Mountain Times ~ Supplement to the Pocahontas Times ~ SnowShoe, Slatyfork, Green Bank, Cass, WV

Focusing on the resort and tourist
community of Slaty Fork, Snowshoe Mountain, Cass and
Green Bank

Vol. 2 No. 12
December 2003

Serving SnowShoe Mountain, Slaty Fork, Green Bank and Cass
"News you can resort to"

Second Section of
The Pocahontas Times
Post Office No. 436-640
ISSN No. 07388373

Upcoming Events Around the Mountain Resort

December
AROUND THE COUNTY
Dec. 5 Patron Appreciation and Christmas Party, Pocahontas County Historical Museum, Marlinton. Old Christmas items will be displayed, plus an exhibit of vintage photos by Cal Gay, an early 1900s photographer who took panoramic photos around the county of reunions, scenery, towns and buildings. Music and refreshments round out the fun. Hours are Friday, 5-7 p.m. (before the Christmas Parade); Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; and Sunday, 1-4 p.m. No admission charge.
Dec. 5 Christmas Parade, Marlinton. 800-336-7009 Get into the spirit of Christmas, enjoy the parade and watch Santa arrive into town. You can do some shopping and visit the local craft show while enjoying all the lovely Christmas decorations.
Dec. 5 Visitor's Bureau Open House - Marlinton depot. Come by the depot and celebrate the holiday season with us in the beautifully decorated historic depot on Fourth Avenue in Marlinton. Enjoy all the lovely Christmas decorations, watch the Christmas Parade and have a cup of egg nog or hot apple cider. Then head over to the Pocahontas County Opera House and check out the arts and crafts show.
Dec. 5, 6 Christmas Arts and Craft - Opera House, Downtown Marlinton. You'll be able to stock up on great gifts before, during and after the Marlinton Christmas Parade. The craft show will also be open Saturday Dec. 6.
Dec. 5 Science Film Fest, National Radio Astronomy Observatory, Green Bank 304-456-2150. "ET" will be shown in the Science Center Auditorium. Open to the public free of charge. The program begins at 6:30.
Dec 13 Durbin Christmas Parade. 456-5413 Downtown Durbin 2 p.m.
Dec 13 Star Party, NRAO 304-456-2150. An introduction will begin 30 minutes before dark. Star gazing will follow. The Starlight Cafe will be open for hot drinks and snacks. Dress warm! Cloudy skies will cancel this event.
Dec 31 New Year's Eve Dance, Pocahontas County Opera House (304) 799-4009. Ring in the new year with the Walter Scott Quartet at the restored Opera House on Third Avenue in downtown Marlinton. Sponsored by the Pocahontas County Opera House Foundation.

On The Mountain
For more info about any events at Snowshoe, call 877-441-4FUN, or visit www.snowshoemtn.com
Nov 30 - Dec 11 Ski Free Week. A second week of free lift tickets when you lodge two or more nights with Snowshoe.
Dec 12 - Dec 14 Winter Celebration & Demo Days. Celebrate the return of winter with a huge early season party. Enjoy a weekend packed full of live entertainment, crazy on-slope games, the 2nd annual Village Rail Competition, fireworks and free equipment demos from top ski and snowboard manufacturers.
Dec 13 Freestyle Event 1- Village Rail Competition. This second annual invite-only event showcases some of the mid-Atlantic and Southeast's best and most creative rail sliders. Visit Snowshoe's website for complete details on this event and all the other great events in the freestyle event series on the mountain.
Dec 14 - Dec 16 College Road Trip Package. Take a break after first semester finals and head to Snowshoe for a little R&R on the slopes. Enjoy happy hour parties every day, live entertainment and of course great skiing and snowboarding. Lodging packages available.
Dec 17 - Jan 3 Christmas Holidays at Snowshoe. The Christmas Holidays are a special time of the year at Snowshoe Mountain. Plan your trip early. Lodging books quickly!
Dec 31 New Year's Eve Bash. Make your reservations early for Snowshoe's fantastic New Year's Eve parties. Party Central Reservations Hotline opens on December 1.

Oh, give me a home where the buff...er...elk roam... In its heyday, the Allegheny Lodge crowned a hill outside Minnehaha Springs. These elk are descendants of the original herd brought there from Yellowstone National Park in 1912. The last elk was killed in 1990.

