Wintergreen spills down the slopes of Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains roughly 45 miles west of Charlottesville. A master-planned private resort, it begins 3,800 feet above sea level at Devil's Knob, where it overlooks the Shenandoah Valley, and ends in the valley of the Rockfish River. Altogether it covers 11,000 acres, 60 percent of which remains forested in evergreens, towering oaks, and other hardwoods. The forest also hold 13 species of orchids and one ancient fern bed estimated to be 1,000 years old. Some 30 miles of marked hiking trails thread through the property, with connections to one of the most scenic stretches of the Appalachian Trail.

Ecologically sensitive, Wintergreen has long followed a philosophy of preserving as much of the natural environment as possible while still carving out space for homes, condos, golf courses, tennis courts, and ski runs. Concentrating the lodging along the ridge tops at Devil's Knob meant they could leave substantial tracts of forest undisturbed, and the construction that did take place adopted the colors of the earth, rocks, and trees in order to blend with the surroundings. There are thousands of condos and homes scattered through the property, but their very unobtrusiveness would lead you to guess far fewer. Deed covenants ensure that that will never change, and so does the fact that the resort is owned not by a corporation but by the property owners themselves, who don't want to see the value of their investments undermined by the continual addition of new housing stock.

Overview

Its physical beauty aside, one reason to choose Wintergreen, especially in the summer, is that temperatures at Devil's Knob are typically 10 to 15 degrees cooler than those in the surrounding lowlands. Many of the second home owners come from Washington, D.C., Richmond, and other nearby cities seeking relief from the summer swelter. And it's no accident, therefore, that the largest of the resort's tennis complexes drapes across a ridge at the top of the mountains.

Tennis Features

Pro Shop: 434-325-8235

There are two tennis complexes at Wintergreen: a small four-court (all clay) facility at Stoney Creek next to the golf clubhouse and the main 18-court complex at Devil's Knob. The latter consists of 15 clay courts laid out among the evergreens and hardwoods near the top of a ridge and three hard courts beneath a tent-like pavilion. Devil's Knob has a full-service pro shop, and its location puts it just down the road from the Wintergreen Spa and Aquatics & Fitness Center. (Wintergreen also owns the two hard courts and pool at Rodes Farm, down in the valley, an otherwise independently managed inn and restaurant with cabins and stables.)

The current tennis director, Thomas Johnston, took over in December 1999 and has expanded on the program of tennis academies already in place. Offered on weekends throughout much of the year, these clinics have become increasingly popular, especially with teams, in part because of their emphasis on doubles. Johnston, who has a Master's in sports psychology, added a mental toughness component and is now working to expand the offerings to junior players. He continued to support the round robins (which typically follow a clinic) as easy ways to meet other players and to schedule one or two exhibitions per month during the busy May to September season. The result is that from the time the snow melts in March or April until beyond the fall foliage season in October, these courts are a haven for avid players.

Tennis Staff. Tennis director Thomas Johnston played junior tennis in Texas, was a Division III All American in southern California, went on to the satellite circuit and then settled into coaching, first at Pomona/Pitzer in southern California, and then at the University of Virginia at Charlottesville. He's backed by a strong staff, among them George Elias, a veteran pro who has coached numerous regionally and nationally ranked juniors in his 25 years of teaching.
Tennis Programs. The tennis academy programs at Wintergreen run two, three, or four days, some midweek, others over weekends. These run from May to the end of October (and selectively during the off season). Sessions average 3 to 4 hours a day and include intensive drilling and supervised match play, much of it doubles.
The academy aside, the resort offers hour-long adult and junior clinics almost daily, including once a week "sweaty tennis" workouts, which are their version of Cardio tennis. Most of those clinics are followed by a well attended, 90-minute round robin. Beyond that there are private lessons, game matching, and occasional exhibitions.
Courts Fees. Outdoors: $12/day midweek (free to registered guests); $16/day, weekends and holidays. Indoors: $36/hour.

Your Call

Here's what others have had to say about Wintergreen Resort and Wintergreen Tennis Academy.

