This Week's Find: Plantation-Turned-Waterfront Commune in Charles County

• November 20th 2019

by Nena Perry-Brown

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This Week's Find is the 13-acre property along the Potomac River known as CATAWAY.

Located in Charles County, the site was part of the Marshall Hall tobacco plantation in the 18th and 19th centuries. The plantation was later absorbed into the 4,000-plus acre Piscataway National Park, which cushions the site on two sides; a third side is bordered by a 32-acre tree farm. The site is also the largest property to sit on the opposite banks of the Potomac River from George Washington’s Mount Vernon estate.

Because the site is on protected land, no new homes can be built within 800 feet of the river, nor within ten acres of another house. The CATAWAY estate, however, was grandfathered into these restrictions and enjoys two houses: a three bedroom main house elevated less than 50 feet from the water's edge, and a two-bedroom, one-bath carriage house. 

The carriage house enjoys a dock along a pond on the property. Due to its secluded location and its abundance of forest, creeks, and ponds, animals also make a home at the property, including bald eagles, hedgehogs, turkeys, frogs and beavers. 

Most recently, the estate became a commune of sorts, owned by DC food truck pioneer Justin Vitarello of Fojol Bros. With the retreat retrofit, the property has two outdoor 200-amp electric panels fit to charge RV’s and power lighting and sound equipment. The open field at the front of the property can fit up to 75 vehicles. Listing details are below.

• Full Listing: 1100 and 1105 Cataway Place (map)
• Price: $885,000
• Bedrooms: Five
• Bathrooms: 4.5
• Square Feet: 4,683
• Year Built: 1948
• Listing Agent: Carlos Garcia, Keller Williams Capital Properties

This article originally published at https://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/this-weeks-find-former-plantation-turned-waterfront-commune/16161.