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VA vs MD: Great Falls
Posted by: Angua1 ()
Date: August 07, 2009 07:36AM

The thread about people moving out of Fairfax and to MD got me to thinking. Any old-timers know anything about the history of Great Falls? I'm not talking about stuff you can learn when you visit. I'm talking about cosmetic differences between the VA side and the MD side. The VA side is crap. What's with the chain link fence? Compare it with the MD side where you have the renovated canals, beautiful short hike to a wonderfully-maintained, safe decking providing beautiful views of the falls. You've got the three billy-goat trails. Tons of people enjoying the canal trails year round.

Then there's the VA side. The visitor's center is OK, and there are some hiking trails. But the chain link fence says it all. VA doesn't give much of a crap about it's natural and historic treasures.

It seems VA has a history of this. Mount Vernon would probably have been razed if not for the hard work of the Mount Vernon Ladies Association.

Even at Chincoteague you can see a huge difference between the philosophies and level of care given to the MD side versus the neglected VA side - but I won't go into it more since it's not Fairfax.

I've lived in Fairfax since 2000, and I generally like it. But these examples symbolize this weird difference I see between MD and VA and I can see why people might prefer MD - when a state makes an effort to improve and maintain their public treasures as opposed to waiting for private groups to organize and step up to the task, that says something about the population.

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Re: VA vs MD: Great Falls
Posted by: hop ()
Date: August 07, 2009 07:57AM

The VA side is on lower ground than MD, it floods maybe every other year. There is a sign post with the highest floods recorded. So VA has not spent a lot of money building things up in the flood zone, but keeps it natural. What's wrong with that?

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Re: VA vs MD: Great Falls
Posted by: Johnn ()
Date: August 07, 2009 07:59AM

I lived all over both states, and Maryland is generally better when it comes to infrastructure and road maintains. Thats why Maryland is one of the top states that get a good grade in those things. It sucks when it comes to crime, and other thing. Even that Alexandria Chief that was busted for the DUI lived in Maryland, and there are few Judges all over VA that maintain their residency in Maryland.

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Re: VA vs MD: Great Falls
Posted by: BagODonuts ()
Date: August 07, 2009 09:24AM

You are going to complain about one small section of chain link fence?

And, if you had half a brain you would know his park is a federal park, not state, so it has nothing to do with Virginia.

Eh, glad to see you leave the VA side anyway, much better without you.

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Re: VA vs MD: Great Falls
Posted by: Zombie Dr ()
Date: August 07, 2009 10:11AM

I think Burke Lake is well maintained and popular. We can cite examples that contradict each other all day, but does that prove anything?

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Re: VA vs MD: Great Falls
Posted by: -,SBS- ()
Date: August 07, 2009 11:00AM

Angua1 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>
> Even at Chincoteague you can see a huge difference
> between the philosophies and level of care given
> to the MD side versus the neglected VA side - but
> I won't go into it more since it's not Fairfax.
>

Chincoteague is 100% Virginia. You are referring to Assateague Island.

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Re: VA vs MD: Great Falls
Posted by: FurfaxTownie ()
Date: August 07, 2009 11:02AM

I maybe wrong on this, but i think there is alos more "old money" on the MD side. So maybe that side of the river has had more time to mature in the beauty it is now?


"I think Burke Lake is well maintained and popular."

Considering Burke Lake used to be a landfill, i agree.

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Re: VA vs MD: Great Falls
Posted by: Asshead ()
Date: August 07, 2009 11:13AM


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Re: VA vs MD: Great Falls
Posted by: Hmmmm Hmmm ()
Date: August 07, 2009 11:21AM

Both the Maryland side and the Virginia side of Great Falls park are maintained by the NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, thus your argument is an absolute FAILURE.

Next....

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Re: VA vs MD: Great Falls
Posted by: FurfaxTownie ()
Date: August 07, 2009 11:39AM

So i guess the MD side just has a more powerful lobby, or the powers that be who are in charge of the park reside in MD? Not that I care, its just usually how these things come about.

