State-of-the-art playground installed at RVCC

State-of-the-art playground installed at RVCC

The James M. Cowley Community Playground on the west side of the Rockfish Valley Community Center [map] was installed in the spring of 2024. It includes a multi-level climbing and sliding complex, elaborate swing sets, “musical play features” in the shape of flowers, a play tunnel with a bridge, two twisting slides, climbing swings, and–in the middle of it all–comfortable benches under established shade trees for parents, grandparents, and babysitters.

Aqua America's response to WVA's objections the proposed water and sewer rate increases in Stoney Creek

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

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. 

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.

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.

This was the first WPOA annual meeting in three years to have a live audience. Attendance appeared to be down from what was typically seen in these meetings pre-pandemic.

Dr. Robin Pullen

Bill Martin

• Bill Martin (current treasurer of the WPOA board) and Robin Pullen (Wintergreen Sporting Club officer and a volunteer with the Wintergreen Rescue Squad) were elected to fill the two open positions on the board. Nine property owners ran for election this year. Only about a third of the property owners voted in the election, WPOA President Karen Asher reported.

• The last three years brought some 1,200 new property owners to Wintergreen. Asher pointed to how many of the owners selling were aging and the increased availability of high-speed internet allowing many to work from anywhere among several factors driving the turnover.

• As previously reported, WPOA’s annual assessment for 2023 will be $1,969 for most homeowners, up by five percent over 2022. Most of that increase going to fund employee pay and benefits. Hiring needed staff and keeping quality employees was a theme throughout the meeting, including the resort’s presentation. WTG Fire and Rescue Chief Curtis Sheets said that at one point he had eight positions open. “We had a group of medics volunteer average 112 hours a week for a month to take up the slack. That’s just one measure of the dedication our people here have,” Sheets stressed.

• By next spring Tuckahoe Clubhouse should have in place a hardscape with chairs, many new plantings, and walkways where the former school’s playground had been.

• A major WPOA project in the coming year is a complete review of the property the homeowner’s association has and a look at how it might be used. “We have to think strategically about the property we have,” Executive Director Jay Roberts stressed, pointing to the importance of the upcoming survey of owners in making plans.

• The last survey of property owners was in 2005. Wintergreen has changed a lot since then, Roberts noted. “There are more families here now, there are more people working from home,” he noted. “We don’t know how many people are living full-time here.” It is hoped the upcoming professional 40-question online survey of owners might help provide direction.

• This slide was out of date because Wintergreen’s 11th case of fraud had just happened. Wintergreen Police Chief Dennis Russell didn’t hide he was very upset about how several Wintergreen residents had recently been fraud victims, with one case of a reported loss of $30,000.

• The buildings and facilities at WPOA’s Rodes Farm in the valley are “approaching the end of its life cycle,” according to Roberts, calling making improvements there “putting lipstick on a pig.”

• There are only 400 undeveloped lots in the Wintergreen community left that might have a home built on them, Roberts noted.

• Showing the slide above, Roberts stressed he stays engaged with all of the players involved in the proposed Renaissance Ridge, and that “everyone is returning my phone calls.” Despite having some concerns, he said he thought it could be done well and that it should pay for itself. He said that Renaissance Ridge “went into play in 2004” and it was his goal to help make it a positive for everyone involved.

• Pointing to how some property owners have recently objected to short-term rentals (such as VRBOs and Wintergreen Resort’s leased homes) in their neighborhood, Roberts said WPOA gets more issues from property owners who are neighbors than short-term tourist neighbors. “I say it’s about 10 to 1,” he said, adding how Wintergreen was seen as a place for vacation homes that could be rented out from the beginning. “WPOA covenants are full of words such as ‘tenants’ and ‘guests,’” he noted.

Roberts detailed the complex steps that are required for the covenants to be changed.

He guessed that there were about 25 short-term rentals in Stoney Creek and about 800 on the mountain, “but we really don’t know.” New rules, starting January 1, have been put into place to address these concerns. “I focus on solutions currently available,” Roberts explained.

Answering a question from the floor from a property owner about a problem with short-term rental property with misbehaving tourists, Roberts said it was appropriate to call Wintergreen Police.

-Charles Batchelor

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.

-from the Nelson County Tourism Department

Notes from the Wintergreen Public Safety town hall meeting

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."