Several times each Winter in the late 1960's our Dad would wake us early on a Saturday morning to pile into the station wagon with our skis, and drive two hours north on US220 to Bath County. Rounding the final corner we would spot the Homestead sign in the distance with the domed Temple sitting behind and turn in. After unloading we would wait in a group with others at the front door of the hotel for a shuttle van that pulled up every 15 minutes. A short trip up the road would bring us to the Homestead's ski lodge.

Considered the oldest ski resort in Virginia it was developed by Sepp Kober who was known as 'The Father of Southern Skiing'. The slopes were opened in 1959 and were resort-based catering to guests and the public alike. Home to the Sepp Kober Ski School lift tickets and ski rentals were available through a rental office window on the bottom floor. The Lodge upstairs served some basic food including hot chocolate and a large, open fireplace with round metal hood sat in the center of the room circled by a padded couch. Wet gloves typically lined the top of the hearth circing the fireplace.