George Mason wrote in the Virginia Declaration of Rights in May, 1776 that all men are born equally free and independent, and have certain inherent Rights. Among these inherent Rights, Mason wrote, are Enjoyment of Life and Liberty, with the Means of acquiring and possessing Property, and pursuing and obtaining Happiness and Safety.
For Russell T. Wright, the CEO of Alexandria-based Dimensions International, a defense logistics company based in the citys West End, the enjoyment of his hard-earned success could have meant the acquisition of an $11 million estate he closed on recently in Mason Neck, next to Gunston Hall, the 550-acre estate of Mason.
The 18,000-square-foot home with five acres of prime river frontage was sold for $8.3 million, with Wright purchasing an adjacent lot of 10 acres for $2.75 million. The sale of the estate at 11197 Gunston Road in Mason Necks Stone Manor neighborhood was the highest sale on record in Fairfax County last year, according to land records.
George Mason (1725-1792) was among the first to call for such basic American liberties as freedom of the press, religious tolerance and the right to a trial by jury, and was instrumental in the framing of the United States government. Mason, however, shied away from public office, preferring to manage his plantation estate about 20 miles south of Old Town. Constructed in the 1750s, Masons house is an architectural gem, featuring elaborate interior design and carvings.
Wrights new home is also an architectural gem. According to Susan Gray Chambers, the Old Town Realtor with Coldwell Banker who sold Wright the house and acreage surrounding it, the house features six bedrooms, eight full baths, three fireplaces, a swimming pool and movie theater in the basement. There is also a private pier,
Chambers billed it as Fairfax Countys finest luxury waterfront estate, in a gated enclave of other customized manor homes.
The property, flanked by Federal parkland and sanctuaries, took top honors last year in the custom home category in a Discovery Channel special. It offers a unique opportunity to enjoy Mason Necks serene and scenic lifestyle with the convenience of nearby metro areas, said Chambers, who also lives in Mason Neck. This is a grand home of rarely seen quality in Northern Virginia.
The 18,000 square foot Colonial home, with its unobstructed panoramic water views for miles, is sited on a high elevation on deep navigable waters directly off the Potomac River channel, and comes with a deeded boat slip. There is also a grand balcony overlooking the Potomac, an underground lawn sprinkler system and large patio. The homes air conditioning and heating systems are all zoned.
And oh yes, theres a garage large enough to fit seven cars.
