Shadow Mountain Escape

We love this place. Shadow Mountain Escape is a very special place for me and my husband. We discovered SME back in 2018 at the recommendation of a friend and after a personal loss. We have been back another 4 times since (for a total of 5). We usually start planning our trip out to SME at least a couple of months in advance (Which hikes will we do in the Shenandoah Forest this time? What meals will we prepare in our cabin? Which breweries/wineries/distilleries will we visit along the Blue Ridge Whiskey Wine Loop? Which local towns will we explore? ) On the actual day that we head out to SME, we take the backroads out of the busy Northern Virgina area and then less than two hours later, we have been transported into another world. Woods, trees, mountains, fresh air….and the beautiful land and cabins at SME. We have stayed in the Dragonfly, Bumblebee and Butterfly cabins. They are all wonderfully unique and beautiful…both structurally (architectural works of art) and decoratively (with European furnishings from Karen & Ralph’s travels). Delicious baked treats welcome us upon entry of our cabin. And if we arrive before dark, we might take a walk around the marked Nature Trail on the grounds and find solace and peace as we stand by the babbling stream. There are many reasons why SME is so special…the timber frame cabins are beautiful and stunning, the grounds are serene and pristine, we are minutes from the entry to Skyline drive and at the edge of the Shenandoah National Park. But what makes this place SO very special are the creators of this beautiful dream…the architects, the visionaries, the ideators, the dreamers that turned their dream into reality…Karen and Ralph. SME is clearly a labor of their love, and that shines through every corner of this beautiful place. I am grateful to Karen & Ralph for building their dream and as a result, SME is something very special to our lives. Each time we go to SME, we feel like we are visiting old friends, family, home. Although we may only see Karen & Ralph a handful of times during our stay (such as welcoming us to SME upon our arrival…waving to us when we return to our cabin after a day of hiking…hearing of their travels while enjoying a glass of warm German spiced wine with roasted chestnuts and German baked goods in the glow of the amber of the fire in their beautiful stone courtyard during the Christmas season), their spirit and love are to be found everywhere at SME. Like I said…we love this place. It is an escape. And the difference between SME and other places is that there is a very real and beating heart at the center of this place. We will continue escaping to SME for as long as Karen & Ralph are there.