Photo courtesy William P. McNeel

Allegheny Lodge to rise from its ashes

Pamela Pritt
Managing Editor
      A part of tourism's future in Pocahontas County is deeply rooted in its past.
      The Allegheny Lodge, a destination for sportsmen and their ladies in the early 20th century, is having new life breathed into it by State Senator Walt Helmick.
      Helmick purchased the property two years ago.
      He plans to rebuild the lodge on the existing foundation and build the Allegheny Lodge back to its former grandeur. The four-story lodge burned in October, 1983. All that remains are four cabins, a garage with an apartment, the cellar and a shell of the original foundation that held the grand lodge.

It looks like a scene from the South during the Reconstruction Era. All that remains of the lodge now are the winding stairs to the front porch and the empty basement.
Photo by Pam Pritt

      The first floor had two behemoth double fireplaces and was essentially one room, obviously segregated by then-gender-specific interests‹ a piano and dainty furniture on one side, a bar, stereo (in later days) and overstuffed furniture on the other. Taxidermied wildlife from bear to deer and pheasants to blue heron were found throughout the lodge's main floor. Elk horns hung on the porches. Furniture from antique to modern graced the pine floors and the staircases were exceptional woodworkings of art. The large, inviting porches were wonderful breezy escapes with beautiful views. The second and third floors were for lodging. The kitchen, dining room, game room and locker room were in the basement. And at the top of the formidable lodge was a widow's walk where the scenery of the Knapps Creek Valley was visible for miles.
      Helmick plans to have the first floor much like it was and have 12 guest rooms, each with a private bathroom, on the second floor. The third floor will house the restaurant which Helmick plans to be upscale.
      The view from the lodge as it is now is pretty. A view from the third floor will be spectacular. The senator envisions a covered porch adjacent to the restaurant for outdoor dining in appropriate weather.
      Right now, the main activity on the 200 acre property is refurbishing the three guest cabins and the one where Helmick and his wife, Rita, will live. Ceilings and floors in all the cabins are pine and in excellent condition. The Helmicks have researched paint colors and fixtures so that the cabins will reflect the era in which they were built. Construction on the main lodge building will begin next summer, Helmick said.

The waterworks. Minnehaha Mist will be bottled on the premises.
Photo by Pam Pritt

      Helmick is also bottling water from the lodge's remote spring. "Minnehaha Mist" will make its debut sometime early next year. The senator said it will be sold primarily at the lodge when it opens and the label will feature the lodge's impressive original gate. The water will be bottled in the refurbished garage in back of the lodge. His interest in the property and its history are evident in the way he can cite the lodge's past from the research he has recently finished. He even wants to restore the telephone number the lodge once had and has contacted its current "owner."
      The Allegheny Lodge was begun in 1912 and completed in 1913 at a cost of $20,000. The lodge was called the Allegheny Sportsmen's Club in its early days and was primarily a private hunting and fishing preserve after the elk were brought from Yellowstone Park in 1912 and later from Montana. And for a time it was the private home of H. R. Wylie, a china manufacturer from Huntington. Garnie Stidham purchased the property in 1972 and was the owner when it burned. Although it once boasted 5000 acres, most of that land now belongs to the USDA Forest Service.
      From Calvin Price's weekly column, The Pocahontas Times, June 22, 1922:
      "And here is what a bunch of us did last Friday: Laid off a nine hole golf course, marked the tees with stakes, set the cups and flags and played on it, all in one day, including the losing of the ball, an important feature of the game.
      "That quick action is impossible anywhere but in a bluegrass country where nature furnishes a smooth carpet of grass and so far as the holding of the ball up for a stroke, the pastures of this county are better from the start than most courses ever hope to be.
      "At the Allegheny Club, the front yard is some fifteen or twenty acres in extent and it has been an elk pasture for about ten years and in that time the elk have made a perfect lawn out of it. A winding road serves for a hazard and takes the place of bunkers and traps, and a few trees and a tennis court furnish additional difficulties. The drive from the front door of the club is down a hill and will be much appreciated by those who have trouble making great distances, for it is a downhill shot and the ball will get some roll to it.
      "It is better to play golf at a friendly place where you are not put off your form by thinking how much rent you are paying for the privilege of playing a simple round of golf."

