious entertaining.
Full basement suite with 5th bedroom and bath — ideal for multi-generational living, guests, or au pair quarters.
End-of-street serenity with a park-like setting and pergola. Walk to Old Town Fairfax shops and restaurants.
High-efficiency gas heating and cooling with three independently controlled zones — modern comfort, responsible energy use.
Full provenance documentation tracing ownership from the 1694 Ravensworth Land Grant through every era to today.
Some homes are bought. This one is inherited — in spirit, if not by blood. If you value history, craftsmanship, and the rare privilege of owning something truly irreplaceable, we should talk.
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