Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-15
SHENANDOAH SITES
OFFERED TO PUBLIC.
Summer Colony Is Project of
Forest Service for D. c.
and Other Cities.

A new Summer colony. deep in the
beautiful Shenandoah national forest,
atop the Massanutten Mountains and
overlooking the Shenandoah Valley,
has been made available to the people
of Washington and other Eastern
cities through an extension of the
National Forest Services policy of
putting the reservations under its di-
rection to the greatest possible public
use.
One hundred lots have been staked
off and are now ready for inspection
and occupancy, the Forest Service an
nounced. at the nominal rental fee of
SIS a year per lot. Arrangements
may be made with builders near the
sites for the construction of either
modest camps or more pretentious
homes, the only condition imposed
being that the plans must be- APP
proved by the forest supervisor be-
fore construction is begun.
Such a. colony developed in the
Massanutten Mountains will be with,
in 1913 miles Of Washington when the
short section of the Lee highway be-
tween Luray and New Market Gap
Is completed. This will place it with.
In about four hours drive of the Ma
tional Capital and will make it a dis
tinctly popular place for local vaca.
tionists to spend part of their time
In the Summer.
Offers Big Possibilities.
The site may be reached now over
an improved road. 1t is at the head
OF Fort Valley on Passage Creek 1t
was selected out of q number of like
~ sites because of it's closeness to
Washington and other cities, the nat
ural beauty of the surroundings, the
pure mountain spring water nearby
and the tremendous possibilities 1t
offers for the development of an ex.
tensive colony
1t is virtually within sight of many
points of interest in the Shenandoah
Valley. Luray Is only 10 miles, away,
with the Endless and Shenandoah
caverns only about 25 miles distant
The new Shenandoah National Park
is within clear view just across the
Shenandoah Valley, and the "Viewing
spot, declared by many to command
one or the most wonderful views in
the East. is only IS miles distant.
This is the first opportunity offered
the general public to establish perr,a.
nent Summer camps within this. one
Of the most beautiful and historic of
the national forests. Full particulars
may be obtained by writing to the
forest supervisor, Shenandoah Ma
tional Forest, Harrisonburg. Va. The
National Forest Service is anxious to
see this area developed into a genuine
playground for the people of the East.
1t is afforded the full protection of
the Forest Service, being we'll laced
with roads and policcd by rangers of
the service, VINO protect all visitors
within its borders against the menace
of fire and vandalism alike. The area
occupies 4 section rich in legend and
history, the name of the mountain,
Massanutten. being derived from the
indian tongue. meaning :Great Noun.
tain Yonder."
Natural Fertilization.
The range rises abruptly from the
floor of the Shenandoah Valley, being
part Of neither the Blue Ridge Noun
tains to the east nor the alleghenies
to the west. Within its ridge a beau
tiful, fertile valley has been eroded
out by the centuries, and tradition has
1t that had Washington been defeated
at Yorktown he had intended to re-
treat to this natural fertilization and
there await the pursuit of CORVALLIS.
During the Civil War, Stonewall
JACKSON USED tneSe mountains from
which to charge out and play havoc
with the invading Union Army Then
he would just as quickly withdraw
into the almost unimpregnable fast
ness of the Massanutten, or dodge
back behind it's range to bewilder the
enemy. Numerous battlehelds are
scattered along the base of the noun
tains, which, rising abruptly from the
valley floor, present a picture of
scenic magnificence.