Imagine a planned community built around a 117-acre lake. A lake providing fishing, canoeing, and kayaking opportunities. With a top-end restaurant at its heart. Surrounded by woods, nature trails, and paved walking paths. Set in scenic Northern Virginia, ninety minutes from our nation’s capital, forty-five from Shenandoah National Park, thirty from historic Winchester, with nearby wineries, a hospital, and a university. That’s Lake Frederick, Virginia.
Overview
Lake Frederick is much more than simply a lake. It is a planned and gated community of houses consisting of both new homes and resales. It is located along Route 522 between Front Royal, Virginia, and Winchester, Virginia in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley.
Lake Frederick has two groupings of homes: an active lifestyle 55+ community consisting of single-family homes and a non-age restricted selection of single-family homes and townhomes. The 55+ community is called Trilogy and is built and managed by Shea Homes. It is resort-style living for those people about to be or in their retirement years. As of 2022 new homes in a variety of models are available from Shea. The other is called Shenandoah and is a community perfect for families, singles, and retirees. It has single-family homes and townhomes built by Van Metre Homes, Ryan Homes, Winchester Homes, Beazer Homes, and Centex Homes. As of 2022 new homes, also in several models of townhomes including villas, are available from Van Metre Homes.
Community Centers and Amenities
Planned communities generally have a “center” where activities, meetings, sports, and other events are held. In Lake Frederick, this is served by a Community Center. There is currently one Community Center and there will be a total of two Community Centers in Lake Frederick once the buildout is complete. One primarily serves the Trilogy group of homes, and the other upon completion will primarily serve Shenandoah. Each is described below, as are the shared amenities.
Trilogy Homes
The Trilogy Community Center is called the Shenandoah Lodge and Athletic Club. But most people who live here simply refer to it as “The Lodge”. It includes two separate buildings with more than 36,000 square feet of indoor space. Additionally, it has an expansive lakeside veranda overlooking a paved patio with access to a large area for concerts and get-togethers. Including a pathway down to the lake for those who like to be close to the water! Inside the Lodge there is an Events Center about the size of a ballroom which serves as a great location for parties, events, and meetings. The Lodge also, and not incidentally, houses Lake Frederick’s famous restaurant Region’s 117. (So called because the lake is 117 acres in size!)
Speaking of Region’s 117, the restaurant is a premier dining establishment for both Lake Frederick and beyond. Region’s 117 specializes in regionally inspired dishes, with a delicious twist on American comfort food. It has been recognized by OpenTable for the area’s “Best Ambience,” “Best Service,” “Best Scenic View,” “Best American Cuisine,” “Best Value,” and “Best Overall Restaurant”. While the Winchester Star has selected the restaurant for awards of Best Dinner, Fine Dining, Restaurant Overall, Wait Staff, and Best Chef/Cook, Brian Whitson. It’s a gem!
In addition to the Events Center and the restaurant, the Lodge also contains several resort-style areas for Trilogy residents. Adjacent to the restaurant is a full bar – the Inglenook Bar – complete with TVs, high-top tables, and a fabulous 360° open fireplace. There is also the Crow’s Nest, a resident-only area with poker and card tables, the Bunker Bar (normally closed but open for events), billiards, shuffleboard, pinball machines, a craft room, flat-screen TVs, a full-scale golf simulator, and more. And on top of all that there is a demonstration kitchen for learning some new culinary skills and holding meetings for resident-run community groups (such as book clubs).
The Lodge additionally offers very comfortable sofas and chairs – including some close to the fireplace. And if you get hungry or thirsty and the restaurant isn’t open there is always The Market Place, serving coffee and snacks.
The restaurant and the Events Center are open to the public and available for dining reservations and private bookings. The remainder of the Lodge facilities are reserved for the Trilogy residents and their guests.
The Athletic Club portion of “The Lodge” is located in a separate building and is designed for those who want to stay active and fit. With exercise equipment and available personal training, residents can both have fun and get in some of the best shape of their lives. There is even a Movement Studio that hosts everything from yoga and Pilates to Zumba and core conditioning. Classes are available for all levels, whether you are just getting off the couch or have recently completed a marathon.
For competitive sports enthusiasts, Trilogy also offers lighted tennis courts and “pickleball” courts. Pickleball is a great low-impact sport combining elements of badminton, tennis, table tennis, and paddleball. (The game’s inventor had a dog named “Pickle”.)
The Athletic Club portion of the Community Center also contains two pools. The outdoor resort pool is set up for both swimming and lounging and outdoor chaises. The indoor lap pool is the setting for water aerobics classes (which continue throughout the winter months) and for those looking for a low impact workout.
