Non-traditional family vacations: Skiing in the Southeast

By Mark McCullough

Lynchburg, Va., perched in foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, is known for its tobacco history and connection to the late Jerry Falwell, the outspoken evangelical leader and founder of Liberty University. What it is not known for is its skiing, but that is is all about to change. Liberty University has put Lynchburg on the map as the single venue for synthetic skiing/riding park in North America.

A border getting some air on the slopes

My family and I stumbled upon this on an end-of-summer getaway as were traveling through Lynchburg and the sun was setting on a beautiful August day. Just above the Liberty U. Campus is Candler Mountain, where there is a collection of hiking and biking trails frequented by students, and great vistas open up of the Peaks of Otter Lodge and the Blue Ridge Parkway. We drove up the mountain to catch the sunset and discovered a ski lodge to the likes of Colorado’s Beaver Creek or Utah’s Alta ski areas, complete with stone fireplaces, bear rugs and many big game trophies mounted on the exposed log walls.

Students relaxed in the expansive space, surfing the Internet while sipping coffee (no microbrews on this campus) and the scene out of the picture windows was truly breathtaking: A building-sized mound of white synthetic snow being misted from opposing angles for viscosity and students busting out freestyle moves and acrobatics that put a lump in your throat. Surprisingly, the temperature outside clocked in at 84 degrees and the humid August Virginia evening, with the mountain serenaded by the omni present hum of cicadas, made you take a step back and marvel in the dichotomy of seasons magically taking place.

There is a more modest bunny slope for tubing and beginner skiers and snowboarders, with more slopes planned for the future.It’s not Aspen or Stowe, but if you want a unique experience and don’t like the cold, a trip to Lynchburg’s Liberty Mountain Snowflex center may just beyour ticket to alpine fun.

Related Resources

• Ski Vacations
• Virginia Hotels
  

Mark McCullough, father of 3 children under age 6, often reminisces about his former life as a raft guide and rock-climbing instructor. Now his outings are more subdued, like canoeing along the tidal rivers in Virginia’s historic triangle of Jamestown, Yorktown and Colonial Williamsburg.

Tagged: Family time