SME Lakelife Issue 11 2022

DEVOTION

2022BEST OF SML WINNERS

YOUR GUIDE TO SMITH MOUNTAIN LAKE’S FAVORITES IN FOOD, SERVICE, REALTORS, SHOPPING AND MORE!

AGENT

Phyllis & Casey Johnson (Pg. 16 &17)

ALL-AROUND FOOD Napoli Cowboy

ASSISTED LIVING King’s Grant ATTORNEY Jim Gilbert

AUTOBODY SHOP TNT Autobody

AUTO SERVICE

Westlake Automotive (Inside Cover) BBQ Buddy’s BBQ

BED & BREAKFAST

Bedford Landings Bed & Breakfast

BOAT COVERS

Automatic Boat Covers (Pg. 46)

BOAT RENTAL

Bridgewater Marina BOAT SALES

Webster Marine (Pg. 7)

BOUTIQUE

J Bohn Bishop Mercantile

BRANDING AD

Phyllis & Casey Johnson (Pg. 16 &17)

BREAKFAST

Old Oak Cafe

CAR DEALERSHIP

Nelson Ford

CHIROPRACTOR

122 Chiropractic

CONSTRUCTION

F&S Building Innovations (Pg. 20)

CUSTOMER SERVICE

SML Hearing (Inside Back Cover)

DAY TRIP

SML Alpaca Farm

DENTIST

Dr. Bryan Sicher DESSERT Copper Kettle DOCTOR

Dr. Tara Stone Wickline

DOCTOR’S OFFICE Tara Wickline

ENTERTAINMENT

Christian Q. & The Groove EXTERMINATOR Four Seasons (Pg. 10)

EYE DOCTOR Eye Care & Surgery (Pg. 35)

FAMILY FUN Bridgewater Plaza FEED & TACK

Moneta Farm & Home Center (Pg. 24)

FLORIST

Antonina’s Florist

GARDEN SUPPLY Moneta Farm & Home Center (Pg. 24)

GIFT SHOP Gifts Ahoy

GIRLS DAY

Portside Grill & Bar

GOLF COURSE Mariners Landing GYM

LAT Wellness Studio

HAMBURGER

Napoli Cowboy HARDWARE

Capps Building Supply

HEARING AIDS

SML Hearing (Inside Back Cover)

HEARING AID SPECIALIST

Lisa McArdle, SML Hearing (Inside Back Cover)

HOSPITAL

Carilion Roanoke Memorial

ICE CREAM Homestead Creamery INSURANCE Phil Hager Insurance (Pg. 11)

INVESTMENT COMPANY Edward Jones

ITALIAN Joe’s Pizza

JEWELER Haywoods Jewelers

LAKE AMBASSADOR Amy Campbell LANDSCAPE Seven Oaks

LISTING AGENT Phyllis & Casey Johnson (Pg. 16 &17)

LOCAL EVENT SML Charity Home Tour

LOCAL MUSICIAN/BAND Christian Q. & The Groove

LOCALLY OWNED STORE SML Hearing (Inside Back Cover)

LONG TERM CARE FACILITY Kings Grant

MASSAGE THERAPIST Massage Works MEXICAN Cancun

MORTGAGE COMPANY Movement Mortgage

MOTORCYCLE / ATV SHOP

Top Gun

NEW RESTAURANT Wake Cafe

OUTDOOR ENTERTAINMENT Mangos

PEST CONTROL

M & L Pest Control

PIZZA

Joe’s Pizza

PLACE TO HEAR LIVE MUSIC Portside Grill & Bar

POOLS

National Pools

POWER SPORTS RENTALS Bridgewater Marina PUTT PUTT Hot Shots

QUICKEST SELLER Phyllis & Casey Johnson (Pg. 16 &17)

REAL ESTATE COMPANY RE/MAX Lakefront Realty (Pg. 16 &17)

SERVICE Copper Kettle SPA taiBella

TANNING SALON Tantastic

TAX SERVICE

H&R Block (Pg. 10)

TIRE SALES

Lakeside Tire (Pg. 24)

TOWING & RECOVERY SERVICE Sea Tow

VACATION RENTALS

Lake Retreat Properties, LLC (Pg. 3)

VIEW FOR DINNER Portside

YOGA STUDIO VitaZen (Pg. 25)

Enjoy a Sea-Doo GTI watercraft with style, fun, power & valuable features like Intelligent Brake, Reverse (iBR) and Light but Strong Polytec Hull Material. Compact and lightweight for better fuel economy for more time on the water and less time at the gas station. With crisp acceleration and an excellent power-to-weight ratio, the Sea-Doo GTI is perfect for everything from a short trip around the lake to a full day of family fun.

Since its beginning in 1977, Webster Marine has been a family owned and operated, full-service marine center on beautiful Smith Mountain Lake, VA. Boasting the largest inventory of deck boats, pontoons, and Sea-Doo watercraft in Southwest Virginia, Webster Marine offers new and pre-owned boat and Sea-Doo watercraft sales, as well as service, parts, accessories and slip rentals. Conveniently located next to Halesford Bridge, stop by and visit us today.

SMITH MOUNTAIN LAKE HIGHLIGHTS

On this page: 1) The Dudley Elementary Parent Teacher Organization hosted its biggest fundraiser of the year. The Color Fun Run was a huge success with 130 student runners plus their family and friends. “This event has certainly become a favorite for everyone at Dudley Elementary,” a press release stated. “The dedication and support from the Dudley teachers and staff, students and their families, and the community sponsors made this event successful.” Contributed photo. 2)The Virginia Dare’s Lighted Boat Parade took place Saturday, Nov. 5. Ray Lekich of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary was on the Coast Guard Auxiliary vessel and provided this photo of the parade. 3) The Smith Mountain Striper Club held a Boat & Tackle Show. The club thanked all members who attended, and especially those who brought their boats and gear: Paul Lautermilch, Sea Hunt BRBX22; Joe Wolfe, Hurricane FD2262 with Custom Enclosure; Don Hutchinson, Princecraft Superpro 176 with Garmin Livescope; Chad Gilmore, Sea Chaser 1800; Joel Janecek, Tracker Pro Guide v175; Ralph Merica, Carolina Skiff 22 with Livescope; and Jon Anderson, Hurricane 231. Contributed photo. 4) A preview was held at the Taubman Museum of Art. Entitled “Titian to Monet,” the exhibition comprises paintings on loan from Joslyn Art Museum. Spanning nearly 500 years, the 52 works narrate a broad history of European painting from the Italian Renaissance to 19th-century French Impressionism. The public is invited to view these paintings until Jan. 8. Shown is Lorraine Judd from Huddleston appearing with one of the Renaissance ladies in attendance. Photo by Charlie Walker.

