703-324-8700
TTY 711
Jai Cole,
Executive Director
5235 Walney Road
Centreville, Virginia
Located in the wooded acres of Ellanor C. Lawrence Park, Cabell's Mill has long been a unique setting for social occasions. Built prior to 1800 and operated as a mill until 1916, the property was purchased in 1935 by Ellanor Lawrence. She and her husband, David, founder of US News & World Report, transformed the old mill into a guest house and hosted many Washington notables, including Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt.
Today, Cabell's Mill offers a spacious room with hardwood floors, deep window sills and a working fireplace. On the lower level is a smaller room with an antique buffet table and fireplace, while outside an expansive terrace overlooks Big Rocky Run. The mill provides a beautiful secluded setting for many special occasions.
Capacity:
Indoor Banquet: 80
Indoor Cocktail-Style Reception: 125
Indoor and Outdoor (with tent): 150
View Floor Plan
View Site Map
Rental Rates:
Base Fee (4-hours): $850
Extra Hours: $225/hour
Alcohol Beverage Use Fee: $200
Security Deposit: $300
The rental time is to include setup and cleanup time, as well as the function. The security deposit is refunded after the rental, provided there were no damages or contractual violations.
Available Equipment:
8 four-foot round tables
8 six-foot rectangular tables
1 sixteen-foot buffet table (must remain on lower level)
80 off-white folding chairs
Amenities:
Hardwood flooring on upper level
Slate flooring on lower level
Pantry area with sink and counter space
Working fireplace on upper level
Central heat and air conditioning
Accessibility:
Cabell's Mill is wheelchair accessible; however there is no inside transfer between levels.
Contact us for specific date availability or to schedule an appointment to view the property
Cabell's Mill was probably built by Willoughby Newton between 1753 and 1759. It has been known at different times as Newton's Mill, Rocky Run Mill, Triplet's or Pittman's Mill and Sandy's Folly. By 1850, the mill was owned and operated by Edward Caple and on a military Civil War Map it is noted as "Copel's Mill." As there was not a standardized system of spelling, we now have the current misnomer, Cabell's Mill.
Through its long history, the mill ground various grains and then sumac for the local tanning and dyeing industry. It also served as an informal meeting and gathering place for local farmers. By 1906, the mill had been converted into a sawmill. All mill operations had ceased by 1929 when a series of owners renovated the structure, diverted Rocky Run and filled in the millrace. The wheel was not, as many have thought mounted on the building parallel to the stream. Instead the millrace brought water from upstream down through what is now staff parking to hit the top of the wheel on the side of the building opposite Walney Road.
Ellanor C. Lawrence, wife of U.S. News and World Report founder and publisher, David Lawrence, purchased the mill in 1944 and used it as a guesthouse, providing a rural retreat for many Washington notables. The mill was also the site of Mr. Lawrence's weekly news broadcasts on the NBC Network from 1945-1970. Under the terms of Mrs. Lawrence's will, the Fairfax County Park Authority received the mill, the miller's house and the surrounding woodlands that now comprise Ellanor C. Lawrence Park in 1971. In 1980 Park Authority completed major renovations to the building and it was opened for public use. Cabell's Mill is listed on the Fairfax County Inventory of Historic Sites and with the Virginia Department of Historic Resources.