Support Rockledge--an Exciting Future for Mill Mtn!

We the undersigned ask you to support the creation of a community structure on Mill Mountain, called Rockledge.
Imagine ...

A North Carolina family excitedly pulling off the Parkway to have lunch at the Mill Mountain café they have heard so much about.  An early morning hike up Mill Mountain rewarded by an hour of private relaxation on an outdoor patio with a cup of fragrant coffee.  Lifelong friends playing a bridge game before an unforgettable dinner in a restaurant that is casual, yet sophisticated.   A delegation of investors being given a convincing presentation about the Roanoke Valley while taking in a breathtaking view of our region.  Your daughter%u2019s wedding reception on the terrace, with friends and family gathering along by an unparalleled vista of mountains and valleys.  A group of excited schoolchildren heading out for a nature walk with their teacher, after a fascinating presentation on Mill Mountain%u2019s native creatures and plant life. 

With the creation of a reception and dining center on Mill Mountain, all of these images%u2013and more%u2014will become be a reality.  By enhancing a much-loved, but sorely underutilized community asset, Mill Mountain can once again become a key economic and cultural amenity to our community.    Valley Forward proposes that such a facility be realized on Mill Mountain to promote and foster regional economic development. This concept is the result of hundreds of hours of thought and study by unpaid community members about reinterpreting the old Rockledge Inn, which once stood atop the Mountain. 

Rockledge will have a strong affinity with the mountainside, allowing the Star to shine without competition. The sloping site will be respected through the creation of a dignified yet modest building with low pitches, cedar columns and siding, stone chimneys and retaining walls and gently curved clerestory windows to frame the sky and bring light deep into the building. Approach from the parking area will lead across a simple stone and cedar bridge to the main level. The bridge creates a transition into the tranquil mountainside and allows for green landscaping all around the building. A deep shady porch, recalling the old Inn, will provide area for dining and gathering at two levels with an additional sunny stone belvedere for dramatic photo opportunities.

Inside, the expansive dining and meeting rooms, bar and lower level coffee shop and snack bar will serve a wide variety of visitors and gathering types. Picnickers, hikers and bikers will have a cool, shady place to refresh themselves with delectable casual fare at the lower level which connects to the %u2018lower trail,%u2019 while weddings and holiday celebrations can take place at the upper level with easy access to parking areas along gently sloped walkways to accommodate all ages and levels of mobility.

The Benefits:

1.  An environmentally responsible structure that blends in with the existing scenery, while also providing the public a place to gather and enjoy

2.  A strong %u201Cquality of life%u201D attraction to potential residents and businesses

3.  A boost to local, state, and regional tourism by enhancing existing assets on the Mountain and creating a new venue for visitors to the area

4.  A source of community pride and identity along the Blue Ridge Parkway

5.  Financial support for Mill Mountain Zoo and other Mountain enhancements

We thank you for your support of an exciting future for Mill Mountain!