Shown above: 1) David Oden and Virginia Zahn were named prom King and Queen at Runk & Pratt’s Fall Prom at the Smith Mountain Lake facility. In addition to the crowning, the event featured refreshments, music and dancing. Organizers wanted to hold an event for friends and family members of residents in the assisted living community. It’s the first time in two years due to COVID-19. Photo by Jeff Reid. 2) Rock Outdoors purchased the former Grand Home Furnishings Building at Westlake Corner. The company released the following rendering on its Facebook page of what the new Rock Outdoors store at the former Grand Home Furnishings Building at Westlake Corner may look like. The North Carolina-based sporting goods retailer sells apparel and gear for fishing, camping, hiking, paddle sports, water sports and other outdoor recreation. The business stated that Design with FRIEND created the rendering. 3) From left are Tom Branch, Brandon LaCroix, Neal Keesee and Jimmy Muscaro of Branch Management, winners of the inaugural Smith Mountain Lake Fall Classic Golf Tournament at Mariners Landing Country Club. They shot 19-under 53 to beat out 22 other teams in the 18-hole Captain’s Choice event. Contributed photo.

More Than Chili

Story by William Masselli Photos contributed

Smith Mountain Lake Regional Chamber of Commerce’s chili festival featured more than just chili, as the festival promoted tourism for the community, highlighted many talented people in the community and united the Smith Mountain Lake (SML) community.

On Nov. 5, the chamber hosted its 19th annual Smith Mountain Lake Fall Chili & Craft Festival and enjoyed a turnout of 1,600 attendees.

“This festival truly provides something for everyone,” stated Erin Stanley, membership director and events manager at the Smith Mountain Lake Regional Chamber of Commerce.

The festival promoted tourism by providing a fun chili contest, featuring live local music, inviting talented artisan

vendors, and raising money for the chamber.

“With the mission of our chamber being to promote tourism and help to grow businesses for our members and the community, we are thrilled to put on events like the fall chili festival to do just that,” added Stanley.

With a variety of entertainment, the chili festival attracted a diverse group of tourists. The festival attracted people of all ages from various SML communities.

Furthermore, the tourists enjoyed the weather at the chili festival.

“The rain died down, and the sun came out to bring us the perfect temperatures to hold yet another pictureperfect chili festival,” Stanley said.

SML Regional Chamber of Commerce highlighted many talented people in the SML community such as artisan

vendors, local businesses, musicians and more.

“We have so much local talent in our region that it would really be a shame to feature only chili,” Stanley said.

Many tourists were excited to meet the talented artisan vendors, local businesses and musicians, which brought the atmosphere to another level.

SML Regional Chamber of Commerce united the SML community by awarding prizes to the top chili cooks, encouraging people to mingle with others and motivating people throughout the community to volunteer.

Chili teams were given prizes if they finished in the top three of judges’ choice, won People’s Choice, or won the Showmanship award.

Susan Balderson State Farm won first place, Smokin’ on the Lake earned second place and Lake Haven Trailer Park placed third.

Drifter’s won the People’s choice award, and Lake Haven Trailer Park won the Showmanship award.

“There were some very happy chili cooker teams who

went home with the top prizes,” said Stanley.

“We love that so many people in our community are just as excited as us and love to come out and mingle with the community while supporting our chili cookers,” Stanley added.

Lastly, the chamber is grateful for all the contributions from sponsors and people throughout the community that made the chili festival successful.

“There are so many moving parts to such a large event like this that we truly would not have seen the success we did if it were not for our sponsors, event partners, our dedicated chamber staff, as well as our countless community volunteers who all came together to make this event amazing,” Stanley said.

If interested in attending SML events or learning more about SML, contact Andie Gibson at communications@ visitsmithmountainlake.com.

•

Above, Smokin on the Lake placed second at the Smith Mountain Lake Fall Chili & Craft Festival. On the opposite page, Susan Balderson State Farm placed first at the festival.

Home Tour for Charity

Story & photos contributed

The 31st edition of the Smith Mountain Lake Charity Home Tour (Tour) held in October added sponsorship levels and benefits this year, which resulted in a record number of sponsorship funds raised.

Even without ticket sales, the Tour had raised more than $150,000 in sponsorship dollars prior to the event.

Considering that ticket sales were $30 in advance and $35 at the door and that the Mackenzie home at the Water’s Edge in Penhook — just one of the eight homes featured in the Tour — received more than 250 visitors on the first day of the three-day Tour, it’s safe to say that the event brought in tens of thousands of dollars more.

Overall, the Tour has provided nearly $5 million to local charity operations since its start in 1991.

The Smith Mountain Lake Charity Home Tour is an SML tradition and one of the largest community events on the lake. It is a community fund drive to support critical

services for those in need in the Smith Mountain Lake region in southwest Virginia. The Tour accomplishes this through partnerships with volunteers, charities, businesses and individuals.

“Every year, eight local charities are carefully selected and partnered with eight local homeowners who are gracious enough to allow the community to tour their home on Columbus Day weekend,” Tour organizers stated. “The Tour is unique in that it can be taken by car or boat, is held rain or shine, and is spread over three days to allow ticket holders adequate time to visit each home.”

The eight charities the event benefited this year are the Agape Center, Franklin County Family YMCA, Habitat for Humanity of Franklin County, Helping Hands of Franklin County, SML Good Neighbors, Tackfully Teamed Riding Academy and Tour newcomers Camp Kum-By-Yah and Bedford Ride.

Each of the eight participating charities provides volunteers to help administer the Tour and receives a share of the proceeds, which come from business and individual donations, as well as ticket sales. Participating charitable organizations qualify by delivering services to people in need in the Smith Mountain Lake area.

Volunteers were essential to helping the event move along, as they helped with the home tours in one or more four-hour shifts and facilitated parking and docking.

Executive Director Liz Harrison welcomed “enthusiastic people to join the team and spend some time in a beautiful home on the waters of Smith Mountain Lake.”

On the first day of the Tour, volunteers were seen helping boats dock at the Water’s Edge in Penhook. With temperatures topping out at around 80 degrees, boats were the preferred mode of travel for many visitors.

More information about the Tour may be found at www. smlcharityhometour.com.•

Shown are some of the homes that were part of the 2022 Smith Mountain Lake Charity Home Tour.

THE BEAUTIFUL VIEWS OF THE BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAINS This home has 4 BRs 3 baths, approx. 2,500 sq ft, 2 car garage on main level & 1 car on lower level, w/ 400 sq ft. New paint & some new flooring, covered front porch.

AFFORDABLE LAKEFRONT LIVING This one level home has 4 BR, 2 full baths and located on 2 level acres with 100’ of lakefront. Floater dock & 5 minutes to Westlake.

Fun Under The Tent

Story contributed

The Smith Mountain Lake community gathered for fun under the tent of the new SML Pavilion.

About 75 people enjoyed a ribbon cutting, food and music on Oct. 12 to mark the opening of Smith Mountain Lake’s newest event venue.

