Hundreds of the world’s biggest Dirty Dancing fans flock to Mountain Lake Lodge to get closer to their favourite characters. After two planes and an uphill car ride, I found myself among them. Badge in hand, surrounded by costumed Babies, Johnnies, Pennies, and one excellent Mrs Schumacher, I too, was ready to have “the time of my life”.
What now looks like a sunny gazibo used to be a boat house launching boats into the Mountain Lake.
Located in Pembroke, Virginia (USA), Mountain Lake Lodge is nestled in the Appalachian Mountains, encompassing a lake and miles of untouched forestry. The Lodge is one of the two filming locations* for Dirty Dancing, arguably one of the greatest romantic movies of all time. For 36 years, people have been travelling from around the world for an immersive Dirty Dancing experience, prepared to play dress up with their friends and family in the Kellerman’s Mountain House. Naturally, these all-inclusive themed weekends sell out quickly and often carry a year-long waitlist. But there is more to Mountain Lake Lodge than movie memorabilia (though you can buy plenty of it at the Kellerman’s gift shop). From the scenic location and unique history to the disappearing lake and even a few ghost stories, the Lodge is a destination in its own right.
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This experience was hosted by Mountain Lake Lodge, which did not review or approve this story.
Left: Boat launching path from the original boat house leading to a scenic walking trail across the dry Mountain Lake. Right: Hotel guests enjoying a sun break by the fire pit, surrounded by the mountains.
The world beyond Kellerman’s
Arriving early Friday afternoon, the Lodge was already swarming with outfitted Dirty Dancing fans, but with a short walk to the Nature Centre, the buzz simmered to a quiet. Passed the wilderness attire racks and Saskwatch magnets, I found my gator guide, Cameron Duke, prepared for a history lesson, however it might look. For the next hour, securely strapped in a John Deere XUV (aka the Gator), we looped over the mountain and across the lake floor, pausing to take in the sights.
These historic property tours are a year-round offering and a great way to see the mountain top.
Expertly manoeuvring across the thick greenery, Cameron shared the long and fascinating history of the property, pointing out Dirty Dancing filming locations and behind-the-scenes stories. Past the new outdoor pool and the original Baby’s cabin (Virginia Cottage), a tilted metal sign greeted us ahead of the sandy path: “Keep out of the pond. No swimming, no fishing, no boating”. There hasn’t been water in the lake for over a decade, and in the distance, you can see a carcass of a boat stranded in the bushes. “Many studies have been done over the years about why the lake empties and refills on its own schedule, but we still really don’t understand this behaviour,” Cameron shared, pointing out the faded remnants of the shoreline. As we paused at the bottom of the lake, contemplating its mysteries, I fell in love with the view and the wonder of it all.
The rocky edge is where the Mountain Lake used to meet the shore. It has been dry for over a decade. Mary Moody’s Endowment rules prevent intervention with nature which has completely overtaking the lake floor, creating a beautiful field of wildflowers and bird seeded trees.
“With so much history, are there any ghost stories at the resort?” I wandered out loud. “I personally haven’t had any encounters, but have heard stories about the original cottages from the housekeepers. Are you into paranormal?” he asked. “I’m a fan of the X-Files,” I admitted. “Well, we are in the Appalachians, so there are plenty of supernatural stories here,” Cameron added, mentally taking me back to the Saskwatch magnets.
The immersive Dirty Dancing experience
“We tried to separate ourselves from the film,” Mountain Lake Lodge President and CEO, Heidi Stone, admitted, “but quickly realised Dirty Dancing fans were the biggest visitor base for the resort. So we leaned in”.
On arrival, all guests are handed a pink badge detailing the weekend activities. Couples, family and friend groups move through the resort in excited clusters dressed as their favourite characters, re-enacting scenes and posing for photos. Fuzzy blue cardigans, striped t-shirts, capris, and hundreds of white Keds are the weekend uniform. Completed with watermelon-shaped purses and an occasional curly wig, the women are often accompanied by their own Johnnies, dressed in all black.
Navigating the halls and nature trails to the sounds of Eric Carmen’s “Hungry Eyes,” guests are discussing their favourite movie scenes and searching for insider knowledge from the staff. Having seen the movie at a young age (and many times since), I feel like I found my people, deeply connected with the cult-classic storyline.
Resort guests out on the scavenger hunt, enjoying the views from the gazibo where Penny hosted dance lessong and trying to spot the exact locaiton of the infamous lift.
A side-by-side comparison of the Mountain Lake Lodge and the Kellerman’s Mountain House film still from Dirty Dancing.
“Is this where it happened?” I overhear a woman at breakfast. “Yes,” the host gestures at the table, referring to the scene in which Baby pours a pitcher of water on Robbie. The woman shrieks with excitement, easing into her seat, eyes locked on the plaque with the scene title. Multiple plaques are scattered throughout the property, both inside and out, calling attention to filming locations – here is where they did the lift, and here Baby had a stern conversation with her father. The filming location spots add up to the Saturday afternoon scavenger hunt, just after trivia and before the picnic lunch in Mary’s Barn.