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Re: VA vs MD: Great Falls
Posted by: pds ()
Date: August 07, 2009 02:50PM

I love both sides, we're blessed to have such great parks.

I spend more time on the VA side and love how they've expanded the trails, esp. along the river all the way to Algonkian Regional Park!

I think the NPS has tried to reduce the amount of drownings with the fences etc. But the new overlook areas are fantastic (and you can still walk out on the rocks if you really want to).

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Re: VA vs MD: Great Falls
Posted by: Zombie Dr ()
Date: August 07, 2009 03:04PM

FurfaxTownie Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I maybe wrong on this, but i think there is alos
> more "old money" on the MD side. So maybe that
> side of the river has had more time to mature in
> the beauty it is now?
>
>
> "I think Burke Lake is well maintained and
> popular."
>
> Considering Burke Lake used to be a landfill, i
> agree.

I didn't know that. They did a pretty good job.

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Re: VA vs MD: Great Falls
Posted by: BagODonuts ()
Date: August 07, 2009 03:29PM

FurfaxTownie Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>
> Considering Burke Lake used to be a landfill, i
> agree.

Have a hard time believing this piece of info. This is all I could find on the history of Burke Lake.

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Re: VA vs MD: Great Falls
Posted by: nekkid ()
Date: August 07, 2009 04:27PM

Virginia side is where I do all my pot smoking and nude sunbathing.

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Re: VA vs MD: Great Falls
Posted by: kitty ()
Date: August 07, 2009 05:53PM

about 38 years ago, there were some accidents and some that were on purpose that caused the chain link fence to go up.

First, it's a national park service...not state.

Secondly a mother/wife took her shoes off, put her purse on the ground and promptly jumped over the cliff to her death. She did leave a suicide note.

a few years later (not more then 3) a family was hiking and one of the sons slipped on a rock and fell about 50 feet onto another rock. The next son hiking slipped in the same area and also fell. Both sons survived, but the injuries were severe.

There is your story. Both the womand and sons were from the annandale area.

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Re: VA vs MD: Great Falls
Posted by: ThePackLeader ()
Date: August 09, 2009 11:32PM

Johnn Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I lived all over both states, and Maryland is
> generally better when it comes to infrastructure
> and road maintains. Thats why Maryland is one of
> the top states that get a good grade in those
> things. It sucks when it comes to crime, and
> other thing. Even that Alexandria Chief that was
> busted for the DUI lived in Maryland, and there
> are few Judges all over VA that maintain their
> residency in Maryland.


Might Maryland be better in so called "Road Maintenance", because the state is so small? You forget that Fairfax is only a fraction of the entire Commonwealth, and there are thousands of miles of roadways to maintain.

MD generally sucks, and VA will always be better. That is the bottom line.

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Re: VA vs MD: Great Falls
Posted by: circus clown ()
Date: August 10, 2009 09:55AM

Such ignorance and crap displayed in this thread ... so like this forum and those who frequent it.

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Re: VA vs MD: Great Falls
Posted by: Maryland, my Maryland. ()
Date: August 10, 2009 10:33AM

Virginia is garbage!!! Maryland Rules!!!

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Re: VA vs MD: Great Falls
Posted by: trogdor! ()
Date: August 10, 2009 07:39PM

Hmmmm Hmmm Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Both the Maryland side and the Virginia side of
> Great Falls park are maintained by the NATIONAL
> PARK SERVICE, thus your argument is an absolute
> FAILURE.
>
> Next....

As I was reading this thread, I was wondering if anyone would point this out. Thank god someone did.

The Maryland side is better, but that's because the federal government still holds a grudge against Virginia for that whole Civil War disaster.

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Re: VA vs MD: Great Falls
Posted by: ThePackLeader ()
Date: August 18, 2009 05:57PM

trogdor! Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Hmmmm Hmmm Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Both the Maryland side and the Virginia side of
> > Great Falls park are maintained by the NATIONAL
> > PARK SERVICE, thus your argument is an absolute
> > FAILURE.
> >
> > Next....
>
> As I was reading this thread, I was wondering if
> anyone would point this out. Thank god someone
> did.
>
> The Maryland side is better, but that's because
> the federal government still holds a grudge
> against Virginia for that whole Civil War
> disaster.


