Shenandoah Acres was a resort in Stuarts Draft, Virginia that billed itself as "America's Finest Inland Beach." The Acres closed in 2004 and was subsequently purchased by the Eavers family.
The most visible aspect of Shenandoah Acres was its small, spring-fed lake that was unique for its use of playground equipment in the water. Shenandoah Acres also featured 250 camp sites, 35 cabins, horseback riding, miniature golf, and tennis courts.[1]
History
Originally, Shenandoah Acres was a farm consisting of orchards, and a cranberry bog encircling a small pond. The cranberry bog was well known by botanists as a location for several rare plants and orchids including the rose pogonia and grass pink orchids. In the journal Claytonia, the botanist Lloyd Carr described the pond as a sea of pink when the orchids were in bloom. The cranberry bog was one of a series of sinkhole ponds and wetlands in the Maple Flats area; perhaps the only one remaining with a similar flora is Spring Pond. After the bog was destroyed to create Shenandoah Acres, many of the rare species once found there are now locally extinct.
Dr. William Dodge charged visitors ten cents to swim and picnic on his property in 1930s. The property was purchased by the Blacka family in 1935.[2]
References
- ^ The News Leader – Area Overview: Recreation
- ^ Agri-Tourism. Authors: Aaron Blacka, College of Human Resources; Pierre Couture, College of Human Resources; Charles Coale, Agricultural and Applied Economics); John Dooley, University Outreach; Andy Hankins, Virginia State University; Ann Lastovica, Virginia State University; Brian Mihalik, College of Human Resources; Charlotte Reed, Public Service Programs; and Muzzo Uysal, College of Human Resources. Publication Number 310-003, posted November 2001
Further reading
- No More Swimming WHSV-TV
- Draft resort shuttered for summer The News Leader
- Goodfaith Buys Shenandoah Acres The Daily News Record
Coordinates: 37°59′56.5″N 79°1′36.3″W / 37.999028°N 79.02675°W
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