Our Mission

The Mountain Lake Conservancy's mission is to further Mary's desire to forge bonds between people and nature in Mountain Lake's unique environment. The conservancy provides a holistic stage through educational and recreational activities that make your experience a memorable one. Our natural settings, accommodations, activities and programs are developed and integrated to support this mission. 

 

Trails & Outdoor Recreation

The approximately 2,600 acre Mountain Lake property, located in a saddle between Salt Pond and Doe Mountains, is an ideal place for outdoor recreation. Our property is open to the public, so not just lodge guests are able to enjoy its special character. Being open to the public also creates more year-round use.  

The unique setting of our property provides users with a variety of terrain, forests, and beautiful vistas of the surrounding region. Currently, the outdoor recreation opportunities on our property include hiking, mountain biking, trail running, cross-country skiing, show shoeing, geocaching, an aerial adventure course, and wildlife viewing. 

 

Forest

Our property is naturally forested with a mix of upland hardwoods and pine. There is little evidence of harvesting in the past 70 years, and the average age of the mature trees present is greater than 90 years old. Species composition varies according to site conditions, but most of the forest is an upland hardwood species mix of oaks and maples. Our property's forest conservation resources are as critical, if not more so, than the defining feature of Mountain Lake itself. 

Background & Ecological Significance

The section places the conservation value of our property in a state and regional context and describes its basic ecological characteristics. The bulk of the property ranks as having outstanding and very high ecological integrity based on the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation's (DCR) Virginia Natural Landscaping Assessment (VNLA) (DCR, 2007) 

Natural Heritage

The Natural Heritage program is a comprehensive effort to save Virginia's native plant and animal life and the ecosystems upon which they depend through inventory, conservation information provision, protection, and stewardship. Natural Heritage Resources (NHR) are defined as the habitat of rare, threatened, or endangered plant and animal species, rare or state significant natural communities or geologic sites, and similar features or scientific interest. 

Scientific Research

The Mountain Lake Conservancy and Lodge property has historically been and is currently the site of a lot of scientific research. A significant factor to this research being sited on the property is the wealth of natural and conservation resources described throughout this plan. 

Stream Ecology

Water is a critical conservation resource for the Mountain Lake Conservancy and Lodge property. Water is important both on and off the property. It is critical to the Property's ecosystems and character, but also important because water that originates on the property serves a variety of downstream uses. 

Bird Species & Habitat

Bird populations on Salt Pond Mountain and the Mountain Lake Lodge property are closely associated with topographical and altitudinal variation. They have been studied here and in other parts of the Mountain Lake region for over a century by many observers. The range in elevation of approximately 600 meters between the summit and base of Mountain Lake allows for much diversity in flora and fauna communities and bird populations. 

History

Discover the colorful history of our 2,600 acre nature preserve - a playground for families, romantics and adventurers seeking a peaceful escape in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. Our story dates back to 1751, through the filming of the film "Dirty Dancing" to the recent rebirth of the Mountain Lake Lodge. 

Partnerships

Our mission is carried out through collaborative work with local businesses, non-profit groups, universities and government agencies.

Our Partnerships Include:

RU Dept. of Recreation, Parks & Tourism   Wild Earth Hoops  
Virginia Department of Forestry   Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries  
Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation - Division of Natural Heritage   Virginia Tech Biology Department  
Virginia Tech Entomology Department   Virginia Tech Fisheries Department  
Giles and Montgomery County Extension Offices   Montgomery County Parks and Recreation  
Mountain Lake Biological Station   New River Valley Bicycle Association  
New River Land Trust   1 % For the Planet  
Radford University Virginia Tech Forestry Department  
Virginia Tech Science Outreach Programs   SEEDS  
AmeriCorps   Area University Service Oriented Sororities and Fraternities  
4-H Youth Development   New River Valley Chapter of the Virginia Master Naturalists  
Roanoke Outside   Appalachian Trail Conservancy  
Area public schools   Blacksburg Parks and Recreation  
Blue Ridge Highlands   Blue Ridge Mountain Sports in Blacksburg
Eastern Native Tree Society   Eastern Divide Ranger District, USFS  
Giles County