Shadow Mountain Escape, Romantic Virginia Getaway Cabins Shenandoah Valley Virginia near Skyline Drive .

Guests often ask us “How did you find this place?” We felt it would be helpful for those interested to provide you the “short” story of Shadow Mountain Escape’s history!

The Vision: The name “Shadow Mountain Escape” comes from the name of the tracts (Shadow Mountain) of land that were originally subdivided from large parcels that once belonged to some of the pioneering families of the region. We added the term “Escape” to invoke a sense of the underlying purpose behind our efforts. That purpose is to capture the best qualities of the natural environment to make a beautiful place where all who visit can seek self-fulfillment, happiness, and pursue adventure on the edge of the Virginia wilderness. We also strive to capture an old rural European flare in respect of the origins of Timber Framing, the European pioneers of this region of Virginia and to represent our own German Heritage.

History of Jewell Hollow:  Jewell Hollow is one of the several hollows that spans out from Elder Ridge above – the high ridge line seen from the property. The high point of the ridge (over 3,730 feet) and directly in view from Shadow Mountain Escape is named “The Pinnacles” (so named on the park maps). The Hollow is defined by two mountain streams that join just a “stones throw” from the edge of Shadow Mountain Escape property in the National Park to make up the large stream named Pass Run. These streams hold a rarity- pure and drinkable water and a robust population of native brook trout. It is the location of the Hollow and the water that undoubtedly attracted the earlier inhabitants of the Hollow.

Prior to the 1800’s, human inhabitants in Jewell Hollow were Native Americans of several local tribes. For the most part, it is believed that the Hollow was valuable hunting land. This is evident still today as numerous arrow heads dating back hundreds of years continue to be randomly found. In the early 1800’s European Americans (many immigrants) began to slowly populate the Shenandoah Valley and, to a lesser degree, the higher mountain areas along the valley’s edges. The earliest pioneers to settle in Jewell Hollow were among some of the toughest and most basic of American Pioneers. Keep in mind that in the 1800’s most in Washington D.C. never ventured to the mountains. Those who did required 5 days with a horse and carriage along a unimproved dirt road to get to the small rural town of Luray. The “Mountain People”, those living off the land in Jewell Hollow in the 1800’s, essentially lived in a relatively lawless world where small scale subsistence farming, tree bark, wood, and back breaking labor allowed them to sustain life. According to George Freeman Pollock, in his book “Skyland” that captured first hand late 19th century life in the region. “The Blue Ridge Mountaineer was probably no different from any Anglo-Saxon; but being ignorant, usually having a chip on his shoulder and being possessed of bulky strength, he had to go through a good many years of “mixing” before he became the docile person he is today.”

Want to know more? Visit SME - upon arrival an information packet with more information on the land, Structures and Cabins will be available