Wintergreen Resort

Last updated
Wintergreen Resort
Wintergreen-Resort.png
Wintergreen-Resort-Eagles.jpg
The Peak of Eagle's Swoop
Location Wintergreen, Nelson County, Virginia, USA
Nearest major city Charlottesville
Coordinates 37°55′48″N78°56′30″W / 37.93000°N 78.94167°W / 37.93000; -78.94167
Vertical1,003 ft (306 m)
Top elevation3,515 ft (1,071 m)
Base elevation2,512 ft (766 m)
Skiable area129 acres (52 ha)
Runs 26 total
Ski trail rating symbol-green circle.svg 23% beginner
Ski trail rating symbol-blue square.svg 35% intermediate
Ski trail rating symbol-black diamond.svg 42% advanced
Longest runTyro 1.4 mi (2.3 km)
Lift system 5 total (2 High-speed six pack chairs, 1 quad chair, 1 triple chair, 1 double chair)
Lift capacity11,200 per hour
Terrain parks 1
Snowfall 35 in (890 mm)
Snowmaking 100%
Night skiing 54%
Website wintergreenresort.com

Wintergreen Resort is a four-season mountain resort on the eastern slopes of the Blue Ridge Mountains, located in Nelson County, Virginia and near the towns of Wintergreen and Nellysford. The resort is also in close proximity to the cities of Lynchburg, Waynesboro, and Charlottesville, and within a three-hour drive of Washington, D.C. [1] It opened in 1975 and is currently owned and managed by Pacific Group Resorts, Inc. Unlike most other ski resorts, Wintergreen is a "Mountain Top" resort in which all of the amenities are built on the peaks and ridges, rather than at the traditional base.

Contents

History

Top of the Highlands in January 2006, Wintergreen Resort Wintergreen resort.jpg
Top of the Highlands in January 2006, Wintergreen Resort

Development

In 1969, a 10,000 acres (4,000 ha) tract of land known as The Big Survey, located in the heart of Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains and home to a wide variety of forestry, timberland, and wildlife, was purchased by a group of investors. [2] Within a few years, Cabot, Cabot & Forbes of Boston purchased The Big Survey, and the planning of the Wintergreen community began. The Sea Pines Company soon joined the group to plan and market the area and a new community.

By 1975, the resort had a large ski area, consisting of eight slopes and three chairlifts, which opened with much fanfare and Virginia Governor Mills E. Godwin in attendance. The resort's first restaurant, The Copper Mine, was open to the public only during the winter months. The original welcoming center, the Wintergreen Country Store, was later added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2005. In later years, additional ski runs were added in cleared areas to the west and east of the original development and resort village.

Growth

In 1976 Melba Investors, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Bankers Trust of New York, acquired Wintergreen from Cabot, Cabot & Forbes, and Lewis F. Payne, Jr. founded Wintergreen Development, Inc. to operate the resort and serve as the developer and managing agent.

Within a year, the resort could beckon summer vacationers and residents with the completion of the new Ellis Maples-designed Devils Knob golf course (June 1977) and the opening of the mountain tennis center (June 1978). In January 1978, Wintergreen hosted its first Winter Special Olympics. There was also an ongoing flora transplantation project, which began to save native plant species, and use them in the resort's landscaping. [3]

Soon after, The Mountain Inn and Conference Center was completed (December 1980), allowing the resort, now owned and managed by Wintergreen Partners, Inc., (being separate and apart from the Wintergreen Property Owners Association). WPI aggressively worked to host conferences and meetings, expanding the resort's initial target market.

