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In perhaps the telling incident that determined their fate, J. Allen Williams of Luray, Cheatham, and Priest had objected to the price offered by the government for their resort and filed suit for higher compensation. Arno Cammerer, head of the National Park Service said that the owners were ‘nice fellows’ but took note of their ‘obstruction’ and never forgave them. Ah the great myth of blind justice, and all - blown away in the cool mountain air.
With advent of the Park, the rustic hotel and cabins at #2 were abandoned almost immediately. Initially the plan was to close the Tearoom as well. However, no plans had been made for tourist facilities. The Tearoom sat at a strategic intersection and was a going concern that filled this need so it was somewhat grudgingly allowed to continue operation under the original owners, Williams and Cheatham. The latter were bumped in 1937 when concession rights to all Shenandoah NP facilities were awarded to the Virginia Sky-Line Company of Richmond. VA Skyline continued to operate the Tea Room until the Park Service razed the structure in 1958 to make way for the present cloverleaf intersection. Enter #3.
Constructed in the 1960s in conjunction with the new Thornton Gap entrance station, Panorama number 3 had a gift shop and a restaurant that served meals similar to those at Skyland. There were periodic special dinner buffets offering king crab legs and other treats. As many still remember, it was a place to take out-of-town visitors who only had time for a brief taste of Rappahannock’s mountain riches. The building is of NPS-rustic design, but it had its charm, and before the trees grew too high, a splendid view of the Luray valley.
Whether #3 has fallen victim to poor design, shrinking budgets, or decreasing visitation, or a combination of all three is debatable. However it seems likely that, at some yet to be determined future time, Panorama #4 will take its place. Will it be massive, will it be small, and will it appear any time soon?Who knows?As Doris Day might sing, Que, Sera Sera! Now, if Monty and his Dealmakers were here, we could peek behind the curtains and get a sneak preview. If the building goes beforehand, maybe we could entice the company to set up their show in the parking lot. Then, provided some Mary #X didn’t crash the show; perhaps we could make a deal and read the tealeaves. One possibility, bears swigging from bottles behind door number 3, perhaps outside of a Buckminster Fuller geodesic dome. ‘Twould be a nice touch, don’t ya think?
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