For just under $40 million, you could stand on the same ground where Amelia Earhart once landed an airplane.
Ballantrae Farms, a 6.3-acre McLean estate whose house pre-dates the American Civil War, is currently up for sale with an initial asking price of $39.995 million. The property’s “storied past” includes a landing by Earhart in the 1930s, according to a listing that Washington Fine Properties posted last week.
“Spanning a once 300-acre area, Ballantrae Farm remains one of the largest and most prestigious parcels in the DMV, known for its high elevation in Fairfax County and sweeping views,” the real estate listing says.
The sales price makes Ballantrae Farms the second-most expensive house currently on the market in the D.C. region, according to the Washington Business Journal. The leader is former Washington Commanders owner Dan Snyder’s 16.5-acre River View estate near George Washington’s Mount Vernon, which was listed for $60 million on June 24.
Dubbed Little Ballantrae, the estate’s original farmhouse was built in 1847 but got relocated to its current address at 1288 Ballantrae Farm Drive during the 1920s after Arlington developer Frank Lyon bought 169 acres of land there in 1923.
Lyon expanded the property by constructing what is now Ballantrae’s primary residence, a Georgian Revival-style stone manor house. Built in 1925 and renovated in 2017, the three-story house features five bedrooms, six full bathrooms and three half-bathrooms, per the listing.
Amenities include a six-car garage, a recently remodeled chef’s kitchen, a private wine cellar, outdoor patios, an enclosed stone terrace in the West Wing that opens to “breathtaking” gardens, and a heated private pool that has a pool house, pavilion and a spa.
The listing says the house has hosted “numerous world leaders and historic figures,” emphasizing that renovations have preserved the building’s “historical essence while accommodating modern living” with “resort-like amenities.”
“The pool pavilion, pool house, spa, outdoor shower, and state-of-the-art sound system are all enveloped by gas lanterns, creating a serene atmosphere,” the listing says. “Patios surrounded by azaleas, parterre gardens, and a gentle fountain enhance the sense of a secluded sanctuary. A paved driveway and circular drive lead to a six-car garage built from local stone, emphasizing the estate’s seclusion and tranquility.”
Outside, the estate boasts 300-year-old trees, a gazebo, a potting shed, a koi pond fountain, a kitchen garden and fruit orchard, a tree house, a clay tennis court, soccer field and half basketball court.
Little Ballantrae, which now serves as a guest house, provides views of the tennis court and soccer field. It has four bedrooms, three full baths, one half bath and two fireplaces.
The grounds also host a recently restored Garden Cottage, where the estate manager resides with three bedrooms, two full baths, two half baths, a fireplace and a private driveway.
In total, the property encompasses 14,000 square feet of living space with 12 bedrooms, 11 full bathrooms, six half bathrooms and a partial basement.
Retired Washington Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg also recently put up his McLean home for sale, though the listing agents are looking for a comparatively modest $9.75 million.