Pavilion director Fred Sylvester welcomed everyone and highlighted the venue’s mission to support local nonprofits. All SML Pavilion events will benefit Smith Mountain Lake community nonprofits, including SML Good Neighbors, Lake Christian Ministries, Children’s Assistive Technology Service (CATS) and the Moneta Fire Department.

“We are grateful for all of the support that has helped make the pavilion possible,” Sylvester told the crowd. “This space is a place for friends and families to enjoy great events.”

The next event was Oktoberfest held Oct. 23, which had live music, German-themed food, beer, wine and games for the whole family for the price of $10 per person.

The event featured the Mountain Top Polka Band from Asheville, North Carolina. The high-energy band celebrates German heritage through music and dance. They share polka music alongside Oktoberfest party

tunes, German rock inspired pieces and Scots-Irish songs. In addition to corn hole and blow-up games, there were contests and prizes.

Contests included:

• Stein Holding Contest: The first 30 entrants walked away with a stein straight from Germany. First place winner earned a gold medal that is also a bottle opener.

• Yodeling Contest: Local celebrities competed for top honors.

• Best Dressed: Awards were given for the best German attire.

The SML Pavilion event center at Downtown Moneta is a community-gathering place for family, friends and visitors. It is located at 1123 Celebration Avenue in Moneta.

The Pavilion’s 40×100 tent offers seating and protection from rain and sun. The pavilion features a performance stage, seating for 220 people and space for up to 450 guests. There also is lots of green space for outdoor enjoyment.

The Pavilion is a nonprofit, established to create a new place for the SML community to gather and support local organizations.•

Pictured, members of the Smith Mountain Lake Regional Chamber of Commerce gathered for a ceremonial ribbon cutting event to welcome the SML Pavilion in Downtown Moneta. Organizers of the new venue, Fred and Dreama Sylvester (center), did the honors. Contributed by Charlie Walker.

Remembering Saxophone Great

Renowned jazz talent and beloved saxophone great, Ken Hitchcock of Smith Mountain Lake, was known for his incredible talent and irrepressible passion for music, but also for his generous heart and giving spirit.

This made it even more heartbreaking when he died unexpectedly at the age of 66 on Aug. 31 while on vacation in Ireland.

In only eight years at Smith Mountain Lake, he became one of the area’s most sought after musicians, performing several times at the Harvester with vocal trio String of Pearls (featuring his wife, vocalist Sue Halloran), playing regularly at many area venues including Montano’s Restaurant in Roanoke as well as the Roanoke Hotel.

He performed at countless jazz and other music festivals across the Blue Ridge, played breweries around the area and was featured lakeside at many of the annual SML Wine Festivals. Hitchcock loved to play music, yet he reveled equally in his role as a mentor to countless musicians across the country. He also adored giving private lessons to aspiring teen and adult musicians at the lake.

Hitchcock was raised in McLean, Virginia, but spent most of his career in New York City, attending Juilliard as the only saxophonist accepted to the elite program that year. After graduating in 1978, Hitchcock began a career spanning more than four decades, playing with many of the musical greats and performing all over the world.

His resume included recording or playing with Elvin Jones, Buddy Rich, Louie Bellson, Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra, Charles Mingus, Liza Minnelli, Aretha Franklin and Sting. Most notably, he played on three Grammy-winning albums with Gerry Mulligan, Machito and Steely Dan.

Hitchcock was a member of New York Saxophone Quartet for many years and also played in the pit for a myriad of Broadway shows. His versatility allowed him to be equally at home on the orchestral concert stage or in all types of jazz big bands or combos, funk, R+B and Latin groups.

In 2014, Hitchcock and wife relocated to Smith Mountain Lake with the thought of retirement. However, it did not take long for word to get out about a famed New York,

Grammy award winning saxophonist who had performed with so many musical greats. One of Hitchcock’s first gigs was at the Old School Pub (now Cowboy Napoli) where he brought the house down.

Hitchcock never lost his excitement for music and played until his untimely death, performing almost every weekend with local artists Hoppie Vaughan & the Ministers of Soul, Lenny Marcus & the Sway Katz Big Band and Joel Stopka & the JStop Latin Soul. He also continued doing gigs with his wife, crediting the release of their collaboration on the 2012 CD “I Can Cook Too!” as perhaps the most fulfilling achievement of his entire career. Their CD received rave reviews from the country’s most prominent jazz critics.

JStop Latin Soul is soon releasing Rumbalike ’22; it is the first album for JStop but will be the last album for Hitchcock. In a tribute to Hitchcock, JStop leader Joel Stopka posted on Facebook that Hitchcock “was a giant in the New York music industry for decades and his influence here in SW Virginia will be felt for decades to come.”

“He is an exceptional musician; he is our friend and our mentor and he will be missed more than words can say,” Stopka wrote.

“While Ken was a world-class instrumentalist, his kindness and warmth were infectious,” a statement about Hitchcock said. “Ken was often encouraging family and friends to visit him at SML where he, Sue and beloved beagle Xmas were consummate hosts and so graciously shared their experience of living a relaxed lifestyle of boating, fishing and floating on a beautiful lake with the backdrop of the Blue Ridge mountains.”

A celebration of life service was held Oct. 30 at Trinity Ecumenical Parish, located at 40 Lakemount Drive in Moneta. In lieu of flowers, the family requested that gifts be made in Hitchcock’s memory to support aspiring musicians at the music lab at the Jefferson Center at donatenow.networkforgood.org/JeffersonCenter.•

Renowned jazz talent and beloved saxophone great, Ken Hitchcock of Smith Mountain Lake (shown at left) died unexpectedly at the age of 66 on Aug. 31 while on vacation in Ireland. Contributed photo.

The Hidden Log Cabin

Sometimes, people are oblivious to how unique the property their parents leave behind for them actually is.

In Boones Mill, Danny Poff, son of Tommy and Helen Poff, and his wife, Rhonda Poff, learned that their home is more than just an old farmhouse — inside the structure is an unknown and hidden pre-Civil War log cabin.

According to Chuck Angier, a friend of the Poffs, Tommy and Helen Poff had purchased the farmhouse and roughly 100 acres on Maggodee Creek in Boones Mill in 1949.

The couple raised three sons and lived there until their recent passing. One of the sons, Danny Poff, who has a home on the property, inherited his parents’ home and started renovating it as the Inn of Maggodee Creek.

While doing renovations, an electrician discovered logs behind

a wall. Further investigation revealed that there was an intact, pre-Civil War log cabin hidden inside the home. The rest of the farmhouse apparently was added on to the log cabin, and newer walls covered up the old cabin logs.

“Thus far, we can find no one living today aware that hidden inside that old farmhouse was an intact, primitive log cabin,” Angier said.

Angier knows a thing or two about the situation, as he owns a similar home in Pittsylvania County.