Present

In 2012, Wintergreen Resort was bought for $16.5 million by James C. Justice II, the owner of The Greenbrier Resort in White Sulfur Springs, West Virginia. [4] Following the acquisition, Justice began several construction projects valued at a total of $12 million, including restaurant upgrades, a multimillion-dollar water tank and new snow guns to facilitate the resort's 100% snowmaking coverage, as well as improvements to existing recreational facilities. [5]

Three years later, in February 2015, the property was sold yet again, this time to EPR Properties of Missouri, a REIT. This time, however, financial details were not disclosed to the public. As part of the sale, the resort was renamed "Wintergreen Pacific LLC." (though continued to do business as Wintergreen Resort) and would be operated by Pacific Group Resorts, Inc., under a long-term lease. Pacific Group Resorts, Inc. obtained ownership in 2021. [6]

Amenities

Resort configuration

Elevation

Trails

Chairlifts

Weather

Most of the resort and surrounding mountaintop attractions range from 2,500 to 4,000 feet in elevation and therefore average considerably cooler than the nearby Valley or Piedmont cities such as Staunton, Charlottesville, and Lynchburg. Temperatures on average fall about 4 °F for every thousand feet of elevation making Wintergreen's summit typically 10-15 degrees colder than the valley towns. This allows for ample winter snowmaking and increased natural snowfall. However, due to its location well east of the highest ridge of the Appalachians, it receives only about 35 inches a year of natural snow versus some 175 inches in prime spots 100 miles (161 km) to the west. Despite lack of heavy, consistent snowfall, Wintergreen is much closer and more convenient to the major population centers on the east coast, such as Washington, D.C. and Richmond.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ragged Mountain Resort</span> Ski area in New Hampshire, United States

Ragged Mountain is a ski resort located on the northern side of Ragged Mountain in Danbury, New Hampshire, in the United States, with a vertical drop of 1,250 feet (380 m) and spread across 250 acres (100 ha). Offering three terrain parks and many glades, the resort is home to the only six-person chairlift in New Hampshire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mountain Creek</span> Ski area in New Jersey, United States

Mountain Creek is a ski resort in Vernon Township, Sussex County, New Jersey, United States. It is located on New Jersey Route 94, 47 miles (76 km) from the George Washington Bridge.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sugarloaf (ski resort)</span> Ski resort in Maine, USA

Sugarloaf is a ski area and resort located on Sugarloaf Mountain in Carrabassett Valley, western Maine. It is the second largest ski resort east of the Mississippi in terms of skiable area and snowmaking percentage (95%); its continuous vertical drop of 2,820 feet (860 m) is the second longest in New England. Sugarloaf recorded a total of 352,000 skier visits in the 2005–2006 season, ranking it second among Maine resorts and 11th in New England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Okemo Mountain</span> Ski resort in Vermont, United States

Okemo Mountain Resort is a ski resort located in the town of Ludlow, Vermont, United States. The resort experienced 600,000 skier visits in 2009. Parents Magazine rated it the Top US Family Snow Resort.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mountain High</span> Winter resort in California

Mountain High resort is a winter resort in the San Gabriel Mountains in Los Angeles County in California. Mountain High is one of the most-visited resorts in Southern California. The resort is located along State Route 2 west of Wrightwood, California. The elevation of the resort is 6,600 feet (2,000 m) to 8,200 feet (2,500 m) for the Mountain High East Resort, 7,000 feet (2,100 m) to 8,000 feet (2,400 m) for the West Resort and 7,200 feet (2,200 m) to 7,800 ft (2,400 m) for the North Resort.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sugarbush Resort</span> Ski area in Vermont, United States

Sugarbush Resort is a ski resort located in the Mad River valley in Warren, Vermont, owned by Alterra Mountain Company. It is one of the largest ski resorts in New England. The resort encompasses more than 4000 acres (16 km²) total, 484 trail acres (2.34 km²) skiable, 53 miles (85 km) of trails, and 16 ski lifts. Sugarbush has 111 ski trails, 18 additional marked wooded area, substantial off-piste skiing and riding, a summit elevation of 4,083 ft (1,244 m), and a vertical drop of 2,600 feet (790 m), second largest in Vermont after Killington, and the third largest in New England after Killington and Sugarloaf.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">June Mountain ski area</span> Ski area in California, United States

June Mountain ski area is a winter resort in the eastern Sierra Nevada of California, located near June Lake, southeast of Yosemite National Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Snow</span> Ski resort in Vermont, United States

Mount Snow is a mountain and ski resort in southern Vermont located in the Green Mountains. It is Vermont's southernmost big mountain, and therefore, closest to many Northeast metropolitan areas.

