The View From Lover's Leap

[Willis]

So,
I finally was able to coordinate with my friend and arrange a visit to the summit of Lover's Leap. The view was simply breathtaking. The first two images show the panorama of the north side of the horseshoe. The top image of the first set was taken ca 1903 for a brochure promoting the second incarnation of the springs. The bottom was taken earlier this evening. They match up pretty well.
As usual click the pics for a larger view.


The top image of the second set was the Burton engraving ca 1830. The bottom show what I believe to be the beach area. the rock formation juts out to the edge of the precipice where the legendary Indian Princess leapt to her death.


The lower images don't match as well, but we suspected that Mr. Burton used some artistic license in his sketch.

I hope to get better images now that I know the lay of the land and have made arrangements for a return visit to what is arguably one of the most stunning views in the county.

[chipgallo]

These turned out very nice! Good job!

[LFE]

Looks like we need to cut down a few trees and add a lot more grass areas for SP to cut in order to really get things to match up :-)
Great pics/posting.

[Willis]

A page from our virtual tour of the Springs tells all at this
LINK LINK LINK

Lover's Leap from below:

[shadowplay]

Looks like we need to cut down a few trees and add a lot more grass areas for SP to cut in order to really get things to match up :-)
Great pics/posting.

I know. This pic makes me a little disappointed in my progress. =)

[PurpleCowEatingCake]

Very nicely done Willis, whats the fee to enter that private property? Possibly a spiffy S&B coffee cup or maybe even a tee,lol j/k
Did you have any goats eating your shoelaces? As for matching up your modern picture size wise, it would probably require a 12mm fish-eye lens on a 35mm camera body, but you probably already knew that. That view would be worth a nominal fee for the public to access, a real shame it's not public. Any plans for the future of that property, maybe a donation to the great people of West Virginia?

[Tony]

I would imagine the cost to erect a decent fence along that cliff would preclude any such endeavor. And I doubt anyone could afford the insurance without a really good fence. I don't even see how they can get homeowner's insurance, unless the agent just doesn't know half the yard is sheer cliff.

[MetalMama]

Ive lived here all my life and never heard of lovers leap and an indian princess. wow im missing something. Do you have any articles willis where i can read up on this?

[PurpleCowEatingCake]

I don't help often enough but try this MetalMama. Willis has provided this link above, just hiding....kinda

[Willis]

Ive lived here all my life and never heard of lovers leap and an indian princess. wow im missing something. Do you have any articles willis where i can read up on this?

I don't help often enough but try this MetalMama. Willis has provided this link above, just hiding....kinda

MY BAD,
I've edited the post above to make
the link to the story
more conspicuous. I'd like a future project to include a video taken from below and from the top of the precipice with a narrator reading the story while the Camera "Rolls".

[nelliesvt]

Considering I won the book at one of the picnics and it is sitting right next to me I really should read it! I started it 4 years ago and read about the first 20 pages - can't remember why I stopped??? Oh I remember . . . working too much! You have peaked my interest Willis!

[ZooKeeper]

Can anyone tell me where lover's leap is? I'm assuming this is a different location than the overlook on Rt. 9, though they look somewhat similar.

[chipgallo]

It is along the Shenandoah River across from Shannondale Springs. I have a February 2005 photo here (not as dramatic as the view from LL though):

http://www.flickr.com/photos/chipgal.../in/set-122775

[Willis]

Can anyone tell me where lover's leap is? I'm assuming this is a different location than the overlook on Rt. 9, though they look somewhat similar.

TMI=Sinuosity

Our beautiful Shenandoah river is renown for its twists and turns. And toward both the east and west, you can see many similar views. Tho Lover's Leap is on private property, it can be viewed from below as Chip has captured digitally from the former beach area of the Shannondale Springs historic area seen here ca 1895:

In our virtual tour of the area.

At one time you could enjoy one of the similar views from the now abandoned Scenic Overlook on Rt9 just west of Keyes Gap HERE and in the image below from 1978

Yep, definitely TMI