Lynchburg Living

2011 Hitched

By Heather King

Thomas Jefferson once owned it, Native Americans once worshipped it, George Washington surveyed it in his youth and Daniel Boone visited it. What is it? It’s the Natural Bridge of Virginia.

The Natural Bridge has been attracting visitors for centuries–literally. Its natural beauty is nearly unparalleled in the region and it has a history rich in lore and famous personages.

A Look Back

Even before Europeans discovered this land and began building settlements, the Natural Bridge was sacred to the Native American tribe, the Monacans, who believed it to be the site of a major victory over the Powhatan tribe. Legend has it that it was a land dispute that caused tension between the tribes. The Powhatan are said to have pursued the Monacans to the Natural Bridge itself, where the Monacans had set an ambush for their enemy, ensuring defeat of the Powhatan. From then on, the bridge was a sacred place to the Monacans.

Take a stroll down the Cedar Creek Trail, a trail that will take you past many of the popular spots of the Natural Bridge, and you’ll be shown the initials “G.W.” that are said to have been carved 23 feet up into the Natural Bridge itself by a youthful George Washington when he worked as a surveyor.

Thomas Jefferson once owned 157 acres of land in the area, including the Natural Bridge. He built a guest cottage on the land and began inviting people, like James Monroe, the fifth president of the United States, Andrew Jackson, the seventh president of the United States, Martin Van Buren, America’s eighth president and Daniel Boone, to name just a few historical figures that have visited the site.

The Natural Bridge Today

Today, the Natural Bridge draws thousands of visitors a year.

“I think that people have a fascination with natural phenomenon like the Natural Bridge,” said Debbie Land, General Manager of the Natural Bridge of Virginia. “Regardless of how sophisticated our world becomes, these miracles of nature still have the power to intrigue people. There is something very moving about seeing the Natural Bridge in person. I think the fact that the bridge also played such a critical part in the birth of our nation–being worshiped by Native Americans, surveyed by a young George Washington and then owned by Thomas Jefferson–make it a doubly intriguing place.”

History is everywhere at the Natural Bridge. It’s in the very rock that makes up the bridge, in the trees and vegetation of the area and in the ground that so many historic figures have tread upon. The Cedar Creek Nature Trail is a perfect example of this. This historic trail will take you along the same path Washington, Jefferson and Civil War soldiers once walked. You’ll see the Arbor Vitae, a 1,500-year-old tree that embodies the history of this place.

But history isn’t all that’s to be found along the trail. The path will take you by waterfalls, pass you along a creek and allow you to see some of the best sites the Natural Bridge has to offer. Be sure to wear sneakers and bring a camera to get pictures of the exotic plants and wildlife.

Of course, the Natural Bridge itself is the main draw for visitors. Standing 215 feet in height, it was once included in the seven natural wonders of the modern world. It formed when limestone, dolomite and shale properties were submerged under water. Scientists speculate that 200 million years ago, the layers of rock first rose, then three million years ago, underground waterways made their way through porous sections of stone and carved caverns and hollows into the weakening rock. The waterways weakened the rock until there was a collapse, leaving the Natural Bridge as we know it today.

Another popular draw of the Natural Bridge is the Natural Bridge Caverns. Open from March through November, the caverns will take you on a journey 34 stories into the ground where you’ll see sites like the Colossal Dome room, a “colossal” room that is shaped like a dome. It has taken thousands of years for this structure to form … and it’s still forming today.

The caverns are also home to Mirror Lake and the Well Room.

“Our caverns reopen March 5^th and will be open through November 27,” Land said. “They are one of the most popular attractions here at the Natural Bridge. We offer 45-minute guided tours daily. During that tour, you not only see really breathtaking cave formations, but you hear great tales of the history of the cave, from its discovery to a real ghost story.”

The Native American Village is another spot at the Natural Bridge that will take you back in time. Built in partnership with the Monacan Indian Nation, the Native American Village was constructed to give visitors of the Natural Bridge a view into what life would have been like for Native Americans in the area 300 years ago. This interactive journey into the past gives visiting families a chance to take part in tool making, at the instruction of natively garbed experts. Learn how woodland Native Americans would have lived on the land and have an opportunity to experience being in a replica of a Native American home of the era. The village is open year-round, but to get the full experience, you’ll need to visit between April and November, when it is staffed.

Special Events

There are plenty of events happening at the Natural Bridge in March and April.

“We are offering a new hotel package this year,” Land said. “It’s a St. Patrick’s Day Weekend Getaway for two. It’s only available on Saturday, March 19th and prices start at $139 plus tax. It includes overnight accommodations in the historic Natural Bridge Hotel, beer tasting featuring local micro-breweries, a St. Patrick’s Dinner buffet featuring traditional Irish fare, along with our chef’s updated interpretation of some Irish dishes.”

This package also includes Sunday morning breakfast as well as tickets to the Natural Bridge and the Natural Bridge Caverns. If you only want to come out and enjoy the St. Patrick’s Weekend Dinner Buffet, you can do that too. The buffet is available separately for $25.95 for adults and $12.95 for children between the ages of five and 12.

April will see the return of two popular Natural Bridge events.

“We have two long-standing Natural Bridge traditions,” Land said. “Our Easter Sunrise Service conducted under the Natural Bridge and our Easter Buffet. The Sunrise Service is open to the public and begins at 7 a.m. The Easter Buffet is from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.”

The Easter Buffet is $25.95 for adults and $12.95 for Children between the ages of five and 12. Please note that reservations are required if you’d like to attend the Easter Buffet. Call (540) 291-2121 to reserve a space for you and your family.

They also have getaway packages that start at $81 for two people. This price includes an overnight stay at the Natural Bridge hotel, breakfast for two and tickets to the Natural Bridge and caverns.

“We have a lot of guests from the Lynchburg area that join us regularly for our Friday Night Seafood Buffett and our Saturday Night Barbecue Buffet, and who take advantage of our holiday hotel specials,” Land said.

Whether it’s history you want, the simple beauty of a place created by nature and time, or something fun for the kids to do, a trip to the Natural Bridge has more than enough to keep the whole family entertained.

Get Married at the Natural Bridge

With the beauty of the Natural Bridge, the striking foliage of the area and the history, it’s no wonder so many couples choose Natural Bridge as the place where they exchange their marriage vows. Something many may not know is that you can also have your wedding reception at Natural Bridge.

“We have two reception facilities. One accommodates 150 and the other, 400 people,” Land said. “We offer a full range of catering packages. We do everything from our famous barbecue buffets to elegant prime rib dinners. We offer discounted hotel rooms as part of our wedding packages. In addition, we do rehearsal dinners and post-wedding family dinners.”

For more information, call the Natural Bridge toll free at 1-800-533-1410 or email info@naturalbridgeva.com.