Aqua Virginia received a copy of the Wintergreen Valley Association’s (WVA) February 29, 2024 email regarding Aqua Virginia’s application to the Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) requesting an increase in water and wastewater utility rates. After review of the WVA email, we would like to share the following information:
Wintergreen & Nellysford in the Nelson County Comprehensive Plan
While Virginia requires localities to review their comp plan every five years, this year there was a major overhaul of the Nelson County plan where professionals and county staff attempted to create a current view of what is, and what might be, for the different areas of the county. Here are some of what has been published in the proposed plan about Wintergreen and Nellysford.
Pharmacy opens in Nellysford
WPOA's Jay Roberts on Renaissance Ridge
The Executive Director of the Wintergreen Property Owners Association barely mentioned the proposed Renaissance Ridge development in his initial presentation at the 2023 annual meeting on November 11th. But during the question and answer part of the meeting a property owner voiced concerns about “workforce housing” being part of the development. Jay Roberts was ready to ad-lib the long and detailed answer in the video here.
Wintergreen area fall events for October 15, 2023
How to open & close the large umbrellas on the Tuckahoe Clubhouse patio
Tuckahoe Clubhouse gets a new patio
Jay Roberts outlines some of the plans for the new patio at Tuckahoe Clubhouse which should be completed by May. “It will be two or three years before the plantings are mature,” Roberts notes.“This is a work in progress. The flexible layout allows us to adjust seating areas based on how the space is used."
Fire and Frost Wood-Fired Bakehouse
Seven Route 151 intersections with high wreck frequency
Fire & Frost gets advice
The new Fire and Frost on Wintergreen mountain posted on its Facebook page last week, "For us to stay open year-round we are going to need to see some business during the week." Here’s a sampling of the comments and suggestions they received on their Facebook page:
Notes from the 2022 WPOA Annual Meeting
Note: The entire three-hour November 12, 2022, Wintergreen Property Owners Association meeting, including the resort’s presentation, was recorded. The video can be seen HERE on WPOA’s website. Below are a few of the highlights of the WPOA portion of the meeting.
Apples and Pumpkins in Nelson County - Fall 2022
Critzer Family Farm. Apples and pumpkins. Homemade Ice Cream. 9388 Critzer Shop Road, Afton, VA 22920. Call 540-241-3305 to get the latest picking condition, hours, and farm updates.
Drumheller’s Orchard. Apples, peaches, brambles, and plums. Apple cider donuts are back. 434-263-5036. 1130 Drumheller Orchard Ln, Lovingston, Va. 22949
Dickie Brothers Orchard. Fresh-picked pears, apples, and more. Pick your own Golden Delicious and SunCrisp apples on September 17 and 18. The pumpkin patch is open. Thursday-Saturday 10 AM to 5 PM, Sunday 12 PM to 4 PM.
Silver Creek & Seaman’s Orchard. Fresh apple selection, homemade apple butter, and more. Monday through Thursday 10 AM to 4 PM. Friday 10 AM to 2 PM. Saturday 10 AM to 4:30 PM. Sunday 1 PM to 5 PM. F 434-277-5824. 5529 Crabtree Falls Highway, Tyro, VA 22976.
Saunders Brothers Farm Market. Apples, peaches, nectarines, Asian pears, sweet potatoes, veggies, ice cream, and more. Monday Through Saturday 9 AM to 5 PM. 2717 Tye Brook Highway, Piney River, VA, 22964. 434-277-5455.
Notes from the Wintergreen Public Safety town hall meeting
Some 50-plus citizens–including Wintergreen Resort General Manager Jay Gamble and Nelson County Supervisor Ernie Reed–came out to the townhall meeting held by Wintergreen's public safety chiefs on September 8 at Tuckahoe Clubhouse. Wintergreen's public safety services are "incredibly expensive but they are a big part of what makes Wintergreen extraordinary," Wintergreen Property Owner Association Executive Director Jay Roberts told the audience.
Update from Wintergreen Resort’s General Manager
Jay Gamble's presentation at the Wintergreen Mountain Homesteaders’ 2002 annual meeting on September 3 marked his one-year anniversary as Wintergreen Resort's general manager. See his entire talk in the video above.
There were no major announcements in his 30-minute presentation but there was some news regarding improvements such as adding charging stations for electric cars, a boost in pay for employees, new golf carts in the valley and on the mountain, and new snowmaking equipment.
