CHALET HIGH HISTORY

ON JULY 10, 1967, OVERLOOK MOUNTAIN, INCORPORATED, FORSYTH COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA PURCHASED FROM JUDGE H.H. LEWELLYN AND WIFE LOUISE M. LEWELLYN, A TRACT OF LAND ON SUGAR LOAF MOUNTAIN, CARROLL COUNTY, VIRGINIA, SOUTH OF FANCY GAP, VA.  THE PROPERTY LOCATED NEAR MILE POST #203 ON THE BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY WAS NAMED "CHALET HIGH."

SOON AFER THE PURCHASE, CHALET HIGH WAS DEVELOPED INTO A BEAUTIFUL PRIVATE COMMUNITY.  THE ROADS AND STREETS WERE CUT THROUGH THE PROPERTY AND GRADED.  EACH ONE WAS NAMED.  THE PROPERTY WAS DIVIDED INTO OVER 400 LOTS AND TRACTS TO BE SOLD TO FUTURE RESIDENCE.

A CLUBHOUSE WITH BATHROOMS, KITCHEN AND A SERVING BAR WAS BUILT.  ON THE NORTH END OF THE CLUBHOUSE A LARGE ROCK FIREPLACE WAS BUILT.  A DECK WAS ADDED.  FROM THE DECK, ONE CAN LOOK DOWN ON MOUNT AIRY, NORTH CAROLINA AND SEE PILOT MOUNTAIN AND ON CLEAR DAYS, WINSTON-SALEM, NC IN THE BACK GROUNDS.

A HEATED SWIMMING POOL WITH BATHHOUSE WAS BUILT AND FENCED IN.  TENNIS COURTS WERE ALSO BUILT.  A PICNIC AREA INCLUDING A GAZEBO, PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT, SWINGS, SLIDE AND SEE-SAW WERE ALSO ADDED.  A GOAL POST FOR BASKETBALL WAS ERECTED AND A PLACE TO PITCH HORSESHOES WAS ADDED.

TWO DAMS WERE BUILT.  ONE ON THE NORTH SIDE AT BAVARIAN WAY AND ECHO LANE AND THE OTHER BELOW THE CLUBHOUSE ON OLYMPUS DRIVE.  THE LAKES ARE FED BY SPRING 

WATER.  THEY WERE STOCKED WITH FISH.  THE BEAUTIFUL DUCKS DONATED BY RESIDENTS AND ENJOYED BY ALL.

THE PROPERTY OWNED BY THE PARK RANGER SOUTH OF THE DEVELOPMENT HAD A BARN AND STALLS TO HOUSE HORSES THAT WERE OWNED BY CHALET HIGH PROPERTY OWNERS. THERE WERE DESIGNATED TRAILS FOR HORSEBACK RIDING.  DUE TO LITTLE USE, THE PROPERTY WAS SOLD TO A HOMEOWNER WHO LATER SOLD IT TO THE RANGER FOR A PERMANENT HOME.

IN 1972, CHALET HIGH WAS INCORPORATED.  THE ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION AND THE BY-LAWS WERE WRITTEN AND NINE DIRECTORS WERE ELECTED TO SERVE ON THE BOARD.

THE ASSOCIATION VOTED TO PURCHASE A HOUSE AND HIRE A FULL TIME CARETAKER.

THE HOUSE WAS ON MOUNTAINEER WAY.  A FIVE-YEAR HISTORY OF THE HOUSE INDICATED THAT IT'S ORIGINAL PURPOSE HAD NOT BEEN REALIZED AND THE PROBLEMS EXPERIENCED WERE A GOOD EXAMPLE OF WHAT MIGHT BE EXPECTED IN THE FUTURE. THE HOUSE WAS SOLD.  A PERSON WAS HIRED TO TAKE CARE OF THE COMMON GROUNDS.  

A FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE TRUCK WAS PURCHASED AND A SNOWPLOW ADDED TO CLEAR THE ROADS OF WINTER SNOWS.  IT WAS SOLD AND THE CLEARING OF SNOW FROM THE AREA AND THE MOWING OF THE RIGHT-OF-WAY ARE NOW DONE BY CONTRACT LABOR.

IN 1981 CHALET HIGH, INC. PURCHASED THE WATER SYSTEM FROM HYDROLIC LTD. GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA, THE COMPANY THAT INSTALLED THE SYSTEM WHEN IT WAS DEVELOPED.  THEIR SERVICE WAS SLOW AND IT WAS THE OPINION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS THAT CHALET HIGH COULD OPERATE THE SYSTEM MORE EFFICIENTLY THAN A COMPANY LOCATED SEVENTY-FIVE MILES AWAY.  THE SYSTEM HAS SIX WELLS, TWO TANKS, ONE AT WELL #1 AND THE OTHER WELL, #6 HAVE BEEN ADDED UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE STATE OF VIRGINIA.  

IN 1990 THE CLUBHOUSE WAS STRUCK BY LIGHTNING.  MUCH DAMAGE WAS DONE.  IT HAS BEEN COMPLETELY REDECORATED WITH NEW FURNITURE AND THE AUXILIARY HAS DONE A SPLENDID JOB OF BEUATIFYING THE GROUNDS.

BY 1991 THERE WERE SEVENTY-FIVE HOUSES BUILT IN CHALET HIGH.  HOMEOWNERS AND MEMBERS ARE INVITED TO THE CLUBHOUSE ON FRIDAYS AT 12:00 O'CLOCK NOON DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS TO SHARE THEIR COVERED DISH LUNCH AND VISIT WITH FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS.

MANY SAY CHALET HIGH ON THE BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY IS ONE OF THE GARDEN SPOTS OF THE WORLD.  LET'S SHARE OUR LOVE AND WORK TOGETHER AND KEEP IT THAT WAY.

THE ABOVE ARTICLE WAS WRITTEN FOR THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION OF CHALET HIGH 1967-1992.