Shenandoah Community
The Shenandoah Community consists of those homes built by Van Metre Homes, Ryan Homes, Winchester Homes, Beazer Homes, and Centex Homes. As of 2022, these homes have access to some of the Trilogy amenities. But coming soon, around 2023, these homes will have their own clubhouse! Consisting of a community center, swimming pool, kiddie pool, top lot, sports court, and more, the Shenandoah Clubhouse will be a central focus for the Shenandoah community.
Shared Amenities
The two Lake Frederick communities are not selfish, and they share many aspects of living in a lakefront locale in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley. Shared amenities include:
- A fenced dog park, with watering stations.
- Miles of community walking trails, including both nature trails for hiking around the lake and paved trails. The paved trails are great for running, walking dogs, strollers, bikes, and leisurely walks. They even have some benches and dog waste stations along the way!
- An outdoor pavilion suitable for parties and a wonderful space for weddings.
- Birds, foxes, deer, and other wildlife which are as much your neighbor as the folks down the street. Taking photos of these beautiful creatures is a hobby of many residents of Lake Frederick.
The Lake
No discussion of Lake Frederick would be complete without a description of the lake itself.
Lake Frederick is a 117-acre lake in the shape of a “V” owned by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. It is therefore a public lake rather than one reserved just for Lake Frederick residents. The lake averages 20 feet deep, with a maximum depth of 50 feet. There is no entrance fee, and there is a small parking area nearby the boat ramp.
But that summary only describes the physical aspects of the lake. The important part is: what you can do?
- Fishing – Bank fishing can be had along an area at the breast of the dam and around the lower end of the lake. Fishing from boats is also allowed, and some of the types of fish that can be caught in the lake include: largemouth bass, bluegill, redear sunfish, black crappie, channel catfish, and northern pike. Most species replace their population naturally, however VDGIF stocks channel catfish annually to ensure a healthy and sufficient number.
- Bird Watching – You can observe and take photos of the various birds that make this place home, or at least a stop along the way. There are great opportunities to see migratory waterfowl.
- Boating – On-site Jon boats (flat bottomed boats) and canoe rentals are available. And you can bring your own man-powered kayaks and canoes. There is a boat launch you can use to set out on your lake adventure but beware: gasoline-powered boats and sailboats are prohibited along with such activities as tubing and waterskiing. (The lake really isn’t intended for water sports.)
- Sightseeing – The views from the lake are stunning. Watching a sunset, or sunrise if you are an early riser, from the lake is magical. As is looking at the woods surrounding the lake. It’s a very relaxing and peaceful experience.
Nearby Attractions
As wonderful as Lake Frederick is on its own, it would be missing a great deal without local opportunities for amusement, learning, shopping, and just plain fun!
Winchester
Founded in 1738 (as Frederick Town but renamed in 1755 as Winchester), Winchester is only about 10 miles north of Lake Frederick. Although Lake Frederick is surrounded by several small towns, Winchester is the largest city that Lake Frederick has as a neighbor.
As you might expect, given the date of its founding, Winchester has a lot of history to share. It is home to the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley, a complex containing seven acres of formal gardens, the historic Glen Burnie House dating back to the 1790s, and the museum proper. The latter includes several display galleries with such things as furniture, paintings, ceramics, and other artifacts of interest to or created in the Shenandoah Valley.
Winchester has also seen its share of war-related events. Going all the way back to the French and Indian War in 1755 and the Revolutionary War with the famous “Morgan’s Sharpshooters” in 1775. Winchester was also the location of several battles during the Civil War, and there are several forts from the era that have remained to this day.
But Winchester has much more than history! For instance, there is Old Town Winchester – an area where the city has taken a road blocked off vehicle traffic, and paved it with bricks creating a lovely walking mall. In it, you can find numerous charming shops and businesses, fascinating architecture, and wonderful restaurants. With over five blocks to stroll through, you’ll always find something of interest. Including “First Friday” monthly celebrations, a New Year’s Eve Street party, the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival (a long-running tradition), and a Wine & Fine Art Festival each May.
Winchester is home to the indoor Apple Blossom Mall, a sprawling shopping experience. It may not have the outdoor and historical charm of Old Town Winchester, but it makes up for that by having a broad selection of popular retail stores. It even has movie theaters! (But be sure to also check out the Alamo Draft House movie theater complex that is just down the road.)
