THE TOWN OF LURAY

Situated in the Shenandoah Valley, Luray, founded in 1812, is the county seat of Page County, Virginia. The town is home to approximately 5,000. Though it is a small town seeded in tradition and community, the people of Luray are forward-thinkers with businesses and ideas that keep improvements and enhancements in place for the town. Luray offers residents and visitors a unique view of both Virginia's delicately-preserved past and our commitment to a progressive future. Luray Downtown is home to the overwhelming majority of our town's cherished historical sites and points of interest. From countless Civil War-era landmarks to restored properties dating back to the 1700s, to quaint shops, charming bed and breakfasts, and unique restaurants and cafes, Luray has something for everyone. It's easy to spend part of a day sightseeing among the monuments and murals, art galleries and along the Luray-Hawksbill Greenway, which defines the relaxed character of Luray Downtown. www.luraydowntown.com

SHENANDOAH NATIONAL PARK AND SKYLINE DRIVE

A short drive transforms a pastoral valley into a 300-square-mile wilderness playground in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah National Park. Nine miles from Luray Caverns, the central entrance to Skyline Drive and Shenandoah National Park is located at Thornton Gap. Along the central section of Skyline Drive, between U.S. 211 and U.S. 33, are the main visitor facilities and the park's highest elevations. One hundred and five miles of serpentine highway wind along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains, among 60 mountain peaks and 75 overlooks affording breathtaking views. The intrepid traveler can enjoy miles of hiking trails that encounter pristine waterfalls and ascend to ancient granite summits. The forested hills, hollows and slopes are home to a large population of North American black bear, while flowered meadows attract grazing Virginia whitetail deer. Shenandoah is a sanctuary for more than 100 varieties of trees, 1,100 flowering plants, 200 species of birds and 43 species of mammals.

NEW MARKET BATTLEFIELD

Never before, or since, has a college student body been called into pitched battle as were the VMI Cadets on May 15, 1864. The Hall of Valor is a monument to those cadets and the American Civil War soldiers who showed courage and discipline in one of the war's most poignant episodes, the Battle of New Market. Two award-winning films, one on the battle, the other on "Stonewall" Jackson's famed 1862 Shenandoah Valley Campaign, are presented in a 125-seat theater. Colorful dioramas emphasize incredible acts of endurance and resilience demonstrated by soldiers both North and South. Others experienced the war as well. Jacob and Sarah Bushong worked their family farm for 30 years before war turned their orchard into a battlefield and their home into a hospital. Today, the original farmstead reveals how this quiet community was changed by conflict. Restored wheelwright and blacksmith shops, a loom house, and summer kitchen convey 19th century pursuits on this typical valley farm. Scenic pathways lead to the "Field of Lost Shoes" and the high bluffs 200 feet above the graceful Shenandoah River.

MONTICELLO

An architectural masterpiece, Thomas Jefferson's Monticello gives testimony to its creator's ingenuity and breadth of interests. Located on a mountaintop in Albemarle County, the house commands a view of the rolling Virginia countryside that Jefferson so dearly loved. It was here that he retreated from the pressures of public office, having served as governor of Virginia, minister to the court of Louis XVI of France, secretary of state, vice president, and ultimately the third president of the United States. Architecture endured as one of Jefferson's chief delights. The house was built and subsequently remodeled over a period of 40 years, reflecting the pleasure he found in, "Putting up and pulling down." Throughout are reminders of Jefferson's thoughtful mind and keen interest in the scientific, including an entrance hall that functioned as a museum for fossils, a buffalo head, elk antlers, and a seven-day clock, which indicated the day in addition to the hour. No other house in America so accurately conveys the personality of its owner. Today, the architectural masterpiece is the only house in the United States on the United Nations' prestigious World Heritage List of International Treasures.

GEORGE WASHINGTON NATIONAL FOREST

The recreation program in George Washington Forest offers one of the greatest concentrations of recreation opportunities in the country. Extending across the entire western part of Virginia and the eastern part of West Virginia, the forest is the largest publicly-owned land-base for recreation in the eastern United States. Developed recreation opportunities are offered at over 100 sites in the forest. These opportunities vary from minimally-developed sites including picnic areas, scenic overlooks, observation points and small non-fee campgrounds, to highly developed recreation complexes, camping spurs with utility hookups and warm showers. Many of the developed recreation areas are open Memorial Day through Labor Day. Massanutten Visitors Center at New Market Gap on U.S. 211 west of Luray provides information on forest facilities.

THE SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS

www.southernhighlands.org
The Southern Highlands include 17 premier attractions located in the Appalachian Mountain areas of Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee and Georgia. The spectacular natural beauty of this southwest region is enhanced by the efforts of this exclusive membership. Consisting of the highest caliber of natural wonders, points of scenic and historic interest and entertainment, the Southern Highlands include:

Barter Theatre
Biltmore Estate
Chimney Rock Park
Christus Gardens
Gatlinburg Sky Lift
Grand Father Mountain
Great Smoky Mountains Railroad
Lookout Mountain Incline Railway
Luray Caverns
Museum of the Cherokee Indian
Natural Bridge
Nantahala Outdoor Center
Old Salem
Rock City
Ruby Falls
The Lost Sea
Tweetsie Railroad

LURAY CAVERNS AIRPORT

The Luray Caverns Airport (W45) located adjacent to Caverns Country Club Resort and Luray Caverns provides an “airfield for tourists” in its purest form. Located in the northern Shenandoah Valley between the Blue Ridge and Massanutten Mountains, the 3,100 foot, lighted runway lies outside of heavily- populated and industrialized areas. Airborne visitors come to this remote mountain region to enjoy picturesque flying opportunities, shrouded in a parade of colors during the changing seasons. Free courtesy transportation is provided to and from Luray Caverns, Caverns Country Club Resort and affiliated attractions, restaurants and motels. Rental cars may be arranged in advance.

Luray Caverns Airport (W45)
www.luraycavernsairport.com
Coordinates: 38* 40' 02” N-78* 30' 04” W
Elevations: 903'
Sectional Charts: Washington and Cincinnati
Traffic Pattern: 4 Left - 22 Right
Runway Dimensions: 4-22 / 3125' x 75' (Asphalt)
Unicom: 122.8
Fuel: 100LL
Telephone: 540 743 6070

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