January 2009 Newsletter

 Happy New Year from Experience Wintergreen and Experience Nelson County! 

Ski Season Updates

Ski Season 2009 started with a full-to-capacity Wintergreen Resort for New Years.  Many enjoyed skiing and riding on 9 slopes in the resort plus The Plunge Tubing Park and the new Ridgely’s Fun (Snow) Park for kids. 

We are expecting several opportunities for natural snow in January.  You can follow my daily Slope Report on Twitter at ExpWintergreen.  You can also follow the Slope Report at www.ExperienceWintergreen.com and www.ExperienceNelsonCounty.com.  Hundreds are checking out the blog every day for ski season updates.

The Plunge Tubing Park has been very busy this year.  Tickets are available on line at www.WintergreenResort.com  I highly suggest that you purchase your tickets early and in advance of your visit.  This fun resort activity has been selling-out this season.  Tickets are sold for two hour sessions.

The New Ridgely’s Fun Park:  The new snow park is located in Discovery Ridge of Wintergreen Resort.  The park is perfect for little kids who are too small to hit the slopes.  There is a mini-tubing park, a tubing carousal, snow forts, a tee-pee, trails, snowmen and much more.  Tickets are $10 and are sold in one hour sessions.  Buy your tickets at The Dome.  (Keep in mind that you need to attend the fun park with your kids—no babysitting provided)  Bring your camera for some great photos.  The park is open on weekends and holidays.

Kids as young as 3 years old can learn to ski with Wintergreen’s Guaranteed Learn to Ski Program.

 Lunch by the Wintergreen Slopes

There are plenty of places to grab lunch by the slopes on Wintergreen mountain.  Stay near the slopes for lunch by visiting any of these restaurants:

Copper Mine:   This buffet is only open on holidays and weekends during ski season.  The buffet has soups, salads, and hot entrees.  Sit in the beautiful Copper Mine for a relaxing lunch near the slopes.

Checkerberry Cabin:  Open at the bottom of the Blue Ridge Express Lift.  Ride or ski down for lunch.  The menu includes some German items, sandwiches and some beverages for kids and adults.

Pryors Porch Cafeteria:  Want to eat by the slopes and eat fast?  Visit Pryors Porch for pizza by the slice, burgers, dogs, salads, chili, and hot specials.  It is also a great place for hot chocolate.

The Edge:  This is a sit-down lunch with waiters.  The menu includes their popular burger, many sandwiches, entrée salads, chili, appetizers, and hot entrees.

The Grill at Lookout:  If you are visiting Discovery Ridge for tubing or Ridgely's Fun Park, have lunch at the Lookout.  The menu includes sandwiches, burgers and dogs. 

The Daily Blog Story

I started writing the Free Daily Blog in April 2008 and now hundreds of people are reading the stories each week.  Over 2000 readers during the holidays.   Thanks for your support!

You can find the daily free blog on both web sites, www.ExperienceWintergreen.com and www.ExperienceNelsonCounty.com.  There is also a Blog Archive on each web site that is a library of past blog stories.  Visit the library to find information on restaurants, hiking, Wintergreen, real estate, and much more. 

Send your story ideas to kim@ExperienceNelsonCounty.com

Check the Blog weekly for my Live Music Watch.  Nelson County has become a destination for live music with breweries, wineries and Wintergreen hosting live bands weekly. 

Two New Restaurants Open

Both the Devil’s Backbone Brewery and Vito’s Italian Restaurant are now open close to Wintergreen Resort. 

 Devil’s Backbone Brewery is in Beech Grove, at the foot of Wintergreen mountain.  This restaurant is open for both lunch and dinner, daily.  Plus, they serve their own brew in a bar area with 3 large flat panel TV’s—great for watching sports.  The menu is diverse with everything from nachos to the large Cowboy Steak.  Call for reservations:  434-361-1001

Featured In House Brews:

Ale of Fergus, Scottish Brown Ale

Blackrock Oatmeal Stout

Eight Point IPA

Five Apostles Saison Ale

Gold Leaf Lager

Vienna Lager

Wintergreen Weiss

Vito’s Italian Restaurant just opened in Nellysford for lunch and dinner.  (8 miles from the Wintergreen guard house)  Vito’s is known from its original Nelson location for great pizza, pasta, salads and entrees.  Eat in or carry out. 

