Anyone who has seen the 1987 classic Dirty Dancing, will remember the movie was set in the Catskills but in reality, it was actually the Mountain Lake Lodge in Pembroke, Virginia, that stood in as the movie’s resort where romance sparked between Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze’s characters, Frances “Baby” Houseman and Johnny Castle.
In celebration of the movie’s 35th anniversary, Mountain Lake Lodge is now hosting “Dirty Dancing Weekends,” which features a slew of activities inspired by the film including dance lessons, a guided tour of film locations, scavenger hunts, trivia nights, and even screenings of the movie.
Among the resort’s landmarks are the central gathering place with the stone hearth, the Harvest Restaurant and Patio where Johnny and Baby first set eyes on one another, the gazebo for salsa lessons, and Baby’s cabin.
“We are elated for a national audience to discover that Mountain Lake Lodge is a real destination steeped in history and offers today’s guests a special experience, whether they are ‘Dirty Dancing’ aficionados, hikers, or mountain bikers, or just want to relax and get away,” Mountain Lake Lodge’s president and CEO, Heidi Stone, said in a statement. Virginia Tourism Corporation’s president and CEO, Rita McClenny, added, “Viewers will be delighted to see familiar scenes and backdrops at this iconic Virginia property, while they watch their favorite stars relive some of the most memorable moments from the film.”
Unfortunately, all the 2022 dates are sold out already, but there are a handful of open dates in 2023 just waiting to be booked.