Lol, it was the "War Of Northern Aggression" my friend. Maryland was confused then as to which side they would take, and they still remain that way even today.

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Re: VA vs MD: Great Falls
Posted by: Vince(1) ()
Date: August 18, 2009 06:59PM

ThePackLeader Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> trogdor! Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Hmmmm Hmmm Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > Both the Maryland side and the Virginia side
> of
> > > Great Falls park are maintained by the
> NATIONAL
> > > PARK SERVICE, thus your argument is an
> absolute
> > > FAILURE.
> > >
> > > Next....
> >
> > As I was reading this thread, I was wondering
> if
> > anyone would point this out. Thank god someone
> > did.
> >
> > The Maryland side is better, but that's because
> > the federal government still holds a grudge
> > against Virginia for that whole Civil War
> > disaster.
>
>
> Lol, it was the "War Of Northern Aggression" my
> friend. Maryland was confused then as to which
> side they would take, and they still remain that
> way even today.

And we kicked southern ass...no matter what you call it.

Registered Voter...a Big talking coward..big man on FFXU...little man in life.

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Re: VA vs MD: Great Falls
Posted by: ThePackLeader ()
Date: August 18, 2009 08:10PM

Vince(1) Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> ThePackLeader Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > trogdor! Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > Hmmmm Hmmm Wrote:
> > >
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> >
> > > -----
> > > > Both the Maryland side and the Virginia
> side
> > of
> > > > Great Falls park are maintained by the
> > NATIONAL
> > > > PARK SERVICE, thus your argument is an
> > absolute
> > > > FAILURE.
> > > >
> > > > Next....
> > >
> > > As I was reading this thread, I was wondering
> > if
> > > anyone would point this out. Thank god
> someone
> > > did.
> > >
> > > The Maryland side is better, but that's
> because
> > > the federal government still holds a grudge
> > > against Virginia for that whole Civil War
> > > disaster.
> >
> >
> > Lol, it was the "War Of Northern Aggression" my
> > friend. Maryland was confused then as to which
> > side they would take, and they still remain
> that
> > way even today.
>
> And we kicked southern ass...no matter what you
> call it.


"We" as in who? Maryland? You didn't kick anyones a$$, especially seeing how hundreds of thousands died on both sides of the conflict. You probably don't even have any history invested in the War anyhow.

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Re: VA vs MD: Great Falls
Posted by: Vince(1) ()
Date: August 18, 2009 09:15PM

Whatever history you have "invested"..lost!

Registered Voter...a Big talking coward..big man on FFXU...little man in life.

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Re: VA vs MD: Great Falls
Posted by: ned ()
Date: August 20, 2009 03:54PM

Oh snap! The south is the north's bitch!

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Re: VA vs MD: Great Falls
Posted by: Daniel Hough, III ()
Date: August 20, 2009 05:24PM

ThePackLeader Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Lol, it was the "War Of Northern Aggression" my friend.


The South started it, firing on Fort Sumter.

The North finished it.

And, as noted, you've been our bitches ever since.

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Re: VA vs MD: Great Falls
Posted by: Visitor from afar ()
Date: August 22, 2009 07:48AM

Make no mistake, without MD there would've been no Northern victory. Md was very crucial during the war, and if memory serves me better a very well known Md general was behind the unions capture of Nova and drawn the lines seperating nova counties. Brush up on your civil war history folks.

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Re: VA vs MD: Great Falls
Posted by: tomahawk ()
Date: August 22, 2009 08:17PM

Vince(1) Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>
> And we kicked southern ass...no matter what you
> call it.

Wow, Vince talking about "kicking southern ass", LOL! Stay indoors and behind your keyboard, pansy, where you'll be nice and safe.

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