The game room was immediately to the right, the dining room on the left. The kitchen and locker rooms were in the rear.
Photo by Pam Pritt

      Mr. Price, it should be noted, was not the low scorer of the round, but was in second place at the end of the day. The second hole was named after his cabin which was nearby.
      In fact, the jovial editor would send his family to the cabin each summer and walk to Marlinton each Monday to The Pocahontas Times and back to Minnehaha Springs on Friday, a ten mile trip.
      He never did learn to drive.
      The Allegheny Lodge is 24 miles from Warm Springs where The Homestead has greeted guests for more than 100 years, 25 miles from Snowshoe Mountain Resort and 35 miles from the world-famous Greenbrier.

Pam Pritt grew up next door to the Allegheny Lodge and trespassed relentlessly on the property all her life, a practice she does not intend to cease anytime soon (at least until the Helmicks seem to mind).

The homey atmosphere at Naturally You is accented by the antique furniture and healthy houseplants

Photo by Pam Pritt

Couple transforms old dairy farm into day spa

Naturally You B&B offers a whole body experience
Pamela Pritt
Managing Editor

      Some things just come naturally.
      And at Naturally You, one of those things is hospitality.
      Already a spa offering massages, physical assessments exfoliation, foot treatments and reflexology, David and Paula Zorn have added a bed and breakfast to one of Marlinton's historic houses.
      Locust Hill once belonged to the Smith family who operated a dairy on nearly 300 acres. As the family died off, the property was sold twice, eventually to the Zorns who now own 30 acres, including a pond. They've gutted the old house, replacing cracked plaster with drywall and renewing its original charm and elegance with vibrant colors and antique furniture. Although most of the furniture was sold at auction, the Zorns have one washstand that was originally in the house. It was relegated to the pantry when it belonged to the Smiths, but now has a place of honor in the dining room. The dining room also houses Paula's grandmother's red dishes and spoon collection.
The dining room displays Paula's grandmother's red dishes and spoon collection.
Photo by Pam Pritt

      Speaking of dining, the Zorns are about to offer more than the breakfast end of the bed and breakfast. A baker by trade, Dave is outfitting the kitchen to serve small-party dinners as early as January.
      But they'll offer the promoted meal, as well. Breakfast will consist of oatmeal pancakes, baked eggs and strawberry stuffed French toast. "We try to stick with healthy food and stay away from pork and fried foods," Paula said.
      Naturally You is unique because of the spa and the offer of a massage that may be included with your stay. About 90% of their guest indulge.
      "What better way to end your day?" Paula said. "After skiing or mountain biking, it's a great end to the day. Then you can crawl upstairs to bed." The spa also has quite a local clientele.
The bedrooms at Naturally You are cheery with bright colors and quilts.
Photo by Pam Pritt

      No television is available in the public areas of the house, although hookups are available in each guest room if it's "absolutely necessary." The Zorns have bikes for loan for the trail, a boat for the pond and fishing poles. As a matter of health they encourage outdoor activities in the local area.
      They have plans for rustic guest cabins on the property eventually, plus a fitness center at the foot of the hill sometime in the future. They'd also like to add a swimming pool at some point. Construction of the attic guest room is still underway. That room will sleep two-to-four and has a Jacuzzi tub. The rooms on the second floor have private baths. Both are bright and airy with cheerful colors and quaint antique furniture.
      Naturally You offers several types of massages including Aromatherapy, Sports, Swedish and Therapeutic.
      After all, it's a bed, it's a breakfast and it's a massage.

New antique and collectible store opens in Durbin
Gail Hyer
Contributing Writer
      Recently, while walking in the small town of Durbin, I encountered an addition to the landscape - a new business. In its heyday the streets of Durbin were crowded with families, young people, and visitors. There were five restaurants in town, and a typical Friday night was witness to a steady stream of humanity, walking the sidewalks just to be seen. Saturday was "market day," and there was a limitless supply of goods available for purchase. Like many communities, time brought changes to Durbin, some of them undesirable. Merchants closed their doors, and visitors found other places to spend their money.
      The new millennium has brought signs of a re-awakening of sorts to the town. John and Kathy Smith opened the Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad, bringing a new generation of visitors to Durbin. More tourists brought renewed business to local merchants, and encouraged the development of other enterprises. Soon there was The Cubby Hole, The Rail & Trail Store, W.C Enterprises, and The Greenbrier Inn. Now there is another addition, West End Station.