Tamarack Resort is a four-season destination resort in the western United States. Located in west central Idaho in Valley County, it is ninety miles (145 km) miles north of Boise on the west shore of Lake Cascade, southwest of the small town of Donnelly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bromley Mountain</span> Ski area in Vermont, United States

Bromley Mountain is located in southern Vermont, United States and is part of the Green Mountains. It is located in the town of Peru, Bennington County, seven miles (11 km) east of Manchester, Vermont and just west of the Peru town center. It is a popular destination for skiing and snowboarding.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Omni Homestead Resort</span> United States historic place

The Omni Homestead Resort is a luxury resort in Hot Springs, Virginia, United States, in the middle of the Allegheny Mountains. The area has the largest hot springs in the commonwealth, and the resort is also known for its championship golf courses, which have hosted several national tournaments. The resort also includes an alpine ski resort; founded in 1959, it is the oldest in Virginia. The resort has been designated a National Historic Landmark; it has a history extending more than two and a half centuries. The Omni Homestead Resort is a member of Historic Hotels of America the official program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northstar California</span> Ski resort in California, United States

Northstar California is a mountain resort in the western United States, located in Placer County, California, near the northwest shore of Lake Tahoe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Magic Mountain Ski Area</span> Ski area in Vermont, United States

Magic Mountain is a ski resort located on Glebe Mountain in Londonderry, Vermont. It features a 1,500-foot vertical drop. The summit is at 2,850 feet and the base at 1,350 feet.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mission Ridge Ski Area</span> Ski area in Washington, United States

Mission Ridge Ski Area is a ski area in the western United States, located near Wenatchee, Washington. On the leeward east slope of the Cascade Range, its base elevation is at 4,570 feet (1,393 m) above sea level with the peak at 6,820 feet (2,079 m), yielding a vertical drop pf 2,250 feet (686 m). Mission Ridge receives an average snowfall of 200 inches per year, with over 300 sunny days, and its slopes face primarily northeast.

Horseshoe Resort, formerly Horseshoe Valley Ski Club, is an Ontario ski resort and four season vacation destination. Located north of Barrie, the resort is about 1 hour 15 minutes driving time from Toronto. The resort enjoys a long ski season due to snow making abilities. Acquired by Freed Hotels and Resorts in 2021, Horseshoe Resort is spread out over 680 acres (280 ha) of land. The resort offers 28 ski runs, over 30 kilometres of Nordic trails, 12-hole Valley golf course, Amba Spa, 101 rooms at the on-site inn, 40 condo-style suites, two year-round restaurants, 16,000 square feet (1,500 m2) of meeting and banquet facilities, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a full gym, and over 25 miles (40 km) of trails connected to the Copeland Forest suitable for hiking, biking and snowshoeing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seven Springs Mountain Resort</span> All-season resort in Pennsylvania, US

Seven Springs Mountain Resort is an all-season resort located in the borough of Seven Springs, Pennsylvania. It has a relatively high elevation for a Pennsylvania ski area, at 3,001 feet (915 m) above sea level. Activities include biking, canopy touring, ziplining, sporting clays, fishing, hiking and golfing in the summer and skiing, snowboarding and snow tubing in the winter. The ski season at Seven Springs typically begins on the day after Thanksgiving and continues to mid-April, weather permitting.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dodge Ridge Ski Area</span> Ski area near Pinecrest, California in Tuolumne County