“My wife and I live in a similar home in Pittsylvania County and are friends with Danny and Rhonda,” Angier stated. “We’ve been enthusiastically contributing our labor and knowledge to the project. Rhonda (and I) have been chronicling the progress of the project on Facebook. It has stirred much interest with folks

Story by William Masselli

Shown are photos of the Inn at Maggodee Creek, which has a hidden pre-Civil War log cabin within its walls. Photos contributed.

from all over, reaching out with connections to the property, some as friends of the family, others as prior residents.”

Over the last 73 years, the Poff family members, friends and other visitors spent ample time in the house, which makes the discovery even more shocking.

Upon this discovery, Rhonda Poff has been working with Angier to maintain and restore the log cabin’s original glory.

“They are dear friends embarking on a large, expensive project and need all the help they can get,” Angier said.

Rhonda Poff has been working vigorously toward this goal because she appreciates the property she and her husband inherited, desires to preserve the cabin’s historical qualities, and wants many people throughout the community to use the cabin as an event venue.

She has dear feelings toward the property because this is where her husband has spent the majority of his life.

“This is my husband’s homeplace,” she stated.

Danny Poff only left the property for a brief period of time during his life, and he continues to live there today despite living in a different house.

Furthermore, the Poffs appreciate the log cabin’s mysterious and unique logs.

“The old logs would be our favorite part,” Rhonda Poff added.

The Poffs frequently discuss whether the logs are chestnut or oak. While they would appreciate either type, they would find it more unique if the logs were chestnut.

Rhonda Poff’s appreciation for the property does not end with the mystery of the log cabin, as she loves the property’s view and location.

“It sits off of Boones Mill Road and has quite the view from the front porch,” she said.

The property is located 10 miles from Roanoke, 10 miles from Rocky Mount, and one mile from the Town of Boones Mill.

The Poffs enjoy how private the property is, as the seclusion allows them to relax, read books, take walks to the creek together and watch the cows graze in the field.

The Poffs and Angier want to preserve the cabin’s historical qualities for future generations to enjoy and are willing to put in the work.

“I find no fault in finding and preserving history of any kind,” said Angier.

The log cabin and its corresponding property have a rich historical background.

“We have heard that the first Boones Mill post office was

located on this property,” Rhonda Poff said.

Additionally, Rhonda Poff said that George Wright was the first postmaster in the area and built various log cabins in the area. She believes he owned this log cabin.

“We consider the Inn at Maggodee Creek to be a unique property,” Angier added.

Rhonda Poff and Angier hope that future generations will continue to appreciate and preserve the uniqueness and historical significance of the Inn at Maggodee Creek.

The Poffs and Angier are looking forward to many people throughout the community using the Inn at Maggodee Creek for weddings, vacation rentals and other parties.

Given how large the house is, everyone involved in the restoration of the log cabin’s historical glory believes the house is great for hosting an entire bridal party.

“There are several ideal locations on the property for a wedding or other celebration,” Angier said.

One of the great advantages of the property is that it is easy to enjoy since it is in a peaceful setting, contains historical qualities, and is near restaurants and shopping attractions.

Rhonda Poff hopes to have an open house soon, and she encourages everyone in the community to attend, especially those who want to learn more about Franklin County’s history.

“The open house would attract people that are interested in history, especially in Franklin County,” she said.

Furthermore, many people will appreciate the house’s secluded area and the property’s ability to be used for a variety of events.

“The house and property offer a spacious residence set in a large, open, quiet, secluded, bucolic setting perfect for a large family reunion, a corporate retreat, or countless other activities,” Angier said.

Currently, Rhonda Poff is accepting reservations for the property to be used as a wedding venue in 2023.

Poff is working out the details regarding any additional usages of the log cabin.

“We are working on the nightly rental part, and we will have further information available soon,” Rhonda Poff said.

If you are interested in reserving a stay, an event, or a wedding at the Inn of Maggodee Creek, go to the inn’s Facebook page, www. facebook.com/TheInnatMaggodeeCreek, and message the inn regarding its availability.•

My Race Journey

Race Summary

During the last days of 2021, I committed to training and preparing for and completing the Leadville 100 MTB race, scheduled for Aug. 13, 2022. The goal was simple — complete the race. When I made this commitment, I had already finished the race in my mind.

On Aug. 13, I raced and finished the Leadville 100 MTB race. Race details follow.

Distance: 105 miles

Elevation gain (feet climbed): 11,954 feet

Elapsed (chip) time: 12 hours, 18 minutes

Moving time: 11 hours, 53 minutes – 8.8 mph

Lasting Thought: Filthy, hardest thing I have ever done …

The Vision & The Why

I committed to this journey in late December 2021 because I had decided that life had become too comfortable. I reasoned that “Comfort Was a Slow Death,” and that I needed to embrace a challenge — a goal — that would make me uncomfortable. I believe that discomfort (physical and mental) exposes us to the essence of life. That is, it is easy to make the easy choice: eating processed food from bags and packages and not going for that training ride when it is 20 degrees.

Self-prescribed discomfort leads to chaos … And then, it reveals a gradual understanding of one’s STANDARD and establishment of one’s ETHOS; commitment to the goal and to the process (and not just the outcome); acceptance of the hard work required; personal accountability; adaptation to the alwaysincreasing performance levels; the purest forms of humility and gratitude; and finally, a new awakening that allows us to see and live our lives in completely different and exciting ways.

Story by Randy Wood | Photos contributed by Leadville Race Series Randy Wood of Moneta documents his journey to finishing the Leadville 100 MTB race.

I am neither a competent, experienced mountain biker, nor am I a natural endurance athlete. This challenge seemed like the perfect way to expose me to the very discomfort that I felt necessary after the strange two-years of a global pandemic. The “why” of it all for me was very simple: “Do Something Big — Well.” And set a positive example for my son and daughter. It is not simply enough to do something; it must be done well.

Embracing discomfort became my daily mantra, and I stayed committed to my vision for the entire process.

Do Something Big - Well

Through Sacrifice, Strength, Endurance, Humility, Discipline and Gratitude

In Order to Celebrate and Thank My Family For Their Support and Love, and to Feel Their Close Embrace as We Cross the Finish Line Together

The How & The Training

Because I was neither an experienced mountain biker nor any sort of endurance athlete, and quickly realizing that body weight was a friend to no one at Leadville’s 10,000+ feet of altitude, I partnered with Peaks Coaching Group (PCG) in Bedford to address training and body weight management.

Brian Freeze, a PCG elite cycling coach and Leadville veteran, has coached me since early 2022, and right up to race day. I believe that Performance = Potential – Interference. Every

training day in preparation for the race, Brian found ways to make the most of my cycling potential, while slowly eliminating the interference. On race day, I had accumulated tremendous fitness and brought the highest-level performance possible. Performance, and performance alone, determines the predator in any food chain.

