Loose Leaf Notes

~ The following first appeared in The Floyd Press on July 28, 2011 and on the paper’s online site HERE.

Tucked behind the 4^th green of Primland’s award-winning golf course and overlooking the Dan River gorge is the new Golden Eagle Tree House, which was dedicated during a weekend event that also included the opening of a six mile section of the original Appalachian Trail and the book launch of A Field Guide to the Nature of Primland and the Blue Ridge Mountains. The tree house ribbon cutting took place on Saturday and was attended by four of the eight children of the late Didier Primat, founder of the 12,000 acre Meadows of Dan mountain resort.

Billed as “a civilization-in-the-wilderness escape,” the 385 square foot cedar tree house is the latest addition to Primland’s accommodations that include cottages, homes, and guest rooms and suites in the green LEED certified Lodge.  Designed in France by La Cabanc Perchee, the pre-fabricated get-away is built on stilts and features a wooden bridge walkway at the entrance and a back deck that centers around a large chestnut oak tree and offers a bird’s eye view of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Inside the tree house is a furnished living room, a bedroom, kitchen and bath.

Along with members of the Primat family, many of whom traveled from their homes in Geneva, Switzerland, were members of the Patrick County board of supervisors and chamber of commerce, area news reporters, publishers and broadcasters, Senator Roscoe Reynolds, a representative of Congressman Morgan Griffith and Delegate Ward Armstrong.

In the ceremony’s opening remarks, Primland’s vice president and Meadows of Dan native, Steve Helms, explained that the tree house was named for a golden eagle that a Virginia Tech doctoral student was recently able to capture on the property and fit with a tracking devise for research.  It was a rare documentation of such a bird this far south, Helms said.

Helms outlined Primland projects in partnership with Virginia Tech’s College of Natural Resources and the Conservation Management Institute.  These include water quality research, cold water fishery management, wild bird management, a botanical survey and geocaching, a popularized type of treasure hunting using a Global Positioning Device (GPS).

Scott Klopfer of Virginia Tech’s Conservation Management Institute, who also spoke at the presentation, explained that geocaching is “a low impact recreational opportunity for guests to explore the trails of Primland while also learning about its natural and cultural history in a unique and active way.”  Participants follow rhymed clues that lead to hidden cache jars filled with fun nature facts, puzzles, word searches and more.

Klopfer is co-author of A Field Guide to the Nature of Primland and the Blue Ridge Mountains, another manifestation of the Virginia Tech/Primland partnership.  The guide is geared towards beginner naturalists who want to learn the identification of birds, butterflies, mammals, reptiles, fish, amphibians, flowers and trees of the area. “Recognition is the first critical step in bringing appreciation which translates to awareness of the importance of natural places like this and the overall quality of life,” said Klopfer, who co-authored the book with Michael St. Germain.

Patrick County board of supervisors’ chairman Roger T. Hayden also addressed the crowd. He commended the Primat family for carrying on their father’s love of nature and being good stewards of the land, saying, “We’re proud to have them in Patrick County.”  Hayden also noted his appreciation of the jobs that Primland has provided to the people of Patrick County.  “We went from tobacco to this,” he said.

Delegate Ward Armstrong described Primland as “the jewel in the crown of Patrick County.”  Linda Reynolds, standing in for husband Senator Roscoe Reynolds who arrived later, said she and her husband have been ambassadors for Primland, telling people how special it is when they travel.

“We hope we’ll see more tree houses to come,” said Primland general manager Mara Bouvier, who led tours through the tree house.  Visitors also enjoyed a tree climbing demonstration by Bob Wray of Blue Ridge Tree Climbing and a guided nature walk that allowed them to experience the unique biodiversity of Primland first-hand.

Saturday’s event included a book signing and presentation by authors Scott Klopfer and Michael St. Germain entitled Primland’s Four Seasons. Sunday’s schedule, in celebration of the restored six mile section of the original Appalachian Trail, included live bluegrass music, local vendor demonstrations and more.

Other activities available at the resort include hunting, fishing, ATV riding, tennis, skeet shooting, mountain biking, movie theater viewing, casual and fine dining, stargazing at the resort observatory, chlorine-free swimming and luxurious spa treatments. Colleen Redman