West End Station with a generous inventory of vintage glass, unique railroad antiques and memorabilia, current collectibles, and fresh coffee.
Photo by Gail Hyer

      The faded blue building, once a furniture store, has been transformed by a fresh coat of electric yellow paint. A new red sign proclaiming "West End Station," now hangs from the previously unoccupied building. The matching red bench in front invites the visitor to sit for a while, and enjoy the spectacular view of the surrounding mountains. Stepping inside, the customer is greeted by a generous inventory of vintage glass, unique railroad antiques and memorabilia, current collectibles, and fresh coffee.
      The owners, John and Patti West, represent a new wave of pioneers best described as "West Virginians by choice." Ending a journey that began with a chance meeting on the Internet, marriage in Hawaii (by the King of Maui), relocation to Radford, Virginia, and finally pulling up stakes to stake their claim in Durbin. John and Patti eagerly anticipate their new life in "Almost Heaven."
      While the business is new, the owners have been a familiar sight to local residents. Patti, in paint-stained sweatshirt and jeans, high on a scaffold, diligently scraped off years of accumulated paint. John, who also manages the Tygart Flyer for the Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad, assaulted the seemingly endless supply of lap siding cracks with his trusty caulking gun. Local residents often stopped by to offer encouragement, advice, or simply a hello. Patti, whose background is in home health care, never dreamed that she would be wielding a jig saw as part of her new life.
      On November 18 The West End Station officially opened its doors to the public. The store hours will be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.. Tuesday through Sunday. Stop in to just say "Hi", or better yet, pick up that unique gift for Christmas.

Room with a view...
A panoramic view of Snowshoe and Silver Creek.
Snowshoe Fire Tower keeps a silent eye on the mountains
Sunny Given
Staff Writer
The sun glints off the tower's aluminum paint
Photos by Sunny Given

      Look east from the Village and you may see a silver glint that is the Snowshoe Fire Tower. Standing 80 feet tall on the ridge top, it is a silent sentinel, providing just one more thing to do in a day's adventure at the resort.
      That's what it's there for, according to Ed Galford, Snowshoe's Vice-President of Operations.
      The tower, originally located on Rich Mountain west of Beverly, was built in the mid-1930s. It was in disrepair when Snowshoe purchased it in 1999 for $1 from the Department of Natural Resources. They dismantled it (numbering the parts), reconditioned it to factory specs, repainted it, replaced the wood, and reassembled it in the summer of 2000.
      The 80 foot height is marked by 80 steps and nine landings, each progressively narrower as you ascend.
      The lookout itself is about nine-by-nine. To the east affords views of Virginia on a clear day. Also eastward is the Bald Knob Fire Tower, and Wesley Chapel Road. Looking north you'll spot the old town of Spruce and if you look to the west you'll see two of the three faces of Snowshoe. Widowmaker is on the far left (south), and on the next mountain top at the far right (north) you can see Silver Creek and its lake and stables.
Looking up from the base of the tower can be a little dizzying.
Photo by Sunny Given

      The tower is located about two miles past the Back Country hut, or about four-and-a-half miles from Top of the World.
      Andy Gibson and his Husky, Balto, were my tour guides for this adventure and we were privileged to have use of one of the Outdoor Adventure Program's Hydrotraxx, a six-wheeled, hydraulics-powered buggy, which took us as far as the Back Country Hut.
      From there, we hiked the remaining distance, following the eastern boundary of Snowshoe's property before veering north. The trail is a mountain bike and cross country ski trail, evidenced by the numerous ruts and dislodged reflectors we passed. It's a brisk 40-minute hike to the tower across gnarly roots and unforgiving rocks that try to twist ankles and trip toes.
      But it's well worth the effort to reach the tower, climb to the top and survey the country.

