Reston in Fairfax County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Sunset Hills Station

Photographed By Craig Swain, November 19, 2009

1. Sunset Hills Station Marker

Inscription. Sunset Hills Station, shown below in the 1960s, stands as a reminder that today's Reston was not the first "new town" to be planned for this area. In 1886 Dr. Carl Wiehle bought a large parcel of land north and south of the railroad tracks. He intended to establish a utopian community, a popular concept in the 19th century. Lakes were dug, roads laid out, and buildings constructed - including a large mansion and the gazebo shown here. Wiehle died in 1901, his vision never fulfilled.

A lumber business opened, taking advantage of the railroad and nearby stand of trees. Much of the property was acquired by A. Smith Bowman in 1927. In 1934, with the repeal of Prohibition, Bowman built a distillery north of the railroad. The Wiehle family home became the part of the 7,200-acre Bowman estate, "Sunset Hills."

Erected by The Washington & Old Dominion Railroad Regional Park - Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Railroads & Streetcars. In addition, it is included in the NOVA Parks, and the Washington and Old Dominion (W&OD) Railroad series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1886.

Location. 38° 57.333′ N, 77° 21.082′ W. Marker is in Reston, Virginia, in

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Fairfax County. Marker is on Old Reston Avenue, on the right when traveling north. Located at the Sunset Hills Station trail stop. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Reston VA 20190, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Train Wrecks (within shouting distance of this marker); Veteran's Memorial (approx. 1.1 miles away); John Wesley Powell (1834-1902) (approx. 1.1 miles away); Julia Anna Gardner (1882-1960), Ph.D. (approx. 1.1 miles away); Randolph Wilson Bromery (1926-2013), Ph.D. (approx. 1.1 miles away); Robert E. Simon, Jr. / Reston, Virginia (approx. 1.1 miles away); Reston (approx. 1.1 miles away); "October Glory" Red Maple (approx. 1.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Reston.

More about this marker. The background of the marker is a photo of a train stopping at the Sunset Hills Station in 1967. A small inset photo on the upper right is captioned Lumber mill buildings were converted to warehouse for the Bowman distillery. It continued to operate at Sunset Hills until 1986, when it moved to Fredericksburg, Virginia.

Also see . . . W & OD Railroad. Wikipedia article offering a wealth of detail about the railroad line. (Submitted on December 3, 2009, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)

Photographed By Craig Swain, November 19, 2009

2. Sunset Hills Station Marker

Sunset Hills Station Today image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain, November 19, 2009

3. Sunset Hills Station Today

The gazebo mentioned on the marker stands behind the trees, just off the trail.

Informational Wayside at Sunset Hills image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain, November 19, 2009

4. Informational Wayside at Sunset Hills

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on December 3, 2009, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 2,739 times since then and 49 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on December 3, 2009, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.