To address the — ahem — body mass and composition issue that had increased substantially over the past two years, I worked with Kevin Bernstein, PCG’s chief medical officer and nutritionist. I reluctantly bought in to what-at-the-time seemed to be a preposterous amount of daily, clean carbohydrate intake — 325 grams — and in seven months I lost nearly 35 lbs. under Kevin’s close supervision and coaching. Kevin helped me thread a difficult training needle — substantial weight loss while gaining both strength and power. Not an easy process, and nearly impossible to do without an experienced coach. I became the medium-sized monster I aspired to me – 197 lbs. on race day. Macros, people — count your macros …

My total training work for race preparation is inventoried as follows:

• Over 4,700 miles of virtual and outdoor riding on mixed terrain — mountain, road and gravel bikes

• 321 hours of training time

• 180 training rides

• 303,000 feet of vertical climbing

• Total training stress score (TSS) since Jan. 1, 2022: 19,327

My Crew

Pretty simple stuff here — none of this would have been possible without my crew — my family. They supported me from day one and through race day, right up to the finish line. This has been the most selfish thing I have ever done, and it came at the expense of my family. They supported me at absolutely every high and low point along the way. Long training days, where training came first … Life got in the way a lot during this past seven months, and my wife was there during every frustrating and chaotic moment to help figure out a way around every obstacle and distraction.

My crew on race day was the best on the course! I saw them at Mile 41, Mile 62 and Mile 75. We prepared, planned, rehearsed, walked the crew/feed zones, and agreed on setup and location. We understood that on race day, “Calm breeds calm …” And on race day, they operated like an F1 pit crew — absolute flawless execution — and they were an enormous part of the reason I finished this race. Three separate times, they got me fueled up, bottles swapped, glasses clean, pickle juice prepped, chain cleaned and greased, and one final system check before I headed to the next leg of the journey. They had matching kit — and the pink-skulled flag flew high. I love my family — greatest crew ever.

The Race

Before I break the race down (the actual point of this report), I must tell a quick and powerfully emotional story. Twentythree minutes … that’s how long it took for the ambulance and EMS crew to get from Leadville to Twin Lakes, where we were staying, on Friday, Aug. 12 — one day before the race. I know it was 23 minutes, because I was on hold with the 911 dispatch until the EMS team arrived.

My daughter, Hatley, and my son, Nick, arrived to help crew and support Aug. 11. The 10,000+ feet of altitude proved to be very difficult for Hatley, and she had a hard time acclimating during the first 48 hours. Early afternoon Friday, Aug. 12, we found Hatley passed out in her bathroom, a near-certain result of the effects of altitude. She hit her head while falling, and we found her in a near-unresponsive lump between the sink, toilet and wall. Just no words — the emotion, the fear …

The EMS crew was just amazing — steady-handed professionals that responded with remarkable skill, knowhow and calm presence. Hatley, with my wife next to her, was transported back to Leadville to the hospital, where she would eventually require an overnight stay, and then the disappointing realization that she would at least miss the start of the race.

We were devastated, and I was faced with the reality of race preparation — food, equipment, mental head space — knowing that my daughter was in the hospital, unsure of what might be

next. I did not want to race, I wanted to be next to my daughter. Life got in the way — my wife again stepped in — re-framed and re-focused my mental outlook and got me back in the game.

Race Day – Aug. 13

I lined up in the Blue Corral at 0545 and made FaceTime call with Hatley from her hospital bed at 0615 — not sure there is a word for how I was feeling and the emotions. I wiped my eyes and resigned to toe the line without her — for the start anyhow. My helmet was off for the National Anthem, and the gun fired at 0630, the blue corral rolling at 0642:30 …

The pace was fast, and I set a personal record (PR) on the first six Strava segments of the course. Not my plan … The first climb comes at about the 6-mile mark. St. Kevins is 4-mile climb of about 1,100 feet of vertical gain. Not terrible, except for the extremely steep section early in the climb. My plan here was to hold the pace back — do the work and get over the steep part without blowing up. The hot wall of mountain bike humanity creates an inexplicable effect here, and I got caught up in the fury of a crowd of hot heads climbing this soul-sucking segment. My rate of respiration and deep breathing put me in a new class of suffering. I unclipped, walked to the left turn switch back, remounted and climbed the remaining segment, where the incline is not so oppressive. I PR’d Kevins; not the plan, and I would pay for it later …

• St. Kevins to Turqoise Road Descent – 2.75 miles in 5 minutes, 31 seconds; 30 miles per hour – PR

• 11 Mile Carter Summit First Check Point – 1 hour, 2 minutes – Pace 10.55 mph – On my plan!

• Sugarloaf Climb – 4.6 miles; 1,128 feet vertical gain; 44 minutes; 6.3 miles per hour – Feeling Good

• Powerline Descent (Fast, Sketchy) – 3.7 miles; 1,385 feet of altitude loss; 17 minutes, 46 seconds; 12.3 mph – PR – yeah …

• 26 Mile Pipeline Check Point – 2 hour, 37 minutes; 9.9 mph - Still on plan

The first crack in the plan showed up at about mile 37 or so — on a small climb of not much significance. I felt my legs tighten some, and then my inner thighs began to bark, and the cramps took over. I unclipped a leg at a time to shake, I brought the power back, spun easy, and held back the main assault. Way too early for this — right at about 3,000 feet of total climbing — and not what I should be feeling at this point, especially with 9,000 feet of climbing to go. The curse of St. Kevins and my effort there was just showing up …

• 40 Mile Twin Lakes Check Point – 3 hours, 35 minutes; 11.14 miles per hour – ahead of plan – Rippin’ It …

I saw my crew (2/3’s of them) at mile 40, Twin Lakes. I saw the pink skull flag first, then I saw my wife and son. My first questions was, “How’s Hatley?” My wife responded that she is being discharged from the hospital, and that she will go get her while I

am climbing Columbine Mountain — the next big race milestone. I am buzzin’ … gonna see my girl next time through this feed zone. Crew got to work — switched water bladders, gave me real food, cleaned glasses, switched bottles, and I was rolling …

And so it began … The Leadville 100 is an out-and-back format. The halfway point is at about mile 52 – atop Columbine Mine Mountain, where racers ascend a 7.5 mile, 3,500 vertical foot climb to arrive at 12,500 feet — the air is thin, the bike traffic is two-way, and the goat path is unforgiving.

It took me two hours and six minutes to get to the start of the goat path up on the mountain — a distance of about 8 miles. My average pace was now down to 8.4 mph – slower than I’d like, but plenty of time left to make it up. The next two miles on the goat trail to the summit were very difficult.

Almost everybody walked at least half of the next 2 miles — from space it must have looked like a conga line of spandex pushing bikes up 20 percent grades. No shame here — this was expected. However, there is only one way to properly hike-abike; and that is with purpose: head up, eyes forward, big smile, happy heart, soulful, with a song in your head. Anything less costs precious time, and while my purpose was on full display, I walked behind countless people that lacked any sort of purpose. This slowed me down significantly, and with two-way traffic, it is nearly impossible to pass these purposeless people. It took me 29 minutes to cover this 2-mile stretch — an impossibly slow

pace of 4.1 miles per hour for this segment.

