Massanutten Resort: An Inviting Getaway
Samantha Aldridge, staff writer
A snowy aesthetically pleasing resort hidden in the mountains of Mcgaheysville was an enjoyable experience. Massanutten Resort is located in Mcgaheysville Virginia. About an hour and a half from Charlottesville, the inviting getaway offers a place of escape from one’s regular everyday routine. The drive was beautiful and simplistic with minimalistic turns and little to no confusion on how to get there.
Upon arriving at the resort, we were welcomed by family and the bright Massanutten sign that changed colors every few seconds in the dark. After the greetings, we headed down to the slopes. The slopes gave off a mixed vibe of intimidation and excitement I was ready to experience. Falling every few feet was a rude wake-up call that screamed I needed more practice. We rented our snowboards from The Powder Shack. It is a small store about a mile from the entrance of Massanutten that offers rentals cheaper than the ones at the resort. It also has a cute, chubby cat who sleeps in the box of snow gloves.
When I went down the slopes, I felt self-conscious about running into other people rather than enjoying the ride down. The crowded slopes and made me feel claustrophobic. At that point, I just wanted to get in the hot tub or play games in the arcade. The ski lift gave me a great view of the multiple slopes, especially the black diamond ones I will never try. The lift also gave me a sigh of relief after the work of getting down the hill.
After a long day of riding the slopes and hanging out, we sat down to eat. I picked up a small caesar salad and was alarmed to find out that it was $13. So I put it back and got two small fries, a drink, and a burger ($17). The day ended pretty abruptly when my boyfriend tried being Shaun White and got a concussion when attempting the terrain park that was meant for experienced snowboarders or skiers.
The ski patrol team was professional when helping him out with the head injury. They suggested we go to the hospital and take it easy. We found out the cleanliness of the facility by running around looking for our friends and family after he was concussed. The facility itself was clean and heavily secured with many employees. Getting back to the warm house was the best feeling, not only for me, but also for my poor, concussed boyfriend.
Overall, Massanutten is a bit pricey in regards to food and renting, but it is a good place to get away and make memories with family. If you get injured, the ski patrol, its employees, and even bystanders will assist in getting the help you need. The scenery is beautiful and they offer other activities for people who do not want to go down the slopes. If you decide to go anywhere to get away from the everyday grind, go to Massanutten Resort.
