Our Facility
Mountain Shepherd’s headquarters in Craig County, Virginia, is nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The secluded 100-acre property offers several outdoor classrooms, a pond, streams and hiking trails. You’ll love the majestic views and serene setting while you learn.
It’s a perfect location for a survival school and so much more…
The Lodge
A 4000-square-foot rustic yet modern facility that’s perfect for a conference, retreat, workshop or any private event! Features include a 1000-square-foot multi-purpose room, a great room, a conference area and a kitchen. Accommodations include private and bunk rooms that sleep up to 46 and private bathrooms. The mountain views spans the length of the lodge.
The Pitchwood Pub
A gathering place before and after courses, where you can sip hot coffee and tea, or off with a beverage after a long day in the woods. The Pub includes a commercial kitchen for catered events and the dining area seats more than 100.
The Cabin
Perfect for a private retreat or meeting! Sleeps 4 with private bathroom. Includes loft area for reading and relaxing. A private deck overlooks the pond.
The Stage
Acoustics are phenomenal on the outdoor stage. Looking for a wedding venue, party location or hosting an outdoor event? Gathering around the stage is the place to be!
Even the drive to Mountain Shepherd Survival School is beautiful! You’ll meander through a picturesque valley dotted with farms and crisscrossed with streams. You may even pass by an Appalachian Trail thru hiker and you are sure to see deer!
The lodge and all its amenities are available throughout all the courses. The experience is yours – you can choose to use the modern facilities or fully immerse in nature. Looking for a venue for a private event, a corporate retreat, wedding, reunion, birthday party or bachelor party? Please contact Dina at dina@mountainshepherd.com for more information.
Directions
Please keep a copy of the directions with you when you travel. Technology does not serve our area well and often sends drivers the long way, the wrong way, or to a completely different location. If your schedule allows, travel during daylight hours. The views are spectacular!
From the North
Interstate 81 South towards Roanoke, Va. Take Exit 141. Take a left at the stop light. The next light is Route 311. You’ll see the Orange Market on the left. A BP and Subway on the right. Take a right. Follow Route 311 for 12 miles to a left on Route 621/Upper Craigs Creek Road. Follow Route 621 for 9.3 miles. Set your odometer, as it is a long and winding 9.3 miles to our sign on the right. Our property is lined with a brown wooden fence. Take the right on Hemlock Ridge Lane and stay straight through the red gates. Get a bit of momentum heading up the hill. Parking area is at the bottom of the circle driveway.
From the South
Interstate 81 North towards Christiansburg/Blacksburg, Va. Take Exit 118B Us-11/US 460 towards Blacksburg. Follow US 460 approximately 15.8 miles to a right on Route 621/Craigs Creek Road. Watch for a brown Je erson National Forest sign on the right. The right turn on Route 621 is just past that sign. Follow Rt. 621 for 11.9 miles to our sign on the left. Just before the turn on Hemlock Ridge Lane you will pass a white church on the left and a subdivision, Fox re, on the right. Our sign is tilted a bit in the other direction. Our
property is lined with a brown wooden fence. Take the left on Hemlock Ridge Lane and stay straight through the red gates. Get a bit of momentum heading up the hill. Parking area is at the bottom of the circle driveway.
From the West
Take 460 East to a left on Route 621. (If your GPS directs you to turn on Route 42, avoid it. You will end up on dirt road. Stay on 460 until you reach Route 621!) Watch for a brown Je erson National Forest sign and a sign for Pandapas Pond on the right. The left turn on Route 621 is just past that sign. Follow Rt. 621 for 11.9 miles to our sign on the left. Just before the turn on Hemlock Ridge Lane you will pass a white church on the left and a subdivision, Fox re, on the right. Our sign is tilted a bit in the other direction. Our property is lined with a brown wooden fence. Take the left on Hemlock Ridge Lane and stay straight through the red gates. Get a bit of momentum heading up the hill. Parking area is at the bottom of the circle driveway.
From the East
Interstate 81 North towards Christiansburg/Blacksburg, Va. Take Exit 118B Us-11/US 460 towards Blacksburg. Follow US 460 approximately 15.8 miles to a right on Route 621/Craigs Creek Road. Watch for a brown Je erson National Forest sign on the right. The right turn on Route 621 is just past that sign. Follow Rt. 621 for 11.9 miles to our sign on the left. Just before the turn on Hemlock Ridge Lane you will pass a white church on the left and a subdivision, Fox re, on the right. Our sign is tilted a bit in the other direction. Our
property is lined with a brown wooden fence. Take the left on Hemlock Ridge Lane and stay straight through the red gates. Get a bit of momentum heading up the hill. Parking area is at the bottom of the circle driveway.