• "Exceptional teaching by friendly, encouraging and enthusiastic staff. Flexibility to accomodate bad spring weather conditions and players varying abilities. Many outdoor hard-tru courts, but unplayable due to heavy storm conditions, and play limited to only 3 indoor courts. In addition to skill training, instruction on court positioning, strategy and conditioning."—R.G., Adv. Int., May 2008

• "Wintergreen Tennis has something for everybody, even outsiders like me. I play in a men's doubles league year round, and have the opportunity to attend clinics and get lessons from the club pros any time I want to for a reasonable fee. The courts are always in top shape and the staff is always cordial and obliging. I get my racquets restrung there and the service is fast and well done."—G.S., Adv. Int., May 2008

• "My wife Traci & I just spent a three day weekend & Wintergreen and attended the tennis camp. Thomas, Jon, & Jeff provided some good tips for our tennis game and made it fun in the process. They didn't try and change too much with our tennis game knowing that we are pretty advanced players 4.0/4.5. They focus on some of the little things that we needed to be aware of to get our game to the next level.
  The drills were fast pace but not too fast. Things that I would suggest to improve the tennis camp would be a speed gun to clock servers & strokes. Video taping of serves, strokes, volley, overheads pointing out what can be done to improve your game with a CD copy to take home. All in all it was a great tennis weekend & I would recommend it to my friends."—J.K., Adv., May 2008

• "Staff was fun, friendly and very knowledgeable; helpful at pointing out small changes that would help improve my game. The weekend was a very enjoyable experience."—D.P., Adv. Int., May 2008

• "Staff was fun, friendly and very knowledgeable; helpful at pointing out small changes that would help improve my game. The weekend was a very enjoyable experience."—D.P., Adv. Int., May 2008

• "After visiting Wintergreen and playing tennis on several occasions, my husband and I decided to buy a vacation home there. We've had our place for two years now and use the tennis facility several times a month. Our daughter trained at Wintergreen to help prepare her for college tennis - needless to say, our entire family has taken advantage of this superb facility. The staff is tremendous - highly skilled as well as extremely personable and professional."—J.H., Adv. Int., May 2008

• ""—B.C., Adv., May 2008

• ""—J.F., Adv. Int., April 2008

• "The pros were enthusiastic, fun, and knowledgeable. Our whole USTA team went and they really listened to what we wanted to work on and tailored the clinics to our needs. They kept the drills moving, too, so there was no standing around. The resort is in a beautiful, mountain setting. It had a nice spa, a golf course, fitness center, and at least one restaurant, although our group stayed in a family home and cooked. Probably not a real action packed place for someone who wants to go out and dance or bar hop."—S.M., Adv. Int., April 2008

• "Heaven is Har-Tru tennis in the Blue Ridge mounains of Virginia. Expert coaching, top flight facilities, and some of the most beautiful scenery on the East coast combine into one of the best tennis vacations possible."—R.L., Adv., April 2008

• "This is a wonderful resort with a very fine tennis program. The staff is outstanding, especially the head of tennis. All the pros are very talented and create an enthusiasm among the guests. Highly recommended."—C.H., Adv. Int., April 2008

• "Great mountaintop (at 3600 feet) and valley golf and tennis, great hiking (AT runs through the Resort), superb restaurants, great skiing. Just a wonderful setting. Weakness: None."—L.L., Beg., April 2008

Other Recreation

Golf Courses. Wintergreen has two distinctively different golf courses: one at the top of the mountains at Devil's Knob, the other in the valley below along Stoney Creek. It also has a golf academy.

Devil's Knob Course: Designed by Ellis Maples, a native of Pinehurst, North Carolina, this challenging 18-hole course follows the surprisingly flat ridges at the top of the mountain. At 3,850 feet it is the highest in the state, with 40 to 50 miles views of the Shenandoah and Rockfish Valleys. That elevation means summer temperatures are cooler than in the valley below but also limit its season to April through November. Par: 70. Length: 5,101-6,300 yards.
Stoney Creek Course: Unlike Devil's knob, which is seasonal, this 27-hole championship course remains open year-round. Rees Jones designed the original 18 holes (the Monocan and Shamokin nines), giving them roomy fairways that meander along the valley floor and feature bold mounding like that found on many British courses. He returned 10 years later to add the Tuckahoe 9, which opened in 1998. He laid it out over the hills and through woods, skirting meadows and preserved wetlands. Water hazards are plentiful and so are his trademark moundings. Par: 72. Length: 5,500-7,005 yards.

