Mountain Lake Lodge, Site of Original 'Dirty Dancing' Movie, Awarded Hotel and Hotelier of the Year, Capping Extraordinary Turnaround for Once Forgotten Treasure

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Oct 23, 2018, 05:00 ET

PEMBROKE, Va., Oct. 23, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Mountain Lake Lodge, located in Pembroke, Virginia, where the cult classic Dirty Dancing was filmed more than 30 years ago, has been named Hotel of the Year by the Virginia Restaurant, Lodging & Travel Association (VRLTA) which annually recognizes the best among Virginia's hospitality and tourism industry. In addition, Mountain Lake's General Manager, Heidi Stone, has been named Hotelier of the Year.

Said Betty Massey, Executive Director of the Mary Moody Northen Endowment, the private foundation that owns the property, "Mountain Lake Lodge began its amazing turnaround seven years ago. This is a real comeback story where Heidi Stone and her hard working team, along with our Board of Directors, have transformed Mountain Lake into Virginia's Hotel of the Year."

According to Board Member Bob Donovan, who nominated Stone for Hotelier of the Year, "Mountain Lake Lodge would not exist today if it weren't for Heidi Stone. When I first visited in 2011, it was rundown, empty, dying, stale and neglected. The Endowment was seriously considering closing the property and not sure we could save this worn out gem. So we hired a true visionary whose tenacity, insight and passion not only saved Mountain Lake but made it a thriving and successful resort."

The historic hotel, dubbed the "Miracle on the Mountain" after its extraordinary rebirth and multimillion-dollar renovation, successfully mixes modern amenities with nostalgia. Mountain Lake attracts guests worldwide who come to experience special themed 'Weekends at Kellermans". Here, they are immersed in activities inspired by the iconic movie, from guided tours of Dirty Dancing filming locations, to dance lessons and grand dance parties, lawn games, scavenger hunts and trivia, and a screening of the original film.

Under Stone's leadership, occupancy has soared. With more than 100 staff, Mountain Lake hosts some 200 meetings, team-building events and weddings each year, and guests and corporate groups enjoy numerous recreational activities including the unique Treetops Adventures Aerial Ropes Course.

Mountain Lake Lodge – which also earned TripAdvisor's Award of Excellence in 2016 and 2017 – is located in Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains, part of the Appalachian Mountain Range and center of a 2,600-acre nature preserve protected by Mountain Lake Conservancy, a non-profit organization founded in 1989. It features 96 accommodations including rooms, cottages and mountain homes. For reservations, visit www.mtnlakelodge.com.

CONTACT: Barbara Fischhof, 404-314-9410

SOURCE Mountain Lake Lodge