After a great weekend in Marion, VA and driving the amazing Rt 16 across three mountains, I thought that might be a great place to have Fall Colors 2012.


The locale: Marion is a town of 7,000 and it seems that everyone there goes out of their way to make you feel welcomed. Headquarters for the meet is the General Francis Marion Hotel. Take a look at the website, it's an amazing hotel. Anyone who was at Back of the Dragon will be more than happy to testify to that. The staff of the hotel are the most friendly, helpful, nice people I've ever had the pleasure to work with. The room rate is $84 a night for a queen room.

The roads: Back of the Dragon is 32 miles of great driving roads. There are switchbacks, serious curves, elevation changes and off-camber, descending radius turns to challenge the adventurous. All of this is connected with some of the most beautiful, scenic roads you've ever driven. There's something for everyone. Here's a link to the picture thread from the first Back of the Dragon meet.

Registration opens Monday, August 20 at 8:00am. Register HERE.

 

This is the message I just got from the hotel: "The second weekend in October looks bad. I have a wedding group block taking up the entire hotel. Their release date for unused rooms is not until mid-September. The first weekend in October looks good right now, and there is a Song of the Mountains show at the theater. " Now, we can cross our fingers and hope the wedding group releases enough rooms so that everyone can stay together ( and there really aren't any other hotels in the area that I'd want to stay in) or we can go either the first or third weekend. I'll leave it up to you. My personal preference if we can't get the second weekend is the first. Your choice. I know we can't accommodate everyone, but I'd like to schedule this so the largest number of people can attend.

I just got this message from the events planner at the hotel: "I have another wedding the third weekend, and they more than likely won't have any open rooms to release by their release date."

I'd like to take the first weekend. I'm going to tentatively block 25 rooms (the hotel only has 35 rooms) so we'll pretty much own the place).

 

I'm there. I had planned to go to BotD, but couldn't, so this'll be perfect. If I can't find someone to go with me (no, Ken, Laura won't be there), I'd be open to rooming with someone. Can't wait!

 

Ken, you need to start searching for something a little closer for us way down south to go to. I would love to get back up there in October but I don't know if I can swing another road trip up there for the Fall Colors. I will talk more about this in September. If I can talk the queen in doing this maybe then it could happen, but I can't promise anything at this time. Later BD

 

What is the leaf-on-road status in late sept-oct?

 

A lot lighter than mid-October.

 

What's the status of this (registration, lodging, etc)?

 

Too early for that man. Just kidding I am sure that Ken will post up something soon.

 

You can call the hotel and register any time you're ready. The link for the hotel is in the first message. Rooms are $84 a night. I'm going to put up the registration site as soon as I get back from S2KDays. Once registration opens, I'll start a "I'm Going" thread.

 

I'm interested in this. Will have to check with the gf to see if she has vacation days. We did WTD and had an AWESOME time!