Mountain Lake Lodge, other photos by Victor Block unless otherwise noted
Is there anyone who doesn’t know "you don’t put Baby in a corner?" Even plenty of youngsters who weren´t born when Dirty Dancing was made still have a soft spot for this 1987 romantic drama. And of course its mystique also is being kept alive as a hit musical on London´s West End, with a Broadway version expected later this year. So imagine revisiting this iconic flick at its original locale - and seeing with your own eyes the site where Baby (Jennifer Grey) and Johnny (Patrick Swayze) practiced “the lift” – possibly the most famous dance routine ending ever? Welcome to Mountain Lake Lodge, in the Blue Ridge Mountains of southwest Virginia, an hour west of Roanoke, standing in for the fictional "Kellerman´s Mountain House" in the Catskills Mountains of Upstate New York.
In case you’re one of the few who is unfamiliar with the cult classic, go stream it now. Right now, I’ll wait. Because this is just an adventure that is too much fun to miss out on! And that includes the sound track that seems to embed in the ear – from "Hungry Eyes" to "Big Girls Don’t Cry" and "Will You Love Me Tomorrow" to the indelible "Time of My Life."
Yes, you can go on a theme weekend and experience the movie from start to finish including dance lessons, trivia contests, costume parties, scavenger hunts and multiple viewings of the film. The lodge looms as large in real life as it does in the movie, and the resort itself promotes an immersive connection to the film. Having viewed the movie once again before arriving, we looked for many of the film’s key locales and couldn’t help but feel an immediate attachment not usually associated with other hotel stays.
Signs everywhere designate important locations – the gazebo where Penny gave dance lessons (above); Baby’s cabin, where the Houseman family resided; the lake where Johnny and Baby practiced “the lift.” Dirty Dancing permeates the grounds – and once the guests arrive – seniors, couples, mothers, daughters, sisters, girlfriends on a weekend getaway – many in a variety of DD t-shirts -- electricity abounds. Apparently, no age group is immune to the long-term appeal of the film.
Now I’ve seen the movie a couple of times but am anything but a devotee so I was unfamiliar with all the references to “I carried a watermelon.” Apparently, this was the first thing Baby said to Johnny and immediately berated herself for it. The meme was everywhere.
Want to rent Baby’s cabin? No problem - just be prepared to book a year or more in advance (and do try to leave everything in its place). The resort manager told me that guests kept stealing the plaque denoting Room 232 in the main lodge, the one Swayze stayed in during filming. Other lodging options include charming cottages dating back to the 1920s.
First night – costume and dance party. Lots of Babys of course, a bunch of Pennys, a few Lisas (Baby’s sister), a couple of villainous Vivians and, you guessed it, a number of watermelons. And a surprising number of Johnnys of all ages – none of them exactly channeling Patrick Swayze, but several sporting some impressive dance moves. He would have been proud! And all are so immersed in their individual characters. Are you with me yet?
Rita Lockton from North Dakota was here celebrating her 20th anniversary. “When I was a kid my folks told me it was an R-rated film, so my cousins and I snuck around to watch it all the time. I’ve been fascinated by it ever since and have always wanted to come here. I’m so excited and I haven’t even experienced anything yet!” [Editor´s note: the film´s rating is PG-13] Lots of revelers shared that sentiment.
Next day there’s a trivia contest, of course. An auditorium packed with Dirty Dancing aficionados. A round of 50 very detailed questions requiring an encyclopedic knowledge of the film, with the soundtrack playing in the background. The license plate number of Johnny’s car as he drove off? Seriously? Most of these folk had probably seen the film dozens of times but the plate number must have been there two seconds max. Still, easy peasy. I guessed at maybe five or six correctly. The winning couple correctly answered almost all.
Then the scavenger hunt took the 200 DD devotees all around the resort clicking pictures to prove their righteous reconnaissance. And off to claim their prizes at the resort´s gift shop (above), devoted to all things Baby and Johnny, from clothing and posters to gifts and books, both written by and about the protagonists. If it has anything to do with the movie, it’s there. And as a change of pace after scavenging, what more appropriate option than some salsa and meringue lessons from a modern-day Penny.
But before I left, I slipped in for one more replaying of the movie and practically shouted throughout: “There’s a trivia answer; there’s a trivia answer!” There was a noticeable gasp as everyone in the theater particularly noted Johnny’s license plate number.
For those of you who don’t care whether Baby is put into a corner or anywhere else for that matter, there are all kinds of activities that any rural, non-luxury family resort might offer to guests whether on a theme weekend or not: a heated outdoor pool, miles of hiking trails, a ropes course and zip lines; ATV tours, clay shooting, escape rooms, bubble balls, arts studio and more. Plus the property is pet-friendly. Eating options include the farm-to-table Harvest, Stony Creek Tavern, Salt Pond Pub, and Mary´s Market & Café. And if you really want the full DD experience, the annual Dirty Dancing Summer Festival is being held this year on August 16. Rooms are available from the low $200s.
Bottom line: here at Mountain Lake Lodge you will indeed have "the time of your life!"
(P.S. Dirty Dancing 2 is in the works, and may even be out this summer, produced by and also starring Jennifer Grey while introducing a new young couple – and filmed, of course, at "Kellerman’s." Stay tuned!)
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