Dodge Ridge Wintersports Area is a ski area near Pinecrest, California in Tuolumne County, off of Highway 108, 30 mi (48 km) east of Sonora. The resort is located in the Stanislaus National Forest and operates under a special use permit. Many skiers in Northern California use Dodge Ridge because of its proximity to the San Francisco Bay Area, San Joaquin Valley and Yosemite National Park. The winter sports season typically lasts from late November through mid April. The mountain summit sits at 8,200' above sea level. Dodge Ridge was founded by various individuals, and managed by the Purdy family, in 1950, and then owned by the Helm family from 1976 up until the 2021-2022 season, when it was acquired by Invision Capital and Karl Kapusciniski. Dodge Ridge is a member of Powder Alliance, which offers reciprocal ski passes to season pass holders of various resorts. Beginning in the 2021/2022 season Dodge Ridge began to experiment with "light snowmaking at the base."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grouse Mountain</span> Mountain in British Columbia, Canada

Grouse Mountain is one of the North Shore Mountains of the Pacific Ranges in the District Municipality of North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. With a maximum elevation of over 1,200m (4,100ft) at its peak, the mountain is the site of an alpine ski area, Grouse Mountain Resort, which overlooks Metro Vancouver and has four chairlifts servicing 33 runs. In the summer, Grouse Mountain Resort features lumberjack shows, the "Birds in Motion" birds of prey demonstration, a scenic chairlift ride, disc golf, mountain biking, zip lining, tandem paragliding, helicopter tours, and guided ecowalks. Year-round operations include a 100-seat mountaintop theatre and a wildlife refuge. The mountain operates two aerial tramways, known officially as the Skyride. The Blue Skyride is used mainly for freight transportation, while public access to the mountain top is provided by the Swiss-built Garaventa Red Skyride, which has a maximum capacity of 101 passengers. Summer access is also provided by the 2.9 kilometre Grouse Grind hiking trail, which is open for hiking from May to October.

Wisp Resort is the only four-season downhill ski resort in Maryland. It is located near Deep Creek Lake in the town of McHenry in Garrett County, Maryland, near the border of West Virginia and Western Pennsylvania/Pittsburgh Metropolitan Area. It is located almost 10 miles northwest of Oakland, 32 miles west of Cumberland, Maryland, 2 hours from Pittsburgh, and 3 hours from Baltimore and Washington, DC. The ski slopes are located on Marsh Mountain. The closest ski resorts to Wisp are Seven Springs Mountain Resort, about 48 miles North, and Hidden Valley Resort (Pennsylvania), around 50 miles North of Wisp. Wisp Resort was founded by Mr.Helmuth M.G. Heise and is currently owned by Pacific Group Resorts, Inc.

The Mount Buller Alpine Resort is a ski resort located on Mt Buller in the Australian state of Victoria.

References

  1. ↑ Shosteck, Robert (2004) Weekend Getaways Around Washington, D.C. Gretna, LA: Pelican Pub. Page 53
  2. ↑ Warsch, Barry (2006) "Downhill in Dixie" Skiing Heritage Journal Vol 18 #3:31
  3. ↑ Hitz, Mary Buford (2016) For Love of the Land: A History of the Wintergreen Community Lynchburg: Blackwell Press ISBN   9781938205248
  4. ↑ "Greenbrier Owner Acquires VA's Wintergreen Resort" Lodging Hospitality, 2012 Cleveland: Bell & Howell Information and Learning ISSN: 0148-0766
  5. ↑ Johnson, Randy (2019) Southern Snow: The New Guide to Winter Sports from Maryland to the Southern Appalachians University of North Carolina Press ISBN   9781469654201
  6. ↑ Webb, Andrew (2021) Wintergreen Resort under new ownership NBC29 TV
  7. ↑ McCord, Robert R. (1996) The Best Public Golf Courses in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, and Mexico NY: Random House pg 669 ISBN   9780679769033
  8. ↑ Francesconi, Peter (1990) "Travel: Virginia Is for Tennis Lovers" Tennis Vol 25 #11:S120
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.