Colvin Run Mill & General Store is a Fun and Family-Friendly Blast from the Past in Great Falls, Virginia!

Step back in time at this working mill and old fashioned general store, with a blacksmith forge occasionally used by experienced craftspeople on site. The miller's house, built in 1809, still stands on the property. We began our visit at the General Store, where the storekeeper was knowledgeable and inviting. The store presents as much as a working store as a museum to the type of product that would have been available when it was built in the late 19th Century. The kids enthusiastically explored the "please touch" areas, and their piqued curiosity was quickly evident in the questions they posed. On our way out to stroll the property, we stopped at the large, clean restroom outfitted with a changing table and step stool for little ones to use when washing their hands.

There is an exhibit and hands-on reproductions geared toward children in the barn adjacent to the General Store. After spending time there and checking out the blacksmith forge under the eaves of the barn, wander down the hill past the miller's house and along the millrace, which brings the water down to the mill. On the small bridge here, view the upper structures of the wheel before heading down to the mill. After a tour, take in the wheel up close from below and then wander along the banks of the millpond. Despite backing up to a busy road, the quaintness of the whole experience is undeniable.

On your walk back to the parking lot, stop back in the General Store to pick up some candy, toys, books or souvenirs appropriate to the time period, or pick up whole wheat flour or cornmeal flour ground at the mill. 

The mill hosts a number of wonderful seasonal activities and crafts, including scarecrow making and a wonderful series of holiday events including a candlelit evening with Santa himself. 

There are many popular attractions nearby, including Roer's Zoofari, Lake Fairfax Park, and of course Great Falls (the Virginia side).