I managed to set a PR for the Columbine descent — 8.5 miles total — just about 30 minutes at almost 17 miles per hour. I was happy to be down, headed back to Twin Lakes for a Hatley hug and crew stop. But first …

The Crash

As I was coming back into Twin Lakes, now headed back to Leadville and the finish, I was descending through a very sketchy gravel segment about 1/2 mile from where my crew was. It is steep, there is only one good line of travel through this space, and there is a sign that reads “Caution – Danger” because of the conditions of the gravel and the speed that accumulates very easily.

I was on the line of a racer ahead of me — blind faith in him that he held the line and the speed — and it was just not to be. Turns out, he panicked on the line, went hard for the brakes and cut his speed to a near stop. I had no options — no bail-out plan, and the speed with which I closed the distance was breathtaking. It was as if I rode up over his rear tire, his saddle, his back and atop his head. We smashed violently into a $20,000 heap of mountain bikes, helmets, gravel and blood. My Garmin GPS was ripped from my handlebars — it understood what had happened and began to notify my family via text message.

Unbelievable! Two EMTs were posted right at that crash site, for obvious reasons, and they were right on us to help. Eerily

quiet, and then I let go an adrenaline-filled F-bomb, aimed at no one and the rider ahead of me at the same time. He was down in the fetal position; I was up, assessing my bike, being tended to by the EMT. The rider eventually got up, apologized for his bad decision, and somehow, incredulously, we both clipped in and rode off — bloodied, a little more broken and no less determined. Not sure what eventually happened to him. Lucky!

I rolled into my crew spot, incapable of fully articulating the gravity of what just happened, and singularly focused on seeing my daughter. She had arrived, safe, breathing easy, ready to join the party and get to work. But first, a hug … a real highlight in my day!

The crew went to work — more efficient than ever — and got me re-loaded, refueled, fed and rebottled. Clean glasses, oil’d chain, more pickle juice. Eventually, we got the GPS mount and the GPS re-attached to my handlebars. I was once again rolling, but I had lost a lot of time between the crash and this crew stop. Chip time to this point — Mile 61 — was 7 hours, 8 minutes; and pace was 8.4 mph. Not in real danger yet, but work to do.

Headed to Leadville

It is 14 miles to Pipeline from Twin Lakes — two notable climbs and then fast rolling on the forest road. I made up considerable time here — needed to be even faster — and covered down on this segment in 1 hour and 15 minutes. The fatigue from the climbs was starting to accumulate. My pace was now 8.8 mph, still cutting things way too close, especially with the monster that awaited. I saw my crew for the final time at Pipeline — quick re-load, and I was off. Elapsed time was 8 hours, 23 minutes. I was focused and determined, ready to attack Powerline. It took me 35 minutes to cover the nearly 5 miles to get to the base of Powerline. My pace dropped to 8.76 miles per hour. Total elapsed time was 8 hours, 8 minutes. I was riding alone; I begin to go to a very dark place.

What Was I Thinking …?

(Interesting drama before the last 25 miles.) It’s at this point that I question what it is I am doing, and why? I take several centering breaths and mentally go back to my “why,” and perspective sets in. At almost 79 miles, this is hard. I am tired, and there is a lot of work left to be done. I have a moment of realization. I recall that I am not an experienced or competent mountain biker, and I have no natural gift for endurance events. I have commitment and lots of training to prop me up. Is that enough? The inner conversation is measured and thoughtful. My mind and entire self become keenly introspective, and I begin to ponder my actual, God-given strengths — because clear to me at this point, an above-average performance across a 105-mile endurance mountain bike race is not on that list.

Clifton Strengths is a powerful self-assessment system that enables people to discover what they naturally do best, and then transform these talents into strengths. Powerful stuff. I know – because I recently took the assessment, and the system made clear my top 5 of 34 possible strengths. So, this is where my mind goes, and I am trying to find meaning in my present situation relative to what I know are my strengths. And then it comes into focus!

One of my top five strengths is that I am a Maximizer. And while not a gifted endurance mountain biker, and per the assessment’s definition of a Maximizer, I focus on strengths to stimulate

personal excellence, and I seek to transform something strong into something superb. This is my journey — starting to make sense — discomfort, commitment, accountability, performance … I am maximizing the experience and my “why” (Do Something Big – Well), despite my athletic shortcomings. I suspect that the reader here thinks this is a bit dramatic — I might agree. However, recall that I am at 10,000 feet of thin air, extremely fatigued, emotionally whipped, 79 miles into a race, and I’m headed into hell. This is positive self-talk 101. Back to the race.

The Last 25 Miles

I suppose that the last 25 miles of the course should take no more than 2 hours and 45 minutes — 3 hours tops. Strava advised that it took me 3 hours and 24 minutes — despite the positive self-talk. Standing between me and the finish are two major climbs, and then a small one that sucks out any remaining life. The first is the Powerline: legendary and mythical in the world of mountain bike racing, I think. It is 3.5 miles and 1,500 feet of vertical gain – straight up for the first ¾ mile. Back to the hike, a bike and falling in behind those racers who lacked purpose. They are easier to pass, but fatigue (exhaustion) seemed to suck me in to the “tractor beam of mediocrity.” I coined this term, as I continued to walk — with no less purpose, just more fatigue, and a mind pondering my strengths.

The climb took me 1 hour and 8 minutes to the top. Funny, because eight days prior, I climbed that sucker on fresh legs in 49 minutes — no inner dialogue required … I still had 22 miles to go! I bombed down the Sugarloaf descent — setting another PR, because I took wild chances on the tricky trail. The final climb was back up to the top of St. Kevin’s, a road climb of 4.7 miles and 700 feet of vertical gain. Fun! Went dark again. Someone earlier told me to accept the dark place, and remember that I wanted this — and so I did — I climbed the Turquoise Lake Road climb slower than I wanted, but I managed to get it done and not lose a terrible amount of time. Somehow, I missed the rain that seemed to catch almost everyone else 30 minutes ahead or 30 minutes behind me — winning!

The next segment is the St. Kevin’s descent, a fast, fun rip that I actually PR’d, desperately trying to make up time in order to see a sub-12-hour finish. The descent eventually dumps racers back onto the road we traveled much earlier that day. It’s about 5 miles to the Boulevard, and I cover down on this piece at 16.4 mph.

No Awfulizing

Awfulizing is the process of taking something awful — one’s present situation (cold rain, hunger, fatigue on a mountain bike at 10,000 feet) for example, and making it more awful, by constantly thinking about and reinforcing just how awful it is. Oddly enough, most people find great comfort in this process of awfulizing. As humans we love to live in the noise. We are natural complainers, eager to remind ourselves and the world around us just how bad things are. A wise person one told me that victimology (imagined victimization) is the fastest growing career today. Brilliant!

Awfulizing is also an indicator of and contributor to a slow death. As part of my race prep, I committed to no moments of awfulizing, despite how bad the situation became. I developed my mental game as part of my training program — lots of reading, journaling and even practice on long rides to keep my mental head space in a positive and optimistic place. It worked.

However, it was this moment, the left turn onto the Boulevard, where things got really awful.

The Boulevard & Finish

The Boulevard is, I suppose, a cute and misleading name for the last, uphill, gravel climb back into Leadville. There are plenty of sophisticated, paved and scenic roads back into Leadville. The race organizers chose this way, however. A final attempt to, as previously noted, suck out all remaining life. The Boulevard is a primitive, lonely and unrefined gravel road of just over 2 miles and 240 feet of vertical climb. It is anything but a Boulevard — which to most people evokes a flat, fast and welcoming byway that is traversed quickly and before the grand finish — the Champs- Elysée, in Paris, for example. No awfulizing here — just the facts, and the reality that racers must deal with the world the way it is, and not the way we wish it was. And so, we face the Boulevard.

The total distance from the start of the Boulevard to the finish on 6th Street is 3.3 miles, and another almost 500 feet of vertical climb. The Boulevard begins with a left turn off a remarkably rural and mud-holed railroad access road that is about 1.5 miles in length — fast and foreboding — we know what is next. Upon this left turn onto the Boulevard, racers are staring at a ¼ mile, 7 percent very loose gravel climb. Back to the hike-a-bike — this takes me just over 5 minutes to walk. Back on the rig, and I am slow pedaling — it takes me 18 minutes to cover down this 2-mile stretch.

At the top of the Boulevard I am back in Leadville — a quick left and then a right onto 6th Street. It’s a ½ mile or so to the finish line. I am now riding with purpose, eyes wide open and head forward. Off to my left, I take note of a grown man, and he remarks to me, “Come on Dad, let’s get this done.” My near 21-year-old son has come down to see me in. He sets off next to me at a slow jog.

The Vision

My wife and daughter quickly understand that I am safe and headed to the finish line. They run out to me and my son and join the family march to the finish line. We are all together — my vision is now reality, and together we cross the finish line. Amazing. Wonderful. Best feeling of my life!

Do Something Big – Well Through Sacrifice, Strength, Endurance, Humility, Discipline and Gratitude

In Order to Celebrate and Thank My Family For Their Support and Love, and to Feel Their Close Embrace as We Cross the Finish Line Together

The Kit

I had a custom-built kit for my Leadville experience. A special shout out to Pedal Industries and CEO Todd Brown for building my own super-hero cape! The kit was incredibly personal, and it included meaningful imagery and mantras that helped carry me across the finish line.

The main image is a very colorful sugar skull — my daughter gave the original to me as a sticker — and we brought it to life on the front and back of the jersey. The sugar skull reminds me that life is temporary. The colors are bright and cheerful — a symbol of how we should live every day.

On the back of the jersey are the words, “Comfort is a Slow Death.” My race mantra.

On the left front of the jersey is my Ethos — SSCH: Smart, Strong, Courageous, Humble. These are the words I have spoken to my kids since they could speak.

On the left jersey sleeve is Thor’s hammer. I watched a lot

of episodes of “Vikings” on Amazon while riding on a trainer indoors — felt a connection to how they lived. More importantly, my father was a Marine Corps fighter pilot — three tours of duty in Vietnam. His call sign was The Hammer. I felt his presence for 105 miles.

Finally, on the right jersey sleeve are the words, “The Legs Feed the Wolf,” made famous by Herb Brooks in the move Miracle, when the US Men’s hockey team beat the Soviets in the semi-final game of the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics. It underscores an image of a baroque-carved skull that I wear around my neck — same reminder to live.

The Learning – The Race & Life

So many things were learned — these stand out: The Race

1. Pace is Critical — Take advantage of Leadville’s flat segments; climb a measured pace.

2. Walk With Purpose — Head up, eyes forward, big smile, happy heart, soulful, with a song in your head.

3. Have Fun — At Leadville, race your race; a smile is worth 5 watts. Thanks Brian Freeze.

4. Perfection in Nutrition is Elusive — Practice and get it right (not sure I did).

5. Ride the Course — often and in advance. Study it, understand it. It does not forgive.

Life

1. Attitude is Everything, As is Effort — These are the only things we control. Maximize here.

2. Focus on the Process and Your Performance — not just the outcome.

3. Expect and Look for Good Things — We tend to find what we are looking for. Thanks Todd Brown.

4. Balance Confidence With Humility — Both matter, not too much of either.

5. Remember Your Why — Write it down; reflect here often.

6. Limits Begin Where Vision Ends … Visualize Success — Fight your doubts, ignore excuses.

7. Big Doors Swing on Little Hinges — Lots of small, but important things. Find and develop them.

8. Get Strong (First) and Embrace Gratitude — This will help us do our best and honor and respect the sacrifice and hard work that got us here!

Final Thanks Gratitude

As previously mentioned, a special thanks to Hunter and the team at Peaks Coaching Group, especially Brian Freeze and Kevin Bernstein for their expertise and for (caring) about me. Thanks also to my riding buddy, Ralph, for your time and coaching; to my strength coach and friend Jon for helping build the armor; and to my family — especially my wife, first and always — for their patience and for tolerating, at times, what is a very selfish pursuit. Finally, I’d like to thank my local bike shop, Cardinal Bicycle, in Roanoke, and especially master mechanic extraordinaire, Dan Lucas, for helping me with (a build) that faithfully carried me the entire distance with not one problem. None of this is possible without this crew here. I love my family!

Know my gratitude. Weakness is a choice! - RW •

SUBMIT YOUR PHOTOS

Send in your scenic photos of the Smith Mountain Lake area for a chance to be published in Lake Life magazine and Smith Mountain Eagle newspaper. Email quality photos at less than 10MB to C.E. Adams at editor@smithmountaineagle.com. Please include name of person who took the photo and where and when the photo was taken.

SMITH MOUNTAIN LAKE SNAPSHOTS

On this page: 1) David Souders of Goodview caught this possible lake record Flathead catfish while fishing with Capt. Kathy, Spike’s Prime Time Fishin’ on Oct. 25. Jeff Morgan, Dave’s stepson, is the only one who could pick it up for a photo. It was estimated to weigh 50+ pounds and released back in the lake. The lake record is reportedly 29 pounds. The photo was submitted by Robert Franceschini. 2) Silas Emerson Noe, 1-year-old and grandson of Brad and Melinda Noe of Union Hall, experienced his first time riding on Pappi’s boat and sharing his first experience enjoying the wonderful lake life that his grandparents have enjoyed for 36 years. His parents are Spenser and Alanna Noe of Asheville, North Carolina. Contributed photos. 3) The water aerobics class at the Franklin County Family YMCA had a special guest recently. Contributed photo.

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DINING

DIRECTORY

Dining information sourced from Smith Mountain Lake Visitor’s Guide.

Napoli by the Lake 773 Ashmeade Rd., Moneta • (540) 346-2205

Drifter’s at SML, formerly Waller’s , is a great place to bring the whole family!

DINING

Wake Cafe

EDUCATION

DIRECTORY

Education information sourced from Smith Mountain Lake Visitor’s Guide.

CHURCH

DIRECTORY

BAPTIST

Barnhardt Baptist Church 1033 Brittle St., Goodview, (540) 890-2076

Chamblissburg Baptist Church 9226 Stewartsville Rd., Moneta, (540) 890-2105

Franklin Memorial Baptist Church 3980 Truman Hill Rd., Hardy, (540) 721-3991

Glade Hill Baptist Church 6608 Colonial Tpk., Glade Hill, (540) 576-2580

Halesford Baptist Church 2485 Lost Mountain Rd., Wirtz, (540) 721-8640

Quaker Baptist Church 4665 Chestnut Fork Rd., Bedford, (540) 297-4454

Rocky Mount Baptist Church 85 W Church St., Rocky Mount, (540) 483-2641

Sandy Level Baptist Church 10817 W. Gretna Rd., Sandy Level, (434) 927-5459

Sandy Ridge Baptist Church 231 Bonbrook Mill Rd., Rocky Mount, (540) 483-2356

Vitalize Church 84 Westlake Rd., Hardy, (540) 580-8760

White Rock Baptist Church 8730 Edwardsville Rd., Hardy, (540) 890-1236

BAPTIST-INDEPENDENT

Goodview Baptist Church 1057 Grace Ct., Goodview, (540) 890-4822

BAPTIST-MISSIONARY

Franklin Grove Missionary Baptist Church 3727 Hatchett Rd., Penhook, (540) 576-1258

BAPTIST-SOUTHERN

Palestine Baptist Church 9244 SML Pkwy., Huddleston, (540) 297-4442

Radford Baptist Church 1293 Radford Church Rd., Moneta, (540) 297-5214

Staunton Baptist Church 15267 SML Pkwy., Huddleston, (540) 297-6753

Westlake Baptist Church 2075 Scruggs Rd., Moneta, (540) 721-8784

BRETHEREN

Boones Chapel Church of the Bretheren 2228 Circle Creek Rd., Penhook, (540) 576-1129

Smith Mountain Lake Community Church 6675 Burnt Chimney Rd., Wirtz, (540) 721-1816

CATHOLIC

St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church 15 Glenwood Dr., Rocky Mount, (540) 483-9591

Holy Name of Mary Catholic Church 1307 Oakwood St., Bedford, (540) 586-8988

Resurrection Catholic Church 15353 Moneta Rd., Moneta, (540) 297-5530

St. Andrew’s Catholic Church 631 N. Jefferson St., Roanoke, (540) 344-9814

CHRISTIAN

Greater Canaan Land Church 303 Canaan Land Dr., Gretna, (434) 656-3402

Christ Community Church 14900 Old Franklin Trnpk., Penhook, (540) 576-4242

First Church of Christ, Scientist/ Christian Science Church 2901 Rivermont Ave., Lynchburg, (434) 845-0526

Eastlake Community Church 1118 Hendricks Store Rd., Moneta, (540) 297-0966

Faith Fellowship 100 Wirtz Rd., Wirtz, (540) 334-3477

First Church of Christ, Scientist 1155 Overland Rd., Roanoke, (540) 343-4889

Goodview Church of God 1057 Grace Ct., Goodview, (540) 890-4822

Jehovah’s Witnesses of Bedford 1534 Link Rd., Bedford, (540) 586-2035

Kingdom Hall Jehovah’s Witness 5969 Booker T. Washington Hwy., Wirtz, (540) 721-1212

Mt. Ivy Christian Church 5120 Scruggs Rd., Moneta, (540) 721-5060

SML Seventh Day Adventist Church

10802 Moneta Rd., Moneta, (540) 296-2225

Trinity Ecumenical Parish (Episcopal, Presbyterian, Lutheran) 40 Lakemount Dr., Moneta, (540) 721-4330

West End Church of Christ 610 Vaden Dr., Gretna, (434) 656-1072

Wirtz Assemblies of God 1718 Burnt Chimney Rd., Wirtz, (540) 721-3099

EPISCOPAL

Trinity Episcopal Church 15 E Church St., Rocky Mount, (540) 483-5038

St. Johns Episcopal Church 314 N Bridge St., Bedford, (540) 586-9582

St. Thomas Episcopal Church 9575 Big Island Hwy., Bedford, (540) 586-4768

GREEK ORTHODOX

Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church 30 Huntington Blvd. NE, Roanoke, (540) 362-3601

St. George’s Greek Orthodox Church 1724 Langhorne Rd., Lynchburg, (434) 384-7585

METHODIST

Bethesda United Methodist Church 14340 Wyatts Way, Huddleston, (434) 944-8011

Bethlehem United Methodist Church 13586 S. Old Moneta Rd., Moneta, (540) 297-7957

Burnt Chimney United Methodist Church 6625 B.T. Washington Hwy., Wirtz, (540) 721-3392

Epworth United Methodist Church 60 Merriman Way Rd., Moneta, (540) 721-4926

Patmost United Methodist Church 1405 Patmos Church Rd., Huddleston, (434) 944-8011

Penhook United Methodist Church 29 Morgans Fork Rd., Penhook, (540) 576-1768

Redwood United Methodist Church

3001 Old Franklin Trnpk., Rocky Mount, (540) 483-9090

Rocky Mount United Methodist Church 35 N Main St., Rocky Mount, (540) 483-5338

Three Oaks Fellowship United Methodist Church 1026 Gravel Hill Rd., Vinton, (540) 890-8300

SYNAGOGUES

Agudath Shalom Synagogue 2055 Langhorne Rd., Lynchburg, (434) 846-0739

Beth Israel Synagogue 920 Franklin Rd., Roanoke, (540) 343-0289

Temple Beth Shalom 129 Sutherlin Ave., Danville, (434) 792-3489

Temple Emanuel 1163 Persinger Rd., SW, Roanoke, (540) 342-3378

OTHER

Lynchburg Korean Church 2409 Judith St., Lynchburg, (434) 847-2523

Shekijah Preparation Assembly 104 Fleetwood Dr., Lynchburg, (434) 237-7721

Sourced from Smith Mountain Lake Visitor’s Guide

HEALTHCARE

DIRECTORY

Healthcare information sourced from Smith Mountain Lake Visitor’s Guide.

BodyShoppeFitnessLLC+AllCore360

Carilion Wellness Westlake The Centre at VitaZen