01/11/2026
🍁🏔️ Mountain Lake Lodge – Pembroke, Virginia
During our recent road trip through Virginia and North Carolina, we had the opportunity to spend the night at the historic Mountain Lake Lodge, nestled high in the mountains of southwestern Virginia.
The history of this beautiful resort dates back to the 1800s, when the property served as a stagecoach stop for travelers. The original inn opened in 1851, and the impressive stone lodge that stands today was constructed in 1936 using native sandstone.
But what really put Mountain Lake Lodge on the map was the iconic 1987 movie Dirty Dancing, starring Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey. Much of the movie was filmed here in 1986, with the resort serving as the fictional Kellerman's Mountain Resort. Many of the buildings and locations featured in the film can still be seen today.
Another interesting piece of history is the natural mountain lake that gave the resort its name. Formed approximately 6,000 years ago, the lake is a geological rarity. Due to natural openings in the lakebed and changing water conditions, it has periodically drained and refilled over the years. The lake that appeared in Dirty Dancing is now largely absent.
Today, the lodge sits within a beautiful 2,600-acre mountain preserve, surrounded by miles of hiking trails, incredible scenery, and winding mountain roads.
We couldn't have picked a better time to visit. The fall foliage was beautiful, and I couldn't resist putting the drone up to capture this panoramic view of the property and surrounding mountains.
A beautiful place with some fascinating history, and another memorable stop on our road trip!
📸🚁 Northeast Ohio Drone
