Nobody Puts Jona In A Corner

---

There were thirty-six years between the release of the hit 80s movie, Dirty Dancing, and my trip to the infamous Kellerman's... otherwise known as Mountain Lake Lodge in Pembroke, Virginia. Nestled in the New River Valley of the Appalachian Mountains, we trekked seven or eight miles up to get to the popular vacation destination. Here's all of the reasons why you should too.

---

First and foremost, the nostalgic atmosphere. Unfortunately, the lake has naturally drained over the years and is refilling at a pace that could be compared to a turtle; but the owners have installed a couple of pools, a hot tub, and a cabana that you can order food & drinks from with Baby's Cabin nearby. There are plaques all around that notate which scenes were filmed where, including the cinder blocks that Swayze stood on during the infamous lift.

The FOOD! Oh my god... the chef at this establishment does not miss. Salt Pond Pub offers some of the best pizza I've ever tried, with live music in the summer. A staff member popped out to ask what we thought and told us stories about when he first started, right before filming. He used to drive Patrick Swayze up the mountain on his motorcycle to get to set on time.

---

Harvest was a ritzier experience and the home of all movie dining scenes.

The lodging accommodations had numerous options from staying in the main lodge for smaller parties, to more spacious cabins further away in the woods called Blueberry Ridge Mountain Homes. Our BRMH (Eggleston) had three bedrooms and slept around eleven with a deck on the back. They look and smell like they were just built yesterday. If you're staying further back, you'll need to rent a golf cart to get around easily.

Though Dirty Dancing always takes the cake for attraction to the lodge, it's actually the ancestral home of the Moody family. Their pictures are lined along the hallways in the main stone lodge, as well as some articles about their history. Each cabin on-site, most that you can rent, were familial residences before everything became Mountain Lake Lodge. Haunted and eerie don't even begin to cover it.

Off-site, there are amazing hiking locations nearby. The most popular is probably Cascade Falls Trailhead inside of Jefferson National Forest. Make sure you're absolutely certain you have the Easy route on the map ready to go because the Moderate level is more like extreme parkour. Pack a lunch to eat with a view of the waterfall, or bring a swimsuit to stand under the freezing cold fresh water. No matter what, you'll need an extensive nap afterwards.

---

Pembroke is near Virginia Tech in Blacksburg with a plethora of activities, sporting events, dining options, and more. We hit the very popular brunch at 622 North Restaurant and Wine Bar. Reservations are accepted online.

---

That's one unforgettable weekend on and off-site at Kellerman's. It's important to note that the Lodge does offer themed celebration weekends. Staying at MLL gave me a whole new appreciation of the film. Watching it now feels like being there all over again. Though some travel destinations are one-and-done, I could easily go back to the lodge over and over again. The staff was accommodating, the guests were friendly, and the atmosphere was peaceful. 10/10 would recommend to a friend.