Vito’s will be adding a Sicilian crust style pizza to their menu with more gourmet topping choices than the menu in Lovingston, VA.  They also have up to 10 beers on tap, even some local brew. 

Real Estate News

 Looking for property?  My Daily Blog now has a Real Estate Today section.  Find out about new listings, value-priced properties and open houses. 

Value-priced properties can be found at www.ExperienceWintergreen.com.  From the home page click on the links for condos under $200K and houses under $400K.   You can find a 2BR condo for under $200K and a 3BR house for under $400K.  Now is the time to buy a resort home. 

Interest rates have now dropped below 5%, and the Wintergreen Resort Premier Properties office had brisk business over the holidays. 

Try Before You Buy Real Estate Program

These properties are listed for sale and the owners are renting the properties during ski season.  Send an email to kim@ExperienceNelsonCounty.com, and I will put you in contact with the owners to discuss ski season rentals.  All of these properties are listed for sale, and this is a great way to “try before you buy”

The Seasons:  4BR model townhouse with many luxury extras

712 Devil’s Knob Loop:  5BR home with amazing views

186 Mountain Inn:  1BR condo in the Mountain Inn

202 Timbers:  1BR condo in the popular Dobie Ski Area

1941 High Ridge Place:  1BR condo with great views (2BR with one available during rental)

441 Deer Springs:  3BR house with wood burning fireplace and lower level master

For other ski season rentals, visit www.WintergreenResort.com and www.VRBO.com

Discovery Ridge in Wintergreen

 What is Discovery Ridge?  Where is Discovery Ridge in Wintergreen?  Is there a restaurant at Discovery Ridge?  Those are just a few of the questions that I have received this week about Discovery Ridge.  Hopefully, today’s blog answers those questions and more.

Discovery Ridge is below the Mountain Village in Wintergreen Resort.  As you are driving around “the loop” in the Mountain Village, look for signs for tubing and turn right to head to Discovery Ridge.

Some of the Winter amenities in the Discovery Ridge include:

Its own parking area.  No need to walk down from general parking to enjoy this area

Ridgely’s Snow Play Area for kids  ($10 per hour tickets for kids and adults)

The Dome is an indoor play area for older kids and adults.  It has Wii, air hockey, Xbox, pool, etc.  (Tickets are sold in 2 hour lots)

The Lookout Restaurant/Grill has hamburgers, dogs and sandwiches.   Plus hot chocolate.  

The Plunge Tubing Park is Virginia’s largest snow tubing park.  This park is for older kids and adults.  (Young kids should go to Ridgely’s to tube)  (Tickets sold in 2 hour lots)

Recently, one of my clients told me about a day that they had in the Discovery Ridge area.  Their teen considered it one of their best days in Wintergreen Resort.  The whole family spent the afternoon at Discovery Ridge.  They parked close-by and first went to the Dome for some indoor entertainment.  Then it was lunch at Lookout for burgers and a view.  The whole family then went tubing at The Plunge.  This was a 5 hour outing that the entire family enjoyed together.  It would also make a great day for the family that does not ski or ride. 

I hope to see you in beautiful Nelson County in January…

Kim Chappell is a graduate from the Realtor Institute and is an agent with Wintergreen Resort Premier Properties, the official real estate office of Wintergreen Resort.  Kim also lists and sells property in beautiful Nelson County.  Contact Kim Chappell at kim@ExperienceNelsonCounty.com or 434-238-2430.  The Free Daily Blog is posted on both www.ExperienceNelsonCounty.com and www.ExperienceWintergreen.com