Mountain Lake (Virginia) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mountain Lake |
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 Mountain Lake
Location in Virginia
Mountain Lake
Location in the United States
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| Location | Giles County, Virginia |
| Coordinates | 37°21′36″N 80°32′02″W / 37.36000°N 80.53389°W |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 50 acres (20 ha) |
| Surface elevation | 3,875 ft (1,181 m) |
Mountain Lake is a special freshwater lake found in Giles County, Virginia in the United States. It is one of only two natural lakes in Virginia. The other is Lake Drummond in the Great Dismal Swamp. People originally called Mountain Lake "Salt Pond." This was because cattle would come there to get salt.
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Discovering Mountain Lake
Mountain Lake usually covers about 50 acres (200,000 m2) of land. For many years, in the 1800s and 1900s, its water level stayed steady. The lake sits high up, at about 3,875 feet (1,181 m) above sea level.
The first time anyone wrote about the lake was in 1751. A person named Christopher Gist from a land surveying company wrote about it. Later, it became known as Salt Pond.
How Mountain Lake Formed
Natural lakes are common in northern areas where glaciers once moved. But Mountain Lake is the only natural lake in the southern Appalachian Mountains. Scientists have wondered how it formed.
Recent studies show that many natural events created this lake. There is a crack, or "fissure," at the bottom of the lake. This crack lets out both water and mud. This helps stop the lake from turning into a muddy bog.
The lake needs rain to stay full. When it rains a lot, water washes out mud from the bottom. This is why the lake's water levels can change a lot.
Scientists think the lake is about 6,000 years old. They believe it formed when rocks slid down mountainsides and blocked a valley. Cold springs underground feed the lake. Because of these springs, the water rarely gets warmer than 70 °F (21 °C) at the top. About 50 feet (15 m) down, the water stays around 46 °F (8 °C). When the lake is full, it can be more than 100 feet (30 m) deep.
Changing Water Levels
Mountain Lake's water levels have changed a lot over time. From 1751 to 1804, old stories describe the lake as being very different sizes.
More recently, the lake's water levels dropped a lot between 2008 and 2020. For a long time, it looked like a reddish-brown pit with only a little water. The lake had dropped before, in 1999, but it returned to normal in 2003. In 2006, it dropped again and even emptied completely for a few days.
In the spring of 2020, the lake started to refill. By July 14th, it was about one-third full. Researchers believe the lake has a natural cycle of rising and falling. During dry times, mud moves through the cracks at the bottom. The lake is thought to reach its lowest points about every 400 years.
Nature Around the Lake
Near Mountain Lake, you can find one of Virginia's few untouched forests. This includes a rare spruce bog called Mann's Bog. It has unusual plants that are usually found much farther north.
The lake's water flows into Little Stoney Creek. This creek then goes over a beautiful waterfall called The Cascades. From there, the water reaches the New River.
In January 1985, during a very cold time, Mountain Lake set a record. It had the lowest temperature ever recorded in Virginia: −30 °F (−34 °C).
Mountain Lake Hotel: A Historic Stay
People visited Salt Pond often in the early 1800s. In 1856, a man named Henley Chapman started the Mountain Lake Company. His goal was to offer places to stay and fun activities for visitors. Soon after, a wooden hotel and a saw mill were built.
Before railroads, people traveled by stagecoach from towns like Christiansburg, Virginia and Union, West Virginia. These travelers were the main guests at the hotel.
After the Civil War
After the American Civil War (1861–1865), the hotel was sold in 1869 to General and Mrs. Herman Haupt. General Haupt had been in charge of military railroads during the war.
The Haupts decided to reopen the hotel to the public. It became very popular, and they had to add more rooms to fit all the guests.
Getting to the Hotel
When trains became common, guests would get off at nearby stations like Pembroke, Virginia or Eggleston, Virginia. Horse-drawn carriages would then take them up a dirt road to the resort. Today, a paved road called SR 700 leads up the mountain.
Managing the Resort
A local lawyer, Gordon Porterfield, managed the hotel for a short time. Then his son, Gilbert Porterfield, took over for 25 years. During Gilbert Porterfield's time, the resort became known for its excellent food.
Guests were also allowed to build their own small cottages. They could lease the land for 15 years. After that, the cottages would belong to the hotel. These guests also received discounts on meals and maid service. Many of the original cottage names from over 100 years ago are still used today.
Modern Ownership
In the 1930s, William Lewis Moody, Jr. bought the hotel. In 1938, he replaced the old wooden hotel with the stone building you see today. This new building used stone from the land around it.
Moody's daughter, Mrs. Mary Moody Northen, owned the hotel until she passed away in 1986. After her death, a foundation was created called the Mary Moody Northen Endowment. This foundation now takes care of and runs the resort. Mrs. Northen wanted the hotel and the land to stay mostly the same. She did not want too many new buildings or changes that would harm the natural environment.
For most of its history, Mountain Lake Hotel was open from late spring to early fall. Now, it is open from early May to late November.
Filming Dirty Dancing
The Mountain Lake Hotel was a main filming location for the famous 1987 movie Dirty Dancing. The movie starred Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey. The stone lodge at Mountain Lake was used as "Kellerman's Resort." This was a made-up mountain resort in the Catskill Mountains of New York.
Just like Kellerman's in the movie, the real Mountain Lake Hotel Resort offers many fun activities. Guests can play games like table tennis and billiards. They can also enjoy water activities such as paddle boating, canoeing, and fishing. For those who like dry land, there is mountain biking and hiking. Another place where Dirty Dancing was filmed was the Lake Lure Inn in Lake Lure, North Carolina.
Mountain Lake Biological Station
Near the Mountain Lake Hotel, you will find the Mountain Lake Biological Station (MLBS). This is a research and teaching center for the Biology Department at the University of Virginia. It started in 1930.
The research station is busy all year. Scientists from all over the country and the world come here to do research. It is a full-service field station located on Salt Pond Mountain in the southern Appalachians.
The station offers summer field courses and internships for college students. Many professors also work on their research projects here. They also host scientific meetings and outreach events.
One special project at MLBS is the annual Silene Census. This happens in late May or early June. Researchers survey plants from the Silene group along roads near the station. This project has been going on since 1988.
Mountain Lake Conservancy
The Mountain Lake Conservancy is a non-profit group. It used to be called the 'Wilderness Conservancy at Mountain Lake'. This group helps manage and protect the 2,600 acres (11 km2) of land around Mountain Lake Hotel.
The Conservancy also provides education about the environment and local culture to the public. Since 2008, the Conservancy has been working to create fun outdoor activities for hotel guests and local people. They do this while also protecting the natural beauty of the area.