Noting that Pacific Group is now both the owner as well as the operator of the resort, he said owners generally invest more in the property than renters. The resort must spend at least $1,500,000 in capital improvements each year to keep up, explained the long-time resort executive.
In addition to regular maintenance, some $2,850,000 will be invested in capital improvements in 2022; he said it was $1,900,000 last year. Inflation, employee shortages, and supply chain disruptions are making improvements and staffing goals complicated.
“Winter is still king here, so investments in snowmaking are required," he noted. "Wintergreen is one of Pacific Group's flagship properties, so there will be more capital improvements."
More than a million dollars was spent on enhancing racket sports this year. "The goal is to get more people involved in racket sports," he noted, pointing to the new membership program the resort announced this summer.
Gamble noted at one point there isn't a lot of land available to the resort on which to build anything new. Enlarging The Market on the mountain, for example, would be something they would like to do, but their options are not great–maybe a second story or taking over the front porch.
In answering a question, Gamble said the long-discussed hotel project for the mountain is not on the table right now and that is unlikely to change any time soon.
Other highlights from his September 3rd talk included:
Click image to enlarge
• Golf: Stoney Creek golf is getting all new carts next year; the mountain golf course will see the new carts that were expected to arrive in the spring sometime in October. There are new sophisticated mowers for golf on the way. Supply channel hold-ups and shortages were major issues this year and continue still.
• Restaurants: There were no major announcements about the resort's eight food and beverage venues. Opening the Copper Mine as well as Stoney Creek Bar and Grill–and bringing back lunch at Devils Grill– remains a priority. There is a chef in place for the Copper Mine (Chef Matt) and they hope to hire a restaurant manager for the Copper Mine soon. They might be able to open the Copper Mine on the weekends this winter but is still a need for line cooks and such for that to happen.
“It is difficult to fully comprehend and appreciate the long hours and workload being carried by those who are willing to work in the current times–especially in food and beverage," Gamble stressed. "I'm proud of our employees."
• Staffing: The entry-level pay is now $17 an hour, up from $12, and pay across the board is now higher at the resort. The resort is beginning to see more people interested in applying for jobs. In the winter the resort needs 600-plus people on staff; some 330 are now working and Gamble said he would like about 400 in the non-snow seasons. International workers make up about 25 percent of the workforce; they are now looking to India and Peru for help.
Gamble stressed he was working to ensure a "healthy working environment" at the resort, saying people seldom quit their jobs because of pay. Rents on housing here have doubled or more, which is hurting their efforts to add staff.
• Electric Car Charging Stations: In response to a question, Gamble said the resort is working with WPOA on adding charging stations for vehicles. Gamble says he hopes to have four three-hour car charging stations in place before winter. If electric vehicles become as ubiquitous as projected, Gamble suggested the mountain condo associations are likely going to have to step up and provide stations for their owners and guests.
• Wintergreen Club Memberships: Asked about extending the resort's amenities to VRBOs and Airbnbs, Gamble said this was a difficult and complex topic at major resorts throughout the US, not just Wintergreen. But his bottom line answer regarding memberships was that there are no plans to change the membership program.
Resort memberships are geared to families. Asked about offering memberships for single people, Gamble said he hadn't looked into it carefully but he had concerns about "unintended consequences."
Vittles Van comes to Nellysford
Vittles Van came to Nellysford in August taking up a corner of the parking lot next to the barber shop that shares the building with the Blue Ridge Pig [map].
How to get buzzards to buzz off
Notes and News from the 2021 WPOA annual meeting
Wintergreen Resort's new General Manager Jay Gamble has his first meeting with property owners
New residential development proposed for Wintergreen
Statement from the developers: “In alignment with the Wintergreen Master Plan, Renaissance Ridge neighborhood at Stoney Creek will reflect similar housing types and price ranges based on the precedent set during Wintergreen’s comprehensive development history. Starting prices are anticipated to start at $200K+ and as high as $600K.”
Inexpensive Landline Telephone Service at Wintergreen
In December WBB subscriber Jerry Akman asked readers of our newsletter for suggestions on reducing the cost of maintaining his Verizon telephone landline in his vacation home on Wintergreen Mountain. He carefully investigated several alternatives and was kind enough to share what he learned. Here's his report:
