The Overlook at Wintergreen provides one of the most spectacular views in Virginia. To say it is breathtaking doesn’t do it justice. It’s no wonder that Wintergreen residents feel that living there is heaven on earth.

“When you are on the mountain, you feel like you’ve been transported to a different world,” said Brian Chase, Managing Broker, Wintergreen Premier Resort Properties.

Calling it an oasis, Chase described Wintergreen as warm, welcoming, inviting, and inspirational. “For those who want to hike in the quiet and undisturbed nature, there is plenty of space for that. For those with younger members of the family who want something more energetic, all of that’s available too. It lacks very little in terms of its avenues engaging all different ages of the family.”

Chastity Morgan, Owner/Broker of Mountain Area Realty, said Wintergreen’s relaxed pace is a strong draw. “People come to Wintergreen to unwind and get away from the hustle and bustle of their everyday lives. There is plenty to do, or nothing at all—whatever suits your lifestyle best.”

Tim Hess, Managing Partner of Wintergreen Real Estate Company, was part of Wintergreen’s opening management staff and has been selling real estate there since 1979. “I’ve seen this community go from a promise on paper in 1973 to a reality that has been fulfilled. It’s a diverse community that has a lot of the characteristics that you’d find only in a city, such as the performing arts. The police, rescue squad, and fire department are city quality or beyond. Living here is waking up every day in this beautiful place. You turn around and all of a sudden you see this magnificent range of mountains, golf courses, and nature surrounding you. It’s just a unique place to live or work.”

Wintergreen Nature Foundation

Wintergreen’s 11,000 acres are under the stewardship of the Wintergreen Nature Foundation (WNF). The nonprofit research facility is headquartered at the Trillium House, which serves as the central meeting place for field trips, year-round guided hikes, programs, and special event weekends.

“The WNF, which was started and funded by the developer, has had a tremendous impact on the development,” said Hess. “There are places where millions of dollars could have been generated with sales, but through the influence of WNF, they were set aside. There’s the Trillium Field—a huge field of trilliums that will never be disturbed. There is 6,800 square feet of open space. WNF manages conservation for the resort at the top of Crawford’s Knob that’s about 1,400 acres. We have a national park all along our western border and to our south we have a national park and a national forest continuing down. It’s a very unique spot.”

Morgan sees the Wintergreen Nature Foundation as a great resource to owners and visitors. “They have a wealth of knowledge to share. They work very hard to help preserve the beauty of Wintergreen, and that adds uniqueness to the resort.”

Chase said the Nature Foundation is one of those diamonds on the mountain that is not always readily apparent. “The folks who embrace Wintergreen look around and say—‘This is a remarkable place—what is it that drives, protects, and perpetuates this special environment?’ Then they discover the WNF. The WNF works extraordinarily hard to sustain beauty and make it accessible to folks. The work they do forms the base and platform that allows Wintergreen to be what it is—so it’s at the core of every purchase decision, although they may not know it at the time.”

Snow Brings Buyers

You might think that with the record-breaking snows, the real estate market has suffered. Not so at Wintergreen.

“This winter season is generating more energy for winter sports and stimulates interest in real estate,” said Chase. “It’s a tremendous boom for the resort to have the natural snowfall to make people feel like they are experiencing winter. When kids are out of school, they’re able to go skiing. We had 700% more business in January 2010 than in January 2009, so that’s a dramatic uptick. It’s hard to tell whether this will continue, but people are starting to realize that if we’re not at the bottom, we’re a whole lot closer to the bottom than the top. If they were waiting to make a purchase, they’re much more keen to do it now.”

Morgan said her office is also seeing an increase in activity as the result of the snowfall. “Prices are very attractive and people are starting to look again,” she said. “Currently there are a number of properties for sale and many of them represent great opportunities for buyers. It truly is a great time to search for a home at Wintergreen.”

Hess said Wintergreen is a very affordable place to live. “While there are some very expensive properties here, there are also some tremendous values—particularly with the magnificent views you can get. There is some wonderful inventory in the $300,000-$400,000 range within the community that you could find no place else in the state.”

Those Out-of-the-Way Places

Living at Wintergreen has enormous benefits, but for those who’ve been there awhile, it’s all about finding those hidden spots that locals call their own.

Morgan cites the Blue Ridge Pig as one of those gems. “It is a well known local BBQ place. We introduced it to some friends a number of years ago and they still come back for it! The Devil’s Backbone has become a favorite to both the Wintergreen community, as well as the locals. Some of the best places to enjoy in our area are off the main paths. Take a nice drive and you will be amazed at how much beauty there is out here.”

Chase said the area has many local favorites that “seep out” when you spend time there. “The natives know things outside the envelope of Wintergreen that may be happening in Nellysford or elsewhere in Nelson, such as an event at a local vineyard.”

For Hess, Wintergreen’s best-kept secrets are its natural features. “There’s a magnificent waterfall in Stoney Creek that cascades over the rocks. There’s another stream called Paul’s Creek that has its own waterslide down into the creek.”

Wintergreen of the Future

Looking ahead, Hess says the area around Wintergreen will become more of a town.

“We’re starting to see that now with the advent of Devil’s Backbone and that commercial area there. There is a very strong local food movement here in Nelson County. We started a farmer’s market in 1998, and now it’s the largest in Central Virginia. Because of that, there are potential opportunities for a bakery or a possible local butcher shop that provides meats direct from the farmers. We also are a growing artist community. The wineries in Nelson County are burgeoning and adding a whole new layer to the Wintergreen experience for people who visit here.”