Improvements Being Made To Shenandoah National Park Facilities

Some major renovations have been under way at Shenandoah National Park in Virginia, where Delaware North Company has been getting after improvements the National Park Service sought in the current concessions contract that the company won in 2013.

Remodeled rooms at both the Skyland and Big Meadows lodges, new accessible paths, and renovated restrooms are among the projects the concessionaire has been tackling as required under their 10-year contract.

"We are delighted with the progress that Delaware North has made so far," said Shenandoah Superintendent Jim Northup. "All of this work will really enhance the visitor experience."

Facilities in the National Park System are constantly confronted with maintenance needs. Harsh weather, short seasons that leave little room for profit, and insufficient funding all can combine to stress and strain buildings.

In short, the weary state of some historic lodges in the system can be traced back to the National Park Service and to concessionaires and the folks they hire to manage these facilities.

In some cases, maintenance to-do items accrue as parks change concessionaires; the outgoing business might not have had the incentive to stay atop of deteriorating needs, and as a result the incoming concessionaire is handed a sometimes substantial construction punch list to tackle.

At Shenandoah, the two lodges -- Skyland and Big Meadows -- needed the TLC. When Delaware North took over from Aramark Leisure, the deferred maintenance punch list was staggering, running to 59 pages. Items needing attention range from pesky things like torn screens, missing hardware, and failing window caulk to more substantial projects that involve rotting porch rafters, corroded copper gutters, and detached chimney flashing. A 2012 stay at Big Meadows Lodge by Traveler Editor Kurt Repanshek was in a room with rusting light fixtures, cracked bathroom tiles with makeshift fixes, and poorly painted walls and ceilings.

According to park officials, Delaware North, a Buffalo New York-based company, has been making significant improvements. The park's 104 facilities, such as dining, lodging, gift shops, camp stores, a horseback riding stable, and a gas station, are all located along the Skyline Drive at the Elkwallow, Skyland, Big Meadows, Lewis Mountain, and Loft Mountain areas of the Park.

In the Skyland Resort area, 46 guest rooms were renovated –- including eight fully accessible rooms -- to also include accessible routes of travel between the rooms and the lower parking area. The check-in desk was renovated to allow for easier access for guests in wheelchairs. A number of the public restrooms at the facility were renovated and a "grab-and-go" counter was added to the lobby area for the convenience of guests just wanting a quick bite, or a lunch or snack for the trail. A youth crew –- Hands-On Preservation Experience -– rehabilitated the exterior of the Skyland Stables.

In Big Meadows Lodge, two fully accessible rooms and the public restrooms were renovated along with the shower, laundry, and restroom facilities at the Big Meadows Campground. The public restrooms at Big Meadows Wayside were renovated, and new gas pumps were installed, allowing for the purchase of diesel and for 24/7 pay-at-the-pump.

At Loft Mountain, the Wayside received a major exterior rehabilitation, including a new deck and new roof. The Loft Mountain Camp Store also received major updates with newly renovated showers, laundry, and public restrooms.

Continuing in 2015 and 2016, the Delaware North plans some improvements to additional facilities. These include:

* Complete renovation of the Big Meadows historic cottages;

* Upgrades to the Skyland Conference Center and the Big Meadows Lodge meeting room;

* New mattresses at all lodging facilities;

* New paint on the exterior of all Skyland and Big Meadows buildings;

* Newly replaced pathways at Skyland registration and dining areas for wheelchair accessibility;

* Night-sky compliant pathway lighting;

* New garbage and recycle containers, and;

* New water filling stations.

The park and Delaware North have also been working together to feature more local foods and products and a more varied and interesting menu for diners.

"We encourage park visitors to see and experience all these improvements," said Shenandoah Concessions Specialist Chad Tinney.

For futher reading: 

National Park Lodging: Who's Taking Care Of These Buildings? Part I

National Park Lodging: Who's Taking Care Of These Buildings? Part II