As any red blooded American girl of 20 years old in 1987, Johnny Castle in ’Dirty Dancing’ was the epitome of my dream guy; the bad boy with great dance moves!
A Step Back in Time As a ’Dirty Dancing’ devotee, I had always wanted to go to the location where the movie was filmed. I wanted to see Baby’s cabin, walk the wooden floor of the gazebo, eat where the Housemans ate and sit where Penny sat and sobbed her eyes out until Johnny and Baby came to the rescue. I knew some of the scenes were shot at Lake Lure in North Carolina, but the actual resort, forever known as Kellerman’s in my heart, is Mountain Lake Resort in Pembroke, Virginia. Retracing Baby’s steps was one of the things on my personal ’Bucket List’, but I never thought in a million years I would have the opportunity to step back in time.
“Nobody Puts Baby in the Corner” I remember everything about the day I went to see ’Dirty Dancing’ at the theatre at the Georgia Square Mall. I went with a boy friend, notice the words are separate, Steve Milani, who was a freshman from Valdosta, GA. We were taking a break from studying and I had been yammering on and on about wanting to see ’Dirty Dancing’, so he asked me to go to the movie. Upon entering the theatre, it was quite evident that we were the only ones there actually planning on viewing the movie and we were the only ones not in an intimate relationship. From the moment that the opening credits began rolling, I could tell this was going to be a lifelong love; me, Johnny, Baby and the magical Kellerman’s resort. For some reason I felt empowered when Johnny said, “Nobody puts Baby in the corner,” and from then on ’Nobody put Carolyn in the corner”, either. Some 21 years later a friend of ours, Robin Johnson was planning an extra special 50th birthday celebration for her husband, Brent. If you don’t know Robin, the woman is the best cook, party planner and the most gracious person I’ve ever met. Robin sent out an email asking different friends to meet her and Brent for a surprise ’Dirty Dancing’ weekend at The Mountain Lake Resort in Virginia. Several times a year the resort hosts these special weekends where all resort activities revolve around the various locations in the movie. A documentary is shown, staff members who were ’there’ in 1987 answer questions and dance lessons are given and the finale on Saturday night involves re-enactments of pivotal scenes, all which is right up this girl’s alley. I immediately replied ’yes to the invitation and began counting the days.
The Pilgrimage to Kellerman’s Upon arriving at The Mountain Lake Resort, (we rode with the Johnsons to throw Brent off, if he had suspicions) I immediately felt like the 20 year old who stepped out of her 41 year old life and into Baby Houseman’s life in ’Dirty Dancing’. Although the climate and surroundings were a tad different than the movie, in November it is very, very cold 12 degrees to be exact, the blanket of snow just added to the feeling of innocence from the movie. There were 6 couples in attendance for the weekend, with the females being the most enthralled with the theme. Brent was truly surprised by his friends. Anyone who knows me for over 5 minutes knows how much I despise cold weather, so Brent was amazed that I had even made the trip with the subfreezing temperatures in Virginia, some 4000 feet up the mountain. I think he figured out I either love him and Robin a lot or I am a huge ’Dirty Dancing’ fan (both are true). In the hustle of this time of year we take for granted the times when we just laugh till we cry; those times are gifts that will remain, unlike the material gifts of the season. The Mountain Lake Resort and the friends we were with warmed this summer loving girl so the temperature wasn’t all that bad. I was so toasty and happy that I took a self guided tour of the grounds of the resort in 14 degrees and never got cold! There are times in life when you feel like all is right and as I walked I realized ’all was right’. That 20 year old girl was just beneath the surface and her dreams are still there too. My heart raced and my thoughts wandered as I walked the grounds; this film buff was very impressed with the memorabilia that surrounded me.
It’s All About Being with Those You Love Saturday night brought David and me, along with our friends to the Barn for the finale dance. After the professionals reenacted the beautiful dance scenes from the movie, it was our time to hit the floor. We definitely had the time of our lives as we danced. Some of our dance moves were more professional than others, but the smiles, love and memories shared and made will forever remind me that the Kellerman’s was all I had ever thought it would be and that it is still possible to have the time of my life and I hopefully have more to come (in warmer temperatures, if possible). Mountain Lake resort is located at 115 Hotel Circle in Pembroke, VA. They currently have several ’Dirty Dancing’ weekends scheduled for the 2009 season. Visit www.mountainlakeresort.com [1] for more information.
Links:
[1] http://www.mountainlakeresort.com