Springvale The ruins of the town of Springvale are located west of Washington , D . C . in the Capital Wasteland . Springvale School , Megaton and Vault 101 are all close to the ruins . Background . In the 2060s , Vault - Tec began construction on a Vault , later named Vault 101 , in the hills west of this town . In the days leading up to the Great War of 2077 , families in Springvale petitioned for spots in the vault . At least one family , the Gomez family , was accepted , and one family was not . In 2241 , Vault 101 sends an expedition into the Capital Wasteland . The scout leader notes that Springvale is deserted except for giant ant s . In the same report , she notes that the roads are badly damaged . This expedition successfully established contact with the citizens of Megaton . Eventually raiders established themselves in the nearby Springvale School where they prey on caravans and wastelander s , and attempt to dig an underground entrance into the vault in order to raid it . After the battle between forces of the Enclave and the Brotherhood of Steel at the Jefferson Memorial , the Apostles of the Holy Light establish the Holy Light Monastery in Springvale . This monastery is located in the cellar of one of the houses . This house is southwest of the Red Rocket gas station . Layout . There is a small , intact ranch house , which is the residence of Silver , a former Megaton resident . The ruins of the town continue past the school to the ruins of a building on the banks of the Potomac . Springvale ' s tallest remaining structure is a water tower . On the road east from Vault 101 , there are four two - story houses , a children ' s playground , and a gas station . South of this road , there is the water tower . At a T - junction , the east road intersects the north road . On this road , there is the small ranch house , a bus stop , and a two - story house . The road ends south of a house , identified as House # 6 , at a T - junction with a north - east road . This road ends abruptly in front of the school . North of the road , across from the school , there are additional houses . Further up a ridge to the west , there are two more houses . A scenic overlook , east of Vault 101 , offers a panoramic view of the town and Megaton . House # 1 . This is a south - facing house north of the east road . A blue mail dropbox is west of the house , which contains three frag grenades as well as some jet . In front of the house , there is a standing mailbox . Inside the house , next to a chimney , there is a cabinet . House # 2 . Diagonally from House # 1 , there is a north - facing house . Lying on its side next to the porch , there is a mailbox . Inside this house , there is a footlocker lying close to a chimney and there is a refrigerator at the back of the house . House # 3 . Diagonally from House # 2 , there is a south - facing house . In front of it , there is a derelict blue car . Its mailbox is standing and has a " Pugilism Illustrated " inside . Inside the house , there is a safe containing minor loot with a very easy lock . House # 4 . Across from House # 3 , there is a north - facing house . West of the house , a destroyed car sits . Its mailbox is standing . Two suitcase s are on the porch . Inside the house , there is a cellar door which requires a key . In " Broken Steel " , this is the location of the Holy Light Monastery . Playground . In the center of Springvale there is a playground which is in fairly good condition . Also , there is a swing set , a merry - go - round , monkey bars , a pair of see - saws , and even a slide . The park is located south of Silver ' s house . Gas station . East of the playground , across the road , there is a west facing Red Rocket gas station . The station has a Nuka - Cola vending machine . Small ranch house . This intact single - story house is northwest of the bus stop , and is the residence of Silver . This is the main location you must travel to for the unmarked quest 300 Pieces of Silver . House # 5 . North of the bus stop , there is a west facing house . Inside the house , there is a cabinet with a very easy lock . To the side of the house , there is a second blue mailbox drop . House # 6 ( Gomez residence ) . Northwest of House # 5 , there is a south facing house . Its mailbox is standing . Inhabitants . Initially , the town is deserted except for the hovering Enclave eyebot , the occasional giant ant or vicious dog , and the caravan traders from Canterbury Commons . The newest inhabitant is Silver who lives in the small ranch . However , like most of the Capital Wasteland , hostile factions begin appearing in the town over time . One of these factions is the Enclave . When the Enclave forces forcefully present themselves in the Capital Wasteland after acquiring the GECK , a squad of Enclave soldiers is delivered by a Vertibird to a landing zone northwest of Springvale . These soldiers establish a small base camp . They are ordered by their superiors to kill what is considered inferior , such as ghouls and wastelanders , and will attack the Lone Wanderer . Another hostile faction in Springvale is the gang of raiders . They have established a base camp in the Springvale School , and are using it to attack the caravans and travelers heading to Megaton . The raiders are also excavating inside the school but later found a giant ant nest in the caverns . If " Broken Steel " is installed , after the events of Take it Back ! ex - members of the local cult Church of the Children of Atom , who call themselves the Apostles of the Holy Light , migrate to Springvale where they establish a monastery . The monastery is home to humans and ghouls . Ghouls are ex - humans of the cult who volunteered for this metamorphosis by irradiating themselves . Guards are positioned near the entrance . Notes . With " Broken Steel " installed , occasionally an Enclave soldier will appear before The Waters of Life quest . Appearances . Springvale appears only in " Fallout 3 " .