Mountain Lake Lodge resides within the verdant George Washington & Jefferson National Forests. Spanning for a combined 1.8 million acres, the two forests constitute one of the largest blocks of public land in the eastern United States. The forests are not only ecological treasures but also repositories that chronicle centuries of human activity. For instance, the area that now comprises the forests was once home to various Native American tribes, including the Monacan, Cherokee, and Shawnee. Those groups traversed the neighboring Shenandoah Valley and surrounding highlands, hunting wildlife, gathering plants, and establishing trade routes. European colonization began during the 18th century, with Scotch-Irish and German immigrants settling in the smaller valleys and hollows. These settlers cleared the dense wilderness for farming and built homesteads, often relying on the remaining woodland expanses for timber, game, and water. Then in the late 19th century, congressional representatives started to pursue the idea of preserving the area’s landscape as part of a larger national trend to promote public conservation. This was the Organic Act of 1897, which laid the groundwork for the U.S. Forest Service, and Congress mandated to protect the country’s forest reserves. With this legislation firmly established, the U.S. Congress charted the George Washington National Forest on May 16, 1918, although under the name “Shenandoah National Forest.” (It would later be renamed after the first U.S. President, George Washington, during the early 1930s.)  

The Jefferson National Forest then followed in 1936, formed from parts of the Unaka and George Washington forests. But in 1995, both forests were eventually combined administratively to streamline their management and ongoing conservation efforts. Despite the merger though, each forest has since retained its unique character and history. Both regions encompass a diverse range of ecosystems, from high-elevation spruce-fir forests to lowland hardwoods. Furthermore, over 230,000 acres are designated as “old growth” forest, providing a critical environment for preserving biodiversity. The area is even home to more than 50 species of trees, as well as 2,000 kinds of shrubs and herbaceous plants. In addition, the George Washington & Jefferson National Forests contain numerous cultural sites of great historical significance, such as the Roaring Run Furnace. Built in 1832, the facility was originally connected to a large network of local pig-iron furnaces that were in operation right through the American Civil War.

While only remnants of Lignite still survive in the Jefferson National Forest, the greater site continues captivating the imaginations of many visitors who make the trek to discover it. The George Washington and Jefferson National Forests are a haven for outdoor enthusiasts. They boast over 2,000 miles of hiking trails—including segments of the Appalachian Trail—and offer opportunities for camping, fishing, mountain biking, and wildlife observation. Notable natural landmarks include Mount Rogers, Virginia’s highest peak, and Whitetop Mountain, known for its panoramic views. The forests are part of several Wilderness Areas, where development is prohibited to preserve natural conditions. These areas, such as the Rich Hole Wilderness and Mount Pleasant National Scenic Area, offer a chance to experience nature in its most pristine form.

Managing such a vast and varied landscape is no small task. The U.S. Forest Service operates under a multiple-use mandate, balancing recreation, conservation, timber harvesting, and other uses. Public involvement has since remained a key component of its conservation practices, with stakeholders ranging from local communities to national environmental organizations. In the end, the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests remain a model of sustainable land management. They serve as living laboratories for ecological research, classrooms for environmental education, and sanctuaries for those seeking connection with the natural world.  

The current iteration of the Mountain Lake Lodge is among the best surviving examples of Arts and Crafts-style architecture in all of Virginia. Arts and Crafts architecture itself originates to two English reformers from the Victorian era—John Ruskin and William Morris. With the proliferation of urban sprawl created during the Industrial Revolution, the two men yearned to find some kind of antidote to remedy the situation. Morris, an architect, suggested creating a new architectural style of handcrafted designs that harkened back to a time before the ubiquity of machines. As Morris and his colleagues expressed, the contemporary style would focus more on the quality of the work, rather than the mass-produced tastes of industrialization. Furthermore, Morris envisioned his rustic aesthetic to serve working-class families, as both the building materials and floorplans would emphasize a pleasant mixture of detail and simplicity.  As such, much of Morris’ earliest designs involved the creation of residential homes, specifically a new kind called the “bungalow.” Those new structures often used real wood, brick, or stone so that the supporting beams were exposed reminiscent of Tudor Revival structures.  

