Near Luray in Page County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Shenandoah's Centerpiece

Shenandoah National Park

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, May 17, 2019

1. Shenandoah's Centerpiece Marker

Inscription.

Shenandoah's Centerpiece. Shenandoah National Park. Decades before Shenandoah National Park was established, vacationers traveled to Skyland Resort seeking respite from urbanized, mechanized city life. Just as you have, they found rustic, natural surroundings, a slowed pace, and a chance to reconnect with each other and with nature., George Freeman Pollock, dynamic and gregarious, founded and managed Skyland with the elaborate flair of a showman. His ever-present bugle awoke guests each morning, summoned them to meals and festivities, and announced the departure of the daily mail., Addie Nairn Hunter built the showpiece of the resort, Massanutten Lodge, in 1910. A year later she married George and became the hostess and benefactor of Skyland. Massanutten Lodge has been historically refurnished and houses an exhibit about the extraordinary women who were drawn to the resort in the 1920s., Pollock arranged extravagant entertainments. Daily excursions included a sunrise tramp to the top of Stony Man, or a horseback ride to Whiteoak Falls for a picnic. Evenings featured vaudeville, costume parties, and gigantic bonfires., Pollock sold over 100 lots to investors. Every deed included a stipulation that the land could only be used for a "rustic dwelling built of logs or frame covered with bark." Several of these cabins are still in use today., The Byrd family of Virginia owned "Bird's Nest." Harry Flood Byrd, Sr., who was both Governor and a U.S. Senator, honeymooned here and was instrumental in the establishment of the park., The popularity of Skyland Resort set the stage for it to become the centerpiece of Shenandoah National Park. Pollock, Byrd, and several other Skyland investors worked tirelessly to bring about the establishment of a national park in their beloved Blue Ridge Mountains., (photo captions) , . Massanutten Lodge , . Massanutten Lodge Living Room , . Skyland costume ball , . Excursion to Whiteoak Falls , . Stony Man summit , . Heaton Cottage , . Fell Cabin , . Bird’s Nest

Decades before Shenandoah National Park was established, vacationers traveled to Skyland Resort seeking respite from urbanized, mechanized city life. Just as you have, they found rustic, natural surroundings, a slowed pace, and a chance to reconnect with each other and with nature.

George Freeman Pollock, dynamic and gregarious, founded and managed Skyland with the elaborate flair of a showman. His ever-present bugle awoke guests each morning, summoned them to meals and festivities, and announced the departure of the daily mail.

Addie Nairn Hunter built the showpiece of the resort, Massanutten Lodge, in 1910. A year later she married George and became the hostess and benefactor of Skyland. Massanutten Lodge has been historically refurnished and houses an exhibit about the extraordinary women who were drawn to the resort in the 1920s.

Pollock arranged extravagant entertainments. Daily excursions included a sunrise tramp to the top of Stony Man, or a horseback ride to Whiteoak Falls for a picnic. Evenings featured vaudeville, costume parties, and gigantic bonfires.

Pollock sold over 100 lots to investors. Every deed included a stipulation that the land could only be used for a "rustic dwelling built of logs or frame covered with bark." Several of these cabins are still in use today.

The Byrd

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family of Virginia owned "Bird's Nest." Harry Flood Byrd, Sr., who was both Governor and a U.S. Senator, honeymooned here and was instrumental in the establishment of the park.

The popularity of Skyland Resort set the stage for it to become the centerpiece of Shenandoah National Park. Pollock, Byrd, and several other Skyland investors worked tirelessly to bring about the establishment of a national park in their beloved Blue Ridge Mountains.

(photo captions)
• Massanutten Lodge
• Massanutten Lodge Living Room
• Skyland costume ball
• Excursion to Whiteoak Falls
• Stony Man summit
• Heaton Cottage
• Fell Cabin
• Bird’s Nest

Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Entertainment • Parks & Recreational Areas.

Location. 38° 35.545′ N, 78° 22.854′ W. Marker is near Luray, Virginia, in Page County. Marker can be reached from Skyline Drive (at milepost 41.7), on the left when traveling north. Marker is located at the Skyland Resort parking lot, 1/3 mile west of Skyline Drive on Skyland Upper Loop. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Luray VA 22835, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow

Marker detail: Early Advertisement image. Click for full size.

2. Marker detail: Early Advertisement

If you spend your vacation at…
Stony Man Camp
You will gain health
strength and flesh…
You will see
The World-Famous Luray Caverns.
Wonderful Fairy-Like Sunsets—and Cloud Effects.
Towering Mountain Peaks—and Frowning Cliffs.
The Shenandoah Valley—3,500 Feet Below Camp.
The Unsurpassed "Cascades of White Oak Canyon."
The Native Mountaineers in their Dances and Pastimes.

The Stony Man Park contains over 5,300 acres of virgin forest, and has within its boundaries Several Miles of Beautiful Trout Streams. This Beautiful Park is preserved in its original wild state, and being controlled and owned by the Camp Proprietor, will be kept in its present condition for the use of the Camp guests.

flies. Prelude to a Park (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); Stony Man Trailhead (approx. 0.3 miles away); Construction of the Skyline Drive (approx. 0.4 miles away); Civilian Conservation Camp (approx. 1.3 miles away); Old Man in the Mountain (approx. 1.7 miles away); A Home Away From Home? (approx. 2.1 miles away); Civilian Conservation Corps (approx. 2.9 miles away); If These Walls Could Talk (approx. 3.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Luray.

More about this marker. This marker is one side of two three-sided kiosks at this location. The other five sides present park travel tips and the geography, flora and fauna of the area.

Also see . . . Skyland Resort History. The Skyland Resort became the core of the new Shenandoah National Park after the National Park Service awarded the new concession contract to Virginia Sky-Line Company, Inc. in 1937. The Richmond-based company immediately began to build new facilities and to rehabilitate the earlier ones. Twelve historic Skyland structures remain and allow modern visitors to experience life at the turn of the 20th century. (Submitted on May 25, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Marker photo: George Freeman Pollock image. Click for full size.

3. Marker photo: George Freeman Pollock

Marker photo: Addie Nairn Pollock image. Click for full size.

4. Marker photo: Addie Nairn Pollock

Marker photo: Harry Flood Byrd, Sr. image. Click for full size.

5. Marker photo: Harry Flood Byrd, Sr.

Shenandoah's Centerpiece Marker (<i>marker on south end of kiosk • Skyland Resort in background</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, May 17, 2019

6. Shenandoah's Centerpiece Marker (marker on south end of kiosk • Skyland Resort in background)

Shenandoah's Centerpiece • Skyland Resort Dining Room (<i>view from near marker</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, May 17, 2019

7. Shenandoah's Centerpiece • Skyland Resort Dining Room (view from near marker)

Credits. This page was last revised on August 15, 2023. It was originally submitted on May 25, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 443 times since then and 16 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. submitted on May 25, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.