You can also find such places in Winchester as Costco Wholesale, Hobby Lobby, Chipotle Mexican Grill, HomeGoods, Kohl’s, and many, many more.
Shenandoah University is an institution that calls Winchester home. Established in 1875, this nationally recognized university combines practical career experience with more traditional classroom education. The University has around 4000 students studying over 200 disciplines within six different schools. It also provides more than simply an undergraduate program for people beginning their careers, the University includes a Center for Lifelong Learning which makes available college-level courses for those who never want to stop learning.
And what community wouldn’t want to have the Valley Health Winchester Medical Center, a hospital serving Winchester and the surrounding areas? The hospital (about a half hour away) has over 500 beds and services spanning multiple treatment areas, including such things as chemotherapy, pain management, neonatal intensive care, a level II trauma center, and many more.
Front Royal
Front Royal is just a stone’s throw away from Lake Frederick – about 20 minutes. It prides itself on being a small town with rural tranquility and a down-to-earth attitude. It is also home to the northern entrance of Shenandoah National Park. The National Park is a 200,000-acre expanse with waterfalls, amazing views, quiet woods, and wildlife. Front Royal is also known as the “Canoe Capital of Virginia” and has the Shenandoah River flowing right through town.
Front Royal has more than just outdoor adventure what with restaurants, cafés, shops, and a spectacular nighttime view of stars without the light pollution from a major city. Be sure to stop by The Apple House to get their famous Apple Butter Cinnamon Doughnuts!
Stephens City
Historic in its own right, Stephens City has succeeded where many others have not by keeping its small-town character over two centuries of development and change. At less than 20 minutes away, most people who live in Lake Frederick do their daily shopping and running of errands in Stephens City.
Luray
This area of Virginia is most famous for its system of caverns and is only about 35 miles south of Lake Frederick. Home to the largest caverns in the Eastern United States, exploring them is an unworldly experience. They include Endless Caverns, Shenandoah Caverns, Skyline Caverns, Grand Caverns, and the most famous of all: Luray Caverns. Luray Caverns are especially impressive. Tours are offered along lighted and paved walkways which open up into cathedral-sized rooms with 10 story high ceilings, unique stone formations, and amazing natural wonders. It is a geological treasure as well as a great way to spend a day.
Dinosaur Land
Okay, this isn’t as important as Lake Frederick’s proximity to Winchester, DC, and Dulles Airport. But how many communities can say that they have dinosaurs nearby? For over 50 years this park has welcomed visitors to the Mesozoic era. They have over 50 different displays of life-size dinosaurs set in a “prehistoric forest”. It’s a lot of fun to wander through with kids or grandkids. (And if you want to go as an adult, we won’t tell anyone!)
Wineries
Virginia has, over the past 25 years or so, built quite a reputation as an area for cultivating and bottling wine. The Shenandoah Valley, Lake Frederick’s home area, hosts at least 36 different wineries! And nearby Loudoun County has over 80 separate wineries. Wineries make wonderful day trips, many of them having spectacular views. Not to mention tasty wines! Lake Frederick makes a wonderful hub for exploring all these venues – whether for a party, a get-together with friends, an outing with a favorite person, or “research” on your own regarding local wines.
Breweries
A close relative of the winery is the brewery: homes to beers of all types. There are innumerable breweries along the Shenandoah Valley, and even more in surrounding counties. There are even businesses that conduct Craft Beer Tours in and around areas nearby Lake Frederick. You could spend every weekend visiting a local brewery and seldom visit the same place twice.
Washington, DC
It may be 90 minutes away, but Washington is one of the planet’s premier cities. Entire books have been written about its history, architecture, museums, monuments, neighborhoods, and citizens. Including, by the way, all those people who make and interpret national laws! It is, without doubt, an impressive and important city both nationally and internationally. Visit for world-renowned entertainment, dining, and sightseeing.
Little Washington
Washington has a younger sibling who lives nearby. Well, metaphorically speaking. There is a small town about 25 miles from Lake Frederick called Little Washington. It’s a charming town but is most famous for being home to the first and only 3 Star Michelin restaurant in the Washington DC metropolitan area. It really doesn’t get any better than this. It’s The Inn at Little Washington – an amazing restaurant that truly is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Although if your budget permits you might try twice!
Dulles International Airport
Washington Dulles International Airport is a full-service, international gateway. Serving domestic and international flights, it is one of the country’s premier airports. And at an hour or so away Lake Frederick residents have the convenience of a major airport without the inconvenience of having it in their backyard.
Considering Moving to Lake Frederick? Contact us to find out more.
