For a day of fun, take the path less traveled

By Fred Tscheulin

                The hotel at Mountain Lake is a spectacular destination for a day trip. Located near Pembroke, Mountain Lake is the highest natural, fresh water lake east of the Mississippi and one of only two in the state. At an elevation of 3,920 feet above sea level, you can hike, bike, swim, fish and dine “at the top of Virginia’s Blue Ridge.”

                “You live at Smith Mountain Lake,” you say. “Why travel 90 miles to do what you can do in your own backyard?” Good question. There are times when a change of scenery is just what the doctor ordered. Times when the family is looking to go one-on-one with nature, enjoy cool mountain air, wander through lush woodland, go hiking or biking and tuck a few new memories away for future reference. At Mountain Lake, there are 15 well-marked trails to choose from and a trail map and guide is available courtesy of the local Wilderness Conservancy.

                The recorded history of Mountain Lake dates back to 1751, when Christopher Gist became the first European to lay eyes on the Lake. It was named Salt Pond. The first known owner of Salt Pond was Henry Chapman in 1829. In 1857, General Herman Haupt of Pennsylvania purchased the first hotel license and renamed it Mountain Lake. Frank Woodsman of Charleston, W.Va. purchased the property in 1891 and sold it soon after to the Porterfield family, which is  attributed with creating and making famous the Mountain Lake brand. In 1930, it was purchased by William Lewis Moody. Upon his death it was passed on to his daughter, Mary Moody Northen. She maintained it until her death in 1986, when the Mary Moody Northen Endowment, which holds the deed to this day, took over ownership. According to the record, “As such any proceeds generated remain in the endowment which liberally contributes scholarships, grants to other non-profits, and funds for environmental research.”

                And speaking of history, Mountain Lake is the location where the movie “Dirty Dancing” was filmed 20 years ago. This 1987 sleeper went on to become a top box office hit starring Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey.  To mark the anniversary, the Mountain Lake Hotel will celebrate Nov. 17-19 with a special, fun-filled “Dirty Dancing Weekend.” Planned activities include a tour of all the memorable scene locations, dance lessons, dancing, music from the sound track and a “Dirty Dancing” trivia contest. For example, do you remember the make and year of Johnny’s car? Answer: 1957 Chevrolet.

                Our trip began at 9:30 a.m. on a sunny Sunday morning. Pembroke is located north of Blacksburg. Take I-81 South to US 460 West, turn right on Rt. 700 (Mountain Lake Road). Follow Rt.700 for 7 miles up the mountain to the entrance. The drive, which took just under two  hours, was comfortable. We had a noon reservation and enjoyed with friends the extensive brunch, which can only be described as “first class.” Later, we explored the grounds and recreational facilities, took photos and planned our return route. We decided to head back via Rt. 42 toward New Castle. Along the way we crossed the Eastern Continental Divide at Sinking Creek. At New Castle, we turned right onto Rt. 311 South to I-81. This route was a little slower but the scenic overlooks were well worth the extra time. It was a great day!

Mountain Lake typically covers about 50 acres. However, it is subject to dry-season level drops, as was the case during our visit. For more information about Mountain Lake, the Hotel and special activities, visit www.mountainlakehotel.com or call 540.626.7121.