Princeton Class of 1969 Mini-Reunion

Wintergreen Resort, Virginia

October 11-14, 2012

Schedule and Optional Activities

Here is the schedule for our mini-reunion in October.  Web links are provided for the resort, all the historic venues we will be visiting and for the most highly recommended optional activities on Sunday (or Monday if you want to stay even longer).

Thursday October 11

Arrive at Wintergreen Resort.  Check in at the Mountain Inn in Mountain Village.  Click here for a map of the entire mountain resort area.  Click here for a more detailed map of Mountain Village.

7:00 pm – Welcome reception – heavy hors d’oeuvres and cash bar in the Gristmill Lounge, adjacent to the check-in area.

Dinner on your own.   If you're still hungry after the reception, click here for the three dining options on the mountain.  Reservations are recommended at the Coppermine Bistro (casual, in the Mountain Inn complex) and Devil’s Grill (more upscale, at the Devil’s Knob Clubhouse). The Edge (in the Skyline Pavilion adjacent to the Mountain Inn) is even more casual and does not take reservations.

Friday October 12 – Intellectual Leader, John Stagg *73, Editor of The Madison Papers

            7:45 am – assemble in the Spa parking lot to board buses.  Depart for Montpelier at 8:00 am.

            9:00 am – 12:30 pm – Montpelier private tours and Expert Experiences.  A fascinating morning at the lifetime residence of James and Dolley Madison which is nearing completion of a 25-year restoration program.  The four Expert Experiences include Restoration, Archaeology, Curatorial and Origins of the Constitution, or you can choose to spend time on self-guided exploration of the grounds and gardens, including Gilmore Cabin and a Civil War-themed trail.  Further details are on the final payments instruction page.  Be sure to indicate your choice when you pay your balance due.

            12:30 pm – Box lunches on the Montpelier grounds.

            2:00 pm – Board buses, depart for Ash Lawn/Highland.

Saturday October 13 – Intellectual Leader, Jefferson Looney *83, Editor of The Jefferson Retirement Papers

            7:45 am – assemble in the Spa parking lot to board buses.  Depart for Monticello at 8:00 am.

            9:00 am – 12:30 pm – Monticello.  Small group tours of Thomas Jefferson’s architecturally unique principal home.  Self-guided exploration of the grounds.

            12:30 pm – Boxed lunches on the Monticello grounds.  Lunch remarks by Dr. Jeff Looney – Jefferson in Retirement.

            2:00 pm – Board buses, depart for Poplar Forest. 

            3:30-5:30 -- Poplar Forest, Jefferson’s retreat, considered by many his most perfectly designed and executed work of architecture.  Like Montpelier, nearing completion of a 25-year restoration program.

            5:30 pm – Board buses for Devil’s Backbone.  Note: we will not return to Wintergreen prior to the Oktoberfest.

            6:30 pm – Oktoberfest and dinner at Devil’s Backbone Brewing Company, courtesy of Rod and Martha Ferguson.  Sample some of the unique and wildly popular craft brews in a cozy pub environment.  Buses will take us back to Wintergreen at the end of the evening.

Sunday October 14 – Check-out time at Wintergreen is 11:00 am.  Free baggage check service is available at the check-out desk.

9:30 am – Nature hike with ecologist/geologist Chip Morgan.  Departure point to be announced.  No cost.  Pre-registration requested on the Class website when you pay your balance due.  If you just want to walk the trails on your own you can do that, too.  Everything is well-marked.

10:00 am – 9 holes of golf at Devil’s Knob, the scenic mountain course in the heart of Wintergreen.  Green fee $49 (including carts); club rental $55.  Sign up on the Class website when you pay your balance due.  Pay when you play.

Suggestions for further Sunday adventures, all requiring a car.

            Scenic drive through the fall colors along the Blue Ridge Parkway.

            Visit to The Natural Bridge.

            Visit to the Frontier Culture Museum in Staunton.

            The 22nd Annual Virginia Wine and Garlic Festival at Rebec Vineyards in Amherst.

            The Crozet Arts and Crafts Fall Festival in Crozet.

A final note on photos

We are building a great photo library on the Class website of all Class events.  If you take photos, select your best 15 or 20 to share.  While some scenes are irresistible, the best pictures for the site will focus on classmates and spouses in the context of the mini-reunion and the historic venues we visit.  Webmaster Jeff will set up a DropBox folder and distribute instructions for uploading after the event.