Historical Museum to hold
Christmas Party & patron appreciation days

      Do you remember bubble lights on a Christmas tree? Did you have an aluminum tree? You can view these and more, plus Christmas toys from days past at the Christmas Party and patron appreciation days at the Pocahontas County Historical Museum in Marlinton.
      Located on Rt. 219 south, the museum will also have on display photography by Cal Gay. Gay was a photographer in the early 1900s who took panoramic photos around the county of reunions, scenery, towns and buildings. He also operated a studio. Gay captured history on film with his photographs of the county and offers people today a clear picture of the past.
      Included in the display are the Waugh reunion (circa 1920), Campbelltown church picnic (1923), Masonic Lodge, Modern Woodsmen, bridges, and the town of Marlinton. Some people in the photos are not yet identified, and the museum would appreciate the public's help in putting names to the unknown faces.
      Music and refreshments will be served. The Christmas party will be held December 5 through 7. Hours of operation are Friday, from 5 to 7 p.m. - before the Marlinton Christmas Parade, Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday, 1 to 4 p.m. There is no charge for admission.

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Outfitters
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Realestate

Burton ~ Salomon ~ Nitro ~ New and Used Demos Come talk to the resort's most
experienced snowboard outfitters.
Store Sale 20 - 50% OFF
Ski and Snowboard Rentals and Sales
1 mike south of WV 66 ~ 304 572-4173

Open Daily 7:30 am - 11 pm, Later on Friday

Largest Ski and Snowboard Rental Co. in the Southeast 304 572-1234
Located at the corner of Rt. 219 and Rt. 66
LOWER RATES ~ FRIENDLY SERVICE
All Ski & Snowboard Clothing and Equipment
ON SALE!!!
Entire 2nd Floor DISCOUNTED

SNOWBOARD & SKI RENTALS
Great Quality, Great Prices
Daily 7:30 am - 11 pm
Friday 7:30 am - 2 am    304 572-1200
route66@neumedia.net

Restaurant
at the Inn at SnowShoe ~ EVERY WEEKEND ~
SHOW COOKERY & BUFFET STATION
Room service available 6:30 am- 1 am
Lounge hours
Mon. - Fri. 4:30 pm - 1 am
Sat. amd Sun. 1 pm to 1 am
Menu Items available daily 'til 1 am
~ 304 572-1000 ~

Open 7 AM until 9 PM
Home of the $4 breakfast!
Located on the corner of
Rt. 219 and Rt. 66

An intimate off-mountain dining experience
Featuring an International Buffet with
live local music each Thursday nite.
5 miles south of WV 66 on US 219
Open Thursday thru Monday evenings
For reservations call:     304 572-3771
Privately owned and operated Since 1982

Douglass S. Keith, Broker
Beverly Figg, GRI ~ Matt Matthews
Raymond Godwin     304 572-5687
P.O. Box 364 Snowshoe, WV 26209
Visit our Office in Shaver's Centre, Snowshoe Mountain

Presenting the Height of Luxury
Allegheny Springs at Snowshoe Mountain
Yours to own 1-800-489-1943

Mountain Country Properties
304 572-4663      mcpinfo@neumedia.net
David Curtis, Broker ~ Christine Butler, Associate Broker
Sales Associates: Debbie Goodwin, Cathy McGee, Bet Curtis P.O. Box 7
Slaty Fork, WV 26291
Rt. 66, ¼ mile from
Snowshoe Entrance

Glades Hardware

Marlinton WV
304 799-4912

Calhoun & Kipp
Unique Items from around the world.
Mon. thru Sat. 10 am 'til 9 pm
Sunday 9 am 'til 8 pm
304 572-5250

advertising@pocahontastimes.com

Eight Rivers Web Designs Last update Dec. 2, 2003
by Michael Condon omb00875@mail.wvnet.edu

	Douglass S. Keith, Broker Beverly Figg, GRI ~ Matt Matthews Raymond Godwin 304 572-5687 P.O. Box 364 Snowshoe, WV 26209
Visit our Office in Shaver's Centre, Snowshoe Mountain

Allegheny Lodge to rise from its ashes

Couple transforms old dairy farm into day spa

New antique and collectible store opens in Durbin

Snowshoe Fire Tower keeps a silent eye on the mountains

Historical Museum to hold Christmas Party & patron appreciation days

Historical Museum to hold
Christmas Party & patron appreciation days