Anyone here live in Front Royal? (Manassas, Winchester: buying a home, neighborhoods, buying)

[Badmayonaise]

My wife and I are considering buying a home in town, in Front Royal. Years ago I always thought of it as congested. Always struck me as a baby Manassas. But after my wife saw a few houses she liked there and cruising the neighborhoods I think I like it. Seems to have many smaller independent stores, esp. food establishments. a small theater. a variety of different neigborhoods, many had kids outside playing and bicylcling (a rare occurence in NOVA). It also has a gorgeous backdrop with Shenandoah NP and the other mountains surrounding it. What's not to like? Does anyone no if the historic district is on the upswing? Has anyone here with internet ever lived there. Do they have internet there? Maybe it's VA best kept secret and you want to keep all the trendies from NOVA from spoiling it. If so please direct message me and I'll shush if I can know more about the current state of Front Royal.

[ShadowBat]

Originally Posted by Badmayonaise

My wife and I are considering buying a home in town, in Front Royal. Years ago I always thought of it as congested. Always struck me as a baby Manassas. But after my wife saw a few houses she liked there and cruising the neighborhoods I think I like it. Seems to have many smaller independent stores, esp. food establishments. a small theater. a variety of different neigborhoods, many had kids outside playing and bicylcling (a rare occurence in NOVA). It also has a gorgeous backdrop with Shenandoah NP and the other mountains surrounding it. What's not to like? Does anyone no if the historic district is on the upswing? Has anyone here with internet ever lived there. Do they have internet there? Maybe it's VA best kept secret and you want to keep all the trendies from NOVA from spoiling it. If so please direct message me and I'll shush if I can know more about the current state of Front Royal.

You are going to get many interesting comments on FR being a small Manassas! I have never thought that. Though the town does have some new development at the i66 interchange.

According to the census bureau, it is officially part of the DC area, though many find that hard to believe. I mean, they don't even know what the internet is way out yonder in those boonies!

[South Jersey Styx]

Are you planning to retire in Front Royal? Or will you guys still be working?

If you like Front Royal you should definitely check out Winchester, just 30 mi nw of FR. winchester is a bigger city, has a larger historic downtown and more shops, supermarkets, etc. There are already several threads regarding Winchester on both this forum and the "Northern VA" forum. If you haven't visited yet--it's worth a day trip.

We moved here recently from NoVA and love it! Good luck!

[Badmayonaise]

Originally Posted by South Jersey Styx

Are you planning to retire in Front Royal? Or will you guys still be working?

If you like Front Royal you should definitely check out Winchester, just 30 mi nw of FR. winchester is a bigger city, has a larger historic downtown and more shops, supermarkets, etc. There are already several threads regarding Winchester on both this forum and the "Northern VA" forum. If you haven't visited yet--it's worth a day trip.

We moved here recently from NoVA and love it! Good luck!

I do like winchester, have a cousin there and use to play music in one of the pubs there a few years back, always good times. I work in Broad Run VA in between The Plains and Haymarket. Winchester's an hour from work, Front Royal's only 30 minutes. If I had my way I'd probably ideally end up in Luray. But that's a bit over an hour to work.
Looking into buying our first home and raising a family. I'm going to do some more exploring before commiting to somewhere to settle. We've basically ruled out Culpeper and NOVA. My wife seems not to keen on winchester probably because we have family there that she's not so keen on seeing all the time. But it is an option just a little further than I'd like to commute.