Wintergreen Resort facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wintergreen Resort |
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The Peak of Eagle's Swoop
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| Location | Wintergreen, Nelson County, Virginia, USA |
| Nearest city | Nellysford |
| Coordinates | 37°55′48″N 78°56′30″W / 37.93000°N 78.94167°W |
| Vertical | 1,003 ft (306 m) |
| Top elevation | 3,515 ft (1,071 m) |
| Base elevation | 2,512 ft (766 m) |
| Skiable area | 129 acres (52 ha) |
| Runs | 26 total 23% beginner 35% intermediate 42% advanced |
| Longest run | Tyro 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 capacity | 11,200 per hour |
| Terrain parks | 1 |
| Snowfall | 35 in (890 mm) |
| Snowmaking | 100% |
| Night skiing | 54% |
| Website | wintergreenresort.com |
Wintergreen Resort is a fun mountain getaway located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. It's a "four-season" resort, meaning there's something exciting to do all year round! You can find it in Nelson County, near the town of Nellysford.
Wintergreen Resort first opened its doors in 1975. It's special because, unlike many other ski resorts, all its main buildings and activities are built on top of the mountains, not at the bottom. This gives visitors amazing views and a unique experience.
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Discovering Wintergreen's History
Wintergreen Resort has an interesting story of how it became the popular place it is today. It started with a large piece of land and a big idea!
How Wintergreen Began
Back in 1969, a huge area of land, about 10,000 acres (4,000 ha), was bought by a group of investors. This land was full of forests and wildlife in the heart of Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains. Soon after, a company called Cabot, Cabot & Forbes bought the land. They started planning what would become the Wintergreen community.
By 1975, the resort was ready to open its ski area. It had eight ski slopes and three chairlifts. The opening was a big event, with Virginia Governor Mills E. Godwin attending. The first restaurant, The Copper Mine, was open only in winter. Later, more ski runs were added to the resort.
Growing Over the Years
After its first year, a company called Melba Investors, Inc. took over Wintergreen. They brought in Lewis F. Payne, Jr. to help run and develop the resort.
Wintergreen soon became a great place for summer fun too! In 1977, a new golf course called Devils Knob opened. A mountain tennis center followed in 1978. That same year, Wintergreen hosted its first Winter Special Olympics, which was a very special event.
The resort kept growing, and in 1980, The Mountain Inn and Conference Center was finished. This allowed Wintergreen to host conferences and meetings, bringing even more visitors.
Wintergreen Today
In 2012, Wintergreen Resort was bought by James C. Justice II. He also owns The Greenbrier resort. After buying Wintergreen, he invested a lot of money to make improvements. These included upgrading restaurants and adding new snow guns for better snowmaking.
Then, in 2015, the resort was sold again to EPR Properties. As part of this sale, the resort's operations were taken over by Pacific Group Resorts, Inc. They now manage Wintergreen Resort, continuing its legacy as a top mountain destination.
Fun Things to Do at Wintergreen
Wintergreen Resort offers many exciting activities for all seasons!
- Golf: Enjoy playing on 45 holes of golf across beautiful courses.
- Skiing and Snowboarding: Hit the slopes for thrilling winter sports.
- The Plunge: Experience the excitement of snowtubing down a 900-foot (270 m) hill with 12 lanes!
- Tennis: Play on 22 tennis courts and even join an award-winning academy.
- Spa: Relax and get pampered at the full-service spa.
- Events: There's a large space for meetings and special events.
- Places to Stay: Find comfortable lodging options for your visit.
- Dining: Enjoy delicious meals at three full-service restaurants.
- Shops: Grab snacks and essentials at convenience stores and cafeterias.
Wintergreen's Mountain Features
Let's look at some cool facts about Wintergreen's mountain and ski areas.
Mountain Height
- Base: The lowest part of the ski area is 2,512 ft (766 m) high.
- Summit: The very top of the mountain is 3,515 ft (1,071 m) high.
- Vertical Rise: The difference in height from the bottom to the top is 1,003 ft (306 m).
Ski Trails and Snow
- Skiable Area: There are 129 acres (52 ha) of land for skiing.
- Trails: Wintergreen has 26 ski trails in total.
- 23% are for beginners (easy green circle trails).
- 35% are for intermediate skiers (medium blue square trails).
- 42% are for advanced skiers (difficult black diamond trails).
- Longest Run: The longest ski run is called Tyro, stretching 1.4 mi (2.3 km).
- Average Snowfall: The resort gets about 35 in (890 mm) of natural snow each year.
- Terrain Parks: There is 1 special area for jumps and tricks.
Chairlifts
Wintergreen has 5 chairlifts to take you up the mountain:
- 2 high-speed six-person chairlifts (Blue Ridge Express and Highlands Express)
- 1 four-person chairlift (Big Acorn)
- 1 three-person chairlift (Logger's Alley)
- 1 two-person chairlift (Potato Patch)
Weather at the Resort
Wintergreen Resort is high up in the mountains, so it's usually much cooler than nearby cities like Staunton or Charlottesville. For every thousand feet you go up, the temperature drops about 4 degrees Fahrenheit. This means Wintergreen's summit can be 10-15 degrees colder than the towns below!
The cooler temperatures are great for making snow in winter. Even though it doesn't get as much natural snow as some other places, Wintergreen can make snow to cover 100% of its trails. Its location makes it a convenient and popular spot for people from cities like Washington, D.C. and Richmond.
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