To the Massanutten Community:
First of all: on behalf of Massanutten Resort, Great Eastern and all of our staff, please accept our best wishes for a wonderful holiday season!
It’s been a while since our last post, so here are a few items to catch everyone up.
HUNTING POLICY: We learned that four poachers were discovered hunting in the Kettle a bit more than a week ago. We also learned it caused some (well-deserved!) consternation in the community.
Our policy regarding hunting on Massanutten property is clear: it is permitted on our land ONLY on the Western Slope, below the ridgeline. If you’re not familiar, that’s the side of the ridge facing Keezletown, not into the Kettle. In addition to having a valid Virginia hunting license, we require hunters using our property to obtain written permission from Massanutten Security.
The poachers, who were caught and ejected from the resort, had neither – in addition to the fact that they were hunting in an area specifically not open to hunting. Per Massanutten Security, it’s apparent that they lied and provided false information to Game Commission Officers, and will likely face charges of road hunting and hunting out of the back of a vehicle. The Game Commission is still investigating the incident, and other possible charges may be brought.
We respect the right to hunt. That said, safety of residents, guests and staff is always a top priority. Since hunting is permitted when in season, hikers, leaf watchers and other outdoors enthusiasts should not enter the Western Slope during hunting season, and if they do, they must wear blaze orange and enter at their own risk. If you’d like a copy of the resort’s hunting policy, please reach out to Massanutten Security: security@massresort.com
MOUNTAIN COASTER UPDATE: To our disappointment (and, we’ll admit, a bit of annoyance), we’ve postponed the opening of the Mountain Coaster until Spring. The ride is being built by a team from France, and they underestimated the challenges of building this feature on terrain with the unique geologic structure of the Massanutten Syncline. But as you’ll see from the photo below, it’s going to be a very cool ride when it opens.
SUSTAINABILITY UPDATE: Allow us to introduce Kayla King (photo below), our new Sustainability Coordinator. Kayla holds a degree in Environmental Science from the University of New England in Maine, and has experience in Environmental Education, native vegetation consulting (including invasive vegetation management) and waste management – both recycling and waste-to-energy. Prior to joining our team, Kayla worked as a Biological Science Technician for Shenandoah National Park.
As you probably know, Massanutten Resort has invested considerable time and resources into upgrading our sustainability programs. The most visible, of course, are the solar installations at Woodstone, the WaterPark, and down at our laundry facility. But there are numerous other efforts, including significantly more energy-efficient snowmaking equipment, LED outdoor lighting and other programs.
These efforts have been recognized by the National Ski Areas Association for the past several years. In fact, we just earned to additional citations under NSAA’s Sustainable Slopes program: a recognition for excellence in Climate Action, for tracking and reducing carbon emissions, and recognition for excellence in Climate Advocacy.
We’ll keep you posted on continuing sustainability initiatives.
LIGHT UP THE PARK: Our Light Up the Park Holiday display is now open. There are some new features this year, including a new Santa’s Workshop installation. We’re looking into at least one special MPOA evening during its operation. Stay tuned for details.
CONSTRUCTION UPDATES: if you’re over near the WaterPark, you’ll likely notice a lot of activity related to the new hotel, including foundation work. Opening is still slated for 2026. Also, we expect that roadwork along Resort Drive to improve traffic flow into the new Active Adult community will commence sometime in the first quarter of 2025. We don’t anticipate significant traffic flow problems while this work is going on.
Cordially,
Michael Hammes, VP and General Manager, Massanutten Resort
Matthias Smith, Executive Vice President, The Resorts Companies
Leave a Reply