One of the advantages of living in Fredericksburg is that we are close to the mountains. It’s an easy one and one half hour trip to the Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park.
If we need a quick get away we can easily jump in the car and head up to the mountains. Sometimes our destination is the Skyland Resort area. We like to have dinner with a view overlooking the Shenandoah Valley. Sometimes we will go there just to have dessert! The blackberry ice cream pie is a treat. It is big enough for the two of us to share but if we didn’t have a big dinner sometimes we will each get our own.
Recently we made a quick trip to the park and drove the middle section of the Skyline Drive. Skyland, Big Meadows and most of the other facilities were closed. But, it was a beautiful day which made for perfect sightseeing.
Panorama
We entered the park off of U.S. Highway 211 at the Thornton Gap entrance. As soon as we cleared the entrance station we saw the sign for Panorama.
Panorama is currently a trailhead parking area. It also includes a modern restroom facility and informational bulletin board exhibits.
In 1924 a resort was built at the intersection of what is now Highway 211 and the Skyline Drive. Called Panorama, it featured hotel style rooms and cottages. A dining room and tea house were also available. Soon after opening recreational options such as mini-golf, a bath house and tennis courts were added.
In the late 1950’s the Panorama Resort was demolished to make way for a new Panorama facility. Perhaps some of you remember this facility. I do. It featured a restaurant, with views to the West, along with a gift shop and restrooms. The nice thing about it is that it had access from Highway 211 and from Skyline Drive. That made it possible to stop at Panorama and take a break without having to formally enter the park and pay the entrance fee.
Skyline Drive
The Skyline Drive is a 105 mile scenic highway running along the backbone of Shenandoah National Park. There are 75 overlooks along the roadway. Each of them offer ever changing views to the west across the Shenandoah Valley or to the east across the Virginia piedmont.
I’ve been told that on extremely clear days that the Washington Monument in DC is visible from some of the east looking overlooks. I have never seen that. But, I remember a very cold, crisp day in January one year. On that day I was in the top of the Washington Monument and it was very easy to see the mountains of the park so I’m sure it’s possible.
Built in sections in the 1930’s the men of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) had a large part in constructing the drive. The CCC constructed many of the stone guardrails along the roadway and in the overlooks. They also helped grade slopes and planted thousands of trees and shrubs.
On this day we planned to drive about 34 miles from Thornton Gap at Highway 211 to Swift Run Gap at U.S. Highway 33.
Along the way we passed through the only tunnel on the Skyline Drive at St. Mary’s Rock. This tunnel is less than a mile from Panorama and is always fun to go through. When I was a boy and our family would visit Shenandoah I remember honking the car horn to get the echo as we drove through.
On this beautiful day we followed the road stopping where we wanted to enjoy a view. Although it can be hazy in the summertime, on this day it was quite clear. The views were excellent. Most of the overlooks had only a couple cars – some didn’t have any.
The Stony Man trailhead was closed so we will have to save that wonderful hike and great view for another visit. Skyland was also closed so the blackberry ice cream pie will have to wait for another trip too.
As we drove along we enjoyed the ever changing colors and textures of the mountain forest. Each curve in the road brought a new vista into view. Most of the time we didn’t have any other cars either in front of us or behind. A perfect day, a perfect get away and just what we needed.
Wildlife
One of the fun parts of any trip is the chance to see something unexpected. Often that is the chance to see wildlife that we might not otherwise see.
Whenever we travel along the Skyline Drive it seems that we always see deer. On this trip we saw two standing together along the road calmly eating. On a trip a year or two before we got very lucky. As we came around a corner and headed up hill a bobcat ran across the road ahead of us. It jumped up on one of the retaining walls and gave us a once over look before bounding down into the forest.
Today was also a special day and we were in for a treat. We came upon a black bear – the first we had seen in the park. There was no one behind us so we were able to back up to get a better look. When we did the bear ambled across the road and climbed up on a guardrail wall. After a little while it climbed down the other side and faded into the trees.
Heading Home
Before long we reached Swift Run Gap and our three hour excursion had come to an end. We knew when we started that this trip was only a quick get away. Most of our sightseeing would be from inside the car and through the windshield. But that’s OK. Sometimes it’s important to get out and see something different, if only for a little while. Shenandoah National Park and the Skyline Drive will be there waiting for us, ready for next time.
Our luck held as we headed for home. We managed to get to Yoder’s Country Market right before closing. The deli counter was still open. We picked up a couple of their great sandwiches and had a picnic in the car before we continued on our way. It was the perfect finish to a great day. Happy Sightseeing!
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When was the Skyline Drive constructed?
The Skyline Drive was built in the 1930’s. Men from the Civilian Conservation Corps helped with the construction.
A very good post!
Thank you. Glad you enjoyed it.