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Massanutten Resort
Massanutten Resort is located in Massanutten, Virginia, just outside of Harrisonburg in Rockingham County. Massanutten Resort is on a mountain in Virginia with an elevation of 2,922 ft. with a total of 5,200 acres. The mountain is s part of the Ridge-And-Valley Appalachians. It runs 50 miles long, and 6 miles wide. According to the 2012 census, Massanutten Mountain is also home to 2,291 people.

John L. Hopkins II is initially responsible for turning Massanutten into a resort, but it was his great-grandfather that first had the idea. The mountain was turned into a health resort in 1875 by Gerard T. Hopkins, which he would call Rockingham Springs. Rockingham Springs had natural restorative spring waters that flowed from the five springs located on the property that we now know as Massanutten Resort. The small health resort could only accommodate around 100 guests. Before the resort became how we know it now, guests came to enjoy activities such as jousting, hunting, fishing, live music, croquet, hiking, horseback riding, and the healing springs.

After about 40 years, Rockingham Springs would close due to lack of business. The hotel was torn down and all but 300 acres of the total 5,200 were sold. About a hundred years later, Gerard T. Hopkin’s son envisioned Massanutten and all its potential, and worked hard to acquire the land of the Massanutten Peak, which at one point had previously belonged to his family. Hopkins was able to eventually purchase the land (approximately 5,339 acres) of land which is modernly known as Massanutten Resort in Virginia. Since then, Massanutten Resort has experienced highs and lows, even going bankrupt at one point. Since then, the resort has been able to recover and run a successful business offering a variety of activities for residents of the mountain, locals in the area, and tourists. Great Eastern Resorts purchases Massanutten Resort and the resort underwent renovations, additions, and now sees great improvements for guests and employees.

In 1971, the Massanutten Mountain ski lodge and four-season resort village was established near the southern peak. Different hiking trails are located throughout the mountain and are maintained by The Potomac Appalachian Trail Club, The USDA Forest Service, Potomac Appalachian Trail Club (PATC), Mid-Atlantic Off-Road Enthusiasts (mountain bikers), Virginia Happy Trails Running Club, and Old Dominion 100-Mile Ride Club. The most popular trail hiked on the mountain is the Massanutten Trail. Massanutten Resort was purchased by Great Eastern Resorts in 1995 and has doubled in size since. The resort now offers skiing, snowboarding, snow tubing, outdoor ice skating, a family outdoor adventure park, go-karting, a waterpark, zip lining, dining, golf, live music events, road biking and mountain biking, tennis, spas, shopping, timeshare options, lodging, and much more. Massanutten houses close to a million visitors each year.

Massanutten Resort is now run by over 1,500 employees, and operates 365 days a year. Recently, Massanutten Resort has evolved to being 100 percent employee owned. The remaining stock of the company was purchased by its employees in January 2016.