Founders Vision Overlook likely attracts more visitors than any other place at Wintergreen. Everyone from curious people who have never heard of Wintergreen driving over from the Blue Ridge Parkway to full-time WTG residents can be found here at any time of the year.
The 17-acre property overlooking Wintergreen Resort’s mountain village has an observation platform with exhibits and a wildflower garden, but the incredible eastern view, some 3,500 ft above the Rockfish Valley, is the major attraction.
The overlook can offer a wild scene in the winter with the resort’s snowmaking, chair lifts, and hundreds of skiers all moving in different directions, with mountain tops peeking out of the clouds below in the background and the horizon extending to infinity.
This year, the property’s ownership was returned to the Wintergreen Property Owners Association from the Nature Foundation at Wintergreen, which acquired the overlook from WPOA in 1997. During that time, the Nature Foundation added native plants and built the observation platform.
WPOA will install some overdue improvements over the next several months.
“Our initial efforts will be simple,” says WPOA Executive Director Jay Roberts. “We’re going to improve the view. We are looking at reducing the grass slope and ruts by bringing in some fill, raising the elevation of the existing rail fence. We’ll improve the drainage, then install sod turf after the grading. Renovating the observation platform, including re-laying the brick walkway, is also planned. We’ll re-pave and adjust the position of the parking area. There will also be new signage on Wintergreen Drive.”
“Less asphalt with expanded and improved grass areas will combine to provide better places to sit and take in the dramatic scene. If all goes as planned, next spring we will have a fresh overlook in place,” says Roberts. “Overall, we’re building on what’s been proven to work. This effort is another way our community is improving and celebrating its outdoors spaces.”