Low-pitched roofs hung from the top of the buildings, while a gorgeous porch usually wrapped around the front façade. Inside, the structural layout often rejected conventional Victorian design practices by being open and spacious. Morris also encouraged the development of built-in furniture and light fixtures, which ensure a beautiful marriage of economic utility and imagination. A massive fireplace even anchored the main living room, since the family served as the main source of inspiration for the Arts and Crafts movement. Morris’ philosophy became so popular that it found a ready audience in North America around the beginning of the 20th century. Homes and small businesses continued to serve as the main type of structure for Arts and Crafts architecture, although a few churches and municipal buildings appeared using the style, too. The rustic nature of Arts and Crafts architecture even moved the nascent National Park Service to develop its own exclusive architectural theme for all the inns and lodges it planned to open at the time! The Arts and Crafts Movement nonetheless started to dissipate in the years following World War I, before nearly disappearing entirely around the start of the Cold War. Still, Arts and Crafts design has since remained one of the most iconic architectural movements in the United States, with dozens of buildings created in the style listed on the National Register of Historic Places. 

Filming Dirty Dancing (1986): In the 1980s, a low-budget film with no major stars moved its way into the hearts of millions. The movie, Dirty Dancing, was more than just a romantic drama—it was a cultural phenomenon that captured the spirit of a bygone era. Set during the summer of 1963, the film told the story of Frances “Baby” Houseman, a privileged young woman who dramatically fell in love with a working-class dance instructor named Johnny Castle. But beneath its memorable choreography and thrilling soundtrack resided a deeper narrative about class, gender, and the transformative power of self-expression. Even the backdrop of the story served to bolster those themes, as America was on the cusp of profound social changes around the time of the movie’s setting. Indeed, the Civil Rights Movement was then gaining serious momentum, resulting in the collapse of a rigid national hierarchy that had been fixed for decades. Dirty Dancing took place precisely at this inflection point—right before the countercultural revolution took full swing. Eleanor Bergstein, the film’s screenwriter, drew heavily from her own life to develop the film, as well. Like the character “Baby,” she was the daughter of a  doctor, spent summers in upstate New York, and was passionate about dance. The character of “Johnny” in turn was inspired by the dance instructors she had encountered—charismatic, talented, and often from vastly different social backgrounds.

Bergstein’s script was initially met with skepticism though, as studios were unsure of how to market a film that blended romance, social commentary, and pop culture. But Vestron Pictures, a small independent company, took a chance. Filming began in Lake Lure, North Carolina, and Mountain Lake, Virginia, during the fall of 1986, with each location's landscape replicating the geography of the prominent Catskill Mountains. In fact, director Emile Ardolino even decided to use Mountain Lake’s Mountain Lake Lodge as the stand-in for the film’s fictitious “Kellerman’s Mountain Resort.” However, the movie’s production was plagued by various challenges: sweltering heat, no real resources, and palpable tension between the leads. Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey, who played Johnny and Baby respectively, had previously clashed on the set of Red Dawn, and their chemistry was strained due to the experience. Yet, paradoxically, it was this tension that added authenticity to their on-screen relationship. As the characters grew closer, so did the actors, culminating in one of the most memorable romantic pairings in film history. Meanwhile, the soundtrack became a sensation, with songs like “Hungry Eyes,” “She’s Like the Wind,” and the Oscar-winning “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life” turning into instant classics. The final dance scene, set to “Time of My Life,” emerged as an iconic moment in cinematic history, too, vividly symbolizing liberation and trust.  

Expectations were initially modest when Dirty Dancing was released in August 1987, but word-of-mouth advertising quickly made it a sleeper hit. Amazingly, the movie soon grossed over $214 million worldwide on just a $6 million budget, eventually becoming the first film to sell more than a million copies on home video. Critics were also divided at first, with some dismissing it as formulaic, while others praised its heart and sincerity. Nevertheless, the film’s reputation flourished rapidly, and it is now widely regarded as a masterpiece among industry professionals and ordinary moviegoers alike. For instance, the film’s legacy has proved to be incredibly robust, having inspired a stage musical, a 2004 prequel (Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights), and a 2017 television remake. But none have captured the magic of the original. The movie’s influence can be seen in countless dance films and romantic dramas that followed, encouraging the widespread adoption of dance as an effective narrative tool. More importantly, Dirty Dancing remains a touchstone for generations of viewers who see in Baby and Johnny’s story their own hopes and fears. In the end, Dirty Dancing is more than a nostalgic trip to the past. It is a celebration of courageously connecting across social boundaries, speaking out against injustice; and simply enjoying life. 

Patrick Swayze, actor known for his roles in films like Dirty Dancing, Road House, and Ghost.  

Jennifer Grey, actress known for her roles in films like Dirty Dancing, Reckless, and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.  

Jerry Orbach, actor and singer best remembered for playing Detective Lennie Briscoe in the series Law & Order.  

Cynthia Rhodes, actress known for her roles in films like Dirty Dancing, Flashdance, and Staying Alive.

Dirty Dancing (1987)