Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1900-06-20
MOUNTAIN LAKE
SUMMER RESORT.
UNEXCELLED FOR HEALTH
PLEASURE AND COMFORT.
REMODELED AND
IMPROVED.

Mountain Lake may be truly called
the "S'lver Gem of the Alleghanies. :"
1t is situated almost on the summit
OF one of the highest mountains of
Virginia, at an elevation of more than
four thousand feet above tide. with
surface area of about one hundred
and fifty acres. Its banks are lined
with rhododendroh, laurel and azslia.
and the gorgeous brilliancy of the
flowers of June and July is enhanced
by dark background of hemlocks.
and at the lower end of the Lake are
castellated rocks.
No streams flow into the Lake.
which Is fed entirely from springs;
but 1t has an outlet, the waters from
which flow into Little Stonev Creek.
Some of the springs on the border of
the Lake are very cold, their temper
ature, even in the hottest weather.
being very little above 40 degrees
Fahrenheit. The existence Of a lake
OF such extent "a; So great an elevation
above tide. and so near the summit
OF high mountain isalmost without
precedent True. there are uorc.,.y
tenslve lakes Ia ~Nltzrrlaud. bat these
are at the feet &c White capped noun
tains. which rear heir hoary crcsts
IN regions Of everlasting snow aud
icy dcSo.atious. while Mountain Lake
Is only half mile hv gcutle descent
from the summit Of the highes,
mountain in the State, and in sum
mer Is surrounded by perfect Eden
of floral beauty.
During the hotties, DAYS of summer
the AIR here is ALWAYS fresh and cool.
which makes the place delightful
retreat from the heat and hustle of
the city, and where the pleasures of
life can be fully realized, for here
The gentle breezos blow
All day and all night long.
And the silver-tongued mosquito
Ne'er sings his little song"
Persons suffering from hay fever
find here almost perfect relief, and by
coming early in the season, before it
begins its harassing attacks, often en-
JOY entire freedom from it,
The average temperature is 50 de-
grees.
Near the margin of the Lake is the
Hotel, large, commodious building
with two broad piazzss extending
around It's front, a distance of four
hundred feet There are several nice
cottages near the Hotel, all of which
are we'll furnished and are especially
suited to families. The Hotel is
lighted with gas and supplied with
water from a beautiful spring of al
most icy coldness nearby. The
grounds comprise over $500 acres of
magnificent forest aud almost every
variety of mountain flower abounds.
Mountain Lake is the Eldorado of
the sportnen and the Ponce de Leon
of the invalid Here the tired, over
worked business man may rest, and
the sportsman find his recreation
Enervation is not thought of; eXer-
else is delight, and the result of the
efforts of day is Il hearty appetite
for dinner, Il full enjoyment of the
amusements of the evening and IA
night of perfect rest.
The summit of Bald Knob is about
1900 feet above tide. 1t is in the
rear of and but few minutes walk
from tie hotel; the distance by path
is three eights, and by carriage road
three fourths of mile From its
summit one of the finest views is to
be obtained that can be had from anv
point on the entire range of the Ale
ghanies. The numerous parallel
chains of mountains give the appear
ance of mammoth waves OF green
ocean rolling beneath the feet of the
observer. Often in early morning the
valleys are completely filled with
masses of cloud, obscuring everything
but the submits of the highest hills,
which present the appearance of
green islands projecting from the sur
face IF frozen ocean. The sunrise
and sunset from this elevation is one
of the most glorious scenes ever pre-
sented by Nature in all her loveliness
and grandeur. The observer, literal