Spa & Fitness Center. The Wintergarden Spa and Fitness Center stands just up the road from the Devil's Knob tennis center. Recently redone, it has indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a sauna, a workout room with windows on the indoor pool, and a spa with 11 rooms for massages and beauty treatments. There is another small fitness center and pool at the golf clubhouse adjacent to the four clay courts in the valley at Stoney Creek.

Out of Bounds Adventure Center. Relocated to Discovery Ridge, the Out of Bounds Adventure Center is a multi-use recreation site with a 25-foot rock-climbing tower, a bungee-trampoline, paintball team competitions and target shooting, a miniature golf course landscaped with hardwood trees and shrubs, a skate park,

And ... Some 30 miles of nature trails wind through the resort, connecting at the top with the Appalachian Trail. Mountain bikes can be rented at the Adventure Center for the 7.2 mile descent to the valley floor or take the challenge of the obstacles at the free-ride center. Down in the valley, there is a 20-acre Lake Monocan stocked with bass and pan fish. The lake also has a dock with canoes and paddleboats, picnic areas, volleyball, and a beach of sorts. Rodes Farm at Stoney Creek, while independent of the resort, has a complete English-oriented equestrian center.

Children's Programs

The resort runs highly regarded adventurous summer children's programs for those ages 2½ to 14. During the height of summer, there is also the option for 6 to 12 year olds of a Friday and Saturday evening program in summer so parents can have their own weekend evening out and a midweek overnight campout.

Lodging

Lodging at Wintergreen ranges from studios and lodge rooms to seven-bedroom homes.

Restaurants

There are four restaurants at Wintergreen, three at the top of the mountain, a fourth at the golf clubhouse in Stoney Creek.

See Also

Among the other inland tennis resorts with the Wintergreen's style and programs are:

• Bridges Family Resort & Tennis Club, Vermont
• Northstar-at-Tahoe, California
• Stratton Mountain Resort, Vermont
• Sunriver Lodge & Resort, Oregon

For something similar but with a beach, consider:

• Amelia Island Plantation, Florida
• Kiawah Island Golf Resort, South Carolina
• Litchfield Beach & Golf Resort, South Carolina
• Sea Pines Resort, South Carolina
• Wild Dunes, South Carolina

Travel Essentials

Seasons. That elevation means that temperatures at the main Devil's Knob tennis courts are typically 10 to 15 degrees cooler than on the valley floor below, and that helps to make Wintergreen a popular summer weekend getaway for lowlanders in places like Washington, DC, and eastern Virginia. Spring and early summer bring a spectacular display of wildflowers, autumn a blaze of fall colors.

Wintergreen Resort
P.O. Box 706
Wintergreen, VA 22958
434-325-2200
Toll-free: 800-266-2444
Fax: 434-325-8001
Web Link: Wintergreen Resort

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Travel Instructions. By Air: The Charlottesville/Albemarle Airport is 44 miles from Wintergreen. It has daily service from Colgan Air, Comair (a Delta Connection), Continental Express/Continental Airlines, United Express, and USAir/USAir Express. From the airport, proceed through the first stop sign to the first stop light. Turn right onto Hwy. 29 South for 6 miles to the Route 250 west bypass exit. Continue for 4½ miles, exiting on I-64 west (to Staunton) and driving another 10 miles to Exit 107 Crozet, Rte. 250. Follow 250 west for 5 miles to Rte. 151 South, turn left and continue for 14.2 miles to Route 664. Turn right and proceed 4½ miles to the Wintergreen entrance. By Car: Wintergreen can be reached from the north and south on I-81, the Blue Ridge Parkway, or Rt. 29, and from the east and west on I-64 (take the exit for Rt. 250). Ask the resort for specific directions depending on your approach.

General Tourist Information. Among the local attractions are Thomas Jefferson's Monticello, James Monroe's Ash Lawn-Highland, and the Historic Michie Tavern, where you can have lunch. For more information about these and other local sites, visit the Charlottesville/Albemarle Convention & Visitors Bureau web site or contact them at P.O. Box 178, Charlottesville, VA 22902. Phone: 804-977-1783.

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