“The only thing I want to win this weekend is trivia,” I overheard a guest say. “I tell you, heads will roll,” she laughed. With two opportunities to see Dirty Dancing once again, trivia was perhaps the most competitive component of this weekend.
Dirty Dancing themed weekend attendees lining up to showcase their favourite character costumes.
The official competition, however, is the Friday night Costume Contest. One group at a time, guests voted on the best Baby, best Johnnie, and best supporting cast. Each participant had an opportunity to showcase their character by performing a dance, reading a line, or sharing another relevant talent, often causing a wave of laughter across Mary’s Barn.
Each evening, guests gathered for dinner at Harvest Restaurant, accompanied by a live band playing music from the film. The dinner buffet is a selection of hearty farm-to-table meals like fresh biscuits and gravy, juicy roasts, hearty pastas, and rich soups. And after dinner, there is always a dance party running well into the wee hours. By day two, having attended dance lessons, the dancefloor is in a synchronised routine, filling the room with unadulterated joy and laughter.
The original family resort
The history of Mountain Lake Lodge is nearly two centuries deep and explains some of the oddities of the property and its unique character. The original resort, Salt Pond, dates back to 1851, when it was a popular destination for stagecoach travellers. A decade later, the Porterfield family purchased the property from General Herman Haupt and turned it into a vibrant family destination.
Back then, summer vacations could last two to three months (much like in the movie). Wealthy families bought into the resort by building custom cottages, which they owned outright for 15 years. One of the resort regulars was William Lewis Moody, a wealthy man from Texas who spent every summer at Mountain Lake Lodge. When the time came for him to give up his cottage, “he did what any wealthy man would do, and purchased the property,” Cameron shared.
Mr Moody was a wealthy man but notably careful with his money. To avoid construction expenses during the main lodge upgrades, he used, nearly exclusively, resources available on his land, using rock from the mountain. Unintentionally sustainable and meant to withstand weather and fires, the stone lodge he built in the 1930s is the lodge we see today.
Mr Moody’s daughter, Mary Moody, was equally fond of the property and purchased it after her father’s passing, becoming one of the first female CEOs of the time. To ensure future generations can experience what she has as a child, Mary created a set of rules: the resort can never be sold, there are no TVs in the rooms, no logging, and no hunting on the property, and generally speaking, nature’s choice always comes first. A series of narrow driving routes and hiking paths curve throughout the property, but much of the land is overtaken by nature, with wild flowers flourishing at the bottom of the dried-up lake.
Before Mary passed, she established the Mary Moody Northen Endowment, which operates Mountain Lake Lodge as a non-profit, called Mountain Lake Conservancy, protecting the 2,600-acre nature preserve surrounding the resort. “Without Mary, we would be a roadside sign,” Cameron noted. Mary’s portrait hangs in the Lodge lobby, looking over hotel guests and staff with a scrupulous eye. “One time they tried to move the portrait, but things started to go wrong just, everywhere. So they quickly put it back, and now when anything goes wrong, the staff checks on Mary’s portrait”.
Shared space in the lobby as a comfortably cozy environement with a set of rocking chairs facing the fire and various sittting areas.
The Endowment briefly considered closing the resort due to disrepair, but instead chose an extensive, seven-year renovation to renew and save the Lodge. Facilities have been upgraded and the guest experience improved with the addition of adventure and nature activities. Today, the Lodge is a thriving, award-winning** lodging destination. So no matter how many years pass, you will always be able to visit the resort where Dirty Dancing was filmed.
Left. Untouched wlderness along the upper mountian hiking trail. Left: One of the many signs along a walking path sharing exersize reccomendaitons with the active hotel guests.
Year-round vacation destination
Mountain Lake Lodge is a full-service resort embedded into wilderness. Guests can find the ultimate comfort of a private cabin or cosy up in the main lodge suite. Some rooms have fireplaces, some have lake views, and some are located in the privacy of the forest canopy.
Harvest Restaurant is the main dining stop offering flavours of Southwest Virginia prepared with fresh, local ingredients. The casual Stony Creek Tavern and Salt Pond Pub terrace are also popular spots among locals who find rest by the fire after a hike or a bike ride up the mountain. After dark, the hillside is minimally illuminated by the fire with string lights framing the terrace. And if you look up on a clear night, you just might see the Milky Way cutting through the navy sky.
At the centre of the resort is an outdoor pool, one of the newer additions to the heritage property. In addition to the self-guided trails and activities at the Nature Center, the lodge offers hosted excursions, guided history tours and hikes to the Cascade Falls, archery tag games, bubble ball, and other hosted family-friendly activities. As of 2024, Mountain Lake Lodge is also home to the new Giles County Trail Center, connecting visitors, hikers, and the community to 20 miles of Virginia’s trails.
The Adventure Center is open between mid-April and mid-October, weather permitting.
The family suit in the Main Lodge has a seperate sitting room with a fireplace and full bathtub.
* Other scenes were filmed in Lake Lure, North Carolina at Camp Occoneechee.
** Awards include first place in Virginia Living’s Best Resort and Best Special Event Venue, The Knot’s Best of Weddings and three TripAdvisor’s Travellers’ Choice Awards.
