Welcome to Our Shops!

Did you know that there are unique shops at all nine of our nature centers and historic sites?

Each one is different, and the items at each one are carefully selected to support the interpretation of the site and to extend the experience at the particular park. Proceeds go to support the park, so your purchases go back into caring for our special places.

While the shops do not sell items over the web, we hope to give you a flavor of what you will find when you visit the Colvin Run Mill 19th century General Store where you can find penny candy and corn meal ground on the site. Or what to look for at the Horticulture Shop at Green Spring Gardens Park with its gardening items and books.

Colvin Run Mill and General Store – you'll find bread warmers, aprons and mugs, all with Colvin Run's water-wheel theme. Check the shelves for Mill, a beautiful book by David Larkin in which Colvin Run Mill is featured. Beautiful china-faced dolls in 19th century dress stir memories of simpler times. The shelves of the general store are filled with jams and jellies, old-fashioned candy, wooden toys, bags of marbles and jacks, tiny tea sets, corn husk dolls and even a church fan picturing a repro design of the fairy soap box found in the store from 100 years ago. (703-759-3403)

Frying Pan Park and Kidwell Farm - here the themes of the surrounding 1920s Kidwell Farm and of the equestrian events held in the indoor arena shape the items to be found in the Country Store. Talking stick horses, stuffed horses, cowboy hats and bandanas accompany books such as How to Take Care of Your Pony and Riding Lessons. The restored Kidwell Farm House is now open to visitors and the Country Store features 1940s place mats, napkins and dishes. For the farm lovers in all of us, the store specializes in Ertle tractors and farm implements, stuffed farm animals, cows, pigs, chickens, lambs, and rooster theme home-deco items. (703-437-9101)

Green Spring Gardens Horticulture Shop - the specialties here are marvelous gardening tools, lovely flowered t-shirts, sun hats and gardening aprons, stuffed animal hand puppets and a highly impressive selection of gardening books. And don't miss the plant sales at Green Spring in the fall and spring! The Manor House is used for a Tea and Lecture Series, and its Ivy Cupboard shop specializes in teacups and tea-related items, wind chimes and sterling silver jewelry. Programs for children are ongoing at the site, and the shop has books and merchandise to excite their young minds. (703-642-5173 )

The Sully Schoolhouse Store - reflects the history of the 1794 home of Richard Bland Lee, Northern Virginia's first representative to Congress. The restored one-room log schoolhouse store carries pewter mugs, chargers, salt sellers and hand-blown glass vases. There are butter molds, wooden utensils, quilting items, hoops and wooden toys from the Federal period. The book nook features Samplings from the Sully Hearth, books about slave life (Sully's representative slave quarter is on the grounds nearby), and other Victorian and Federal period books. (703-437-1794)

Visitors to the nature sites will find shops as well, equally in keeping with their character and interpretative message.

Sites such as Ellanor C. Lawrence Park, Hidden Oaks and Hidden Pond are wonderful natural habitats of woods and trails. Their shops carry items to enhance the natural and scientific experience. Look for binoculars, compasses, hand-held magnifiers for viewing plants close-up, the Peterson Guides to birds and flowers, beautiful rocks, stuffed owls and creepy crawly creatures for imaginative play.

Huntley Meadows' wetlands are a regional hotspot for birders and a paradise for butterflies, dragonflies, beavers, turtles and insects. The shop reflects these themes with wonderful art shows and all kinds of stuffed animals. Look for beavers and egrets on the observation tower or find them in the shop.

Riverbend Park is a magnificent piece of natural forests, meadows and Potomac shoreline. Its birds and wildflowers are renowned and gifts to be found there reflect their importance. Books for children and adults on the natural life can be found at Riverbend, as well as specialty stuffed animals like river otters, baby turtles and eagles.

So next time you visit one of these parks, or when you're shopping for a gift or remembrance that is unique and imaginative, come on over to one of the museum shops of the Fairfax County Park Authority. We've got a world of ideas for you!