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| The view along the main road through the resort |
We spent a few days in Vermont recently, at the lovely von Trapp Family Lodge, and I learned a lot about the family that inspired the iconic "Sound of Music" story. The movie is one of my all-time favorites, so to stay in a place where the family actually lived was very special, although learning some of the actual facts that aren't reflected correctly in the story threw me for a bit of a loop! But as our guides often said, some of the real stories are even better.
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| A very old pic from my photo album! 1990 - a pic I took of the house used in The Sound of Music film for exterior shots. Salzburg, Austria. |
Today, their former home is a 2,400 acre resort, managed by the son of Maria's youngest son (there were actually 10 children in the family--Maria and the Captain had 3 of their own). There is fascinating family history everywhere, and plenty of Austrian-inspired decor. There is actually a family burial ground right near the main lodge, where Maria and the Captain are buried, in the same plot, surrounded by the graves of a number of their children.
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| The von Trapp Family Cemetery. Maria and the Captain are buried together, in the plot beneath the wreath-clad marker farthest to the right, near the cross. |
On our first full day, I took a guided snowshoe tour up to The Chapel. This stone structure was built by Werner von Trapp, one of the older sons, upon his return from WWII. He served in the U.S. military, returning to Europe and essentially fighting against some of his own countrymen. During one ferocious battle, he prayed for his survival, pledging to build a Chapel on his family's property if he were able to return home alive. When he did, he set about keeping his promise, dragging stones up a steep hill by himself. Offers of help were declined, as he insisted this was a project he needed to complete on his own. In four years, it was finished, and it still stands in a clearing in the woods. Inside, there are paper and pens available for any visitor wishing to write down a prayer and leave it in the prayer box.
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| The Chapel, completed around 1944 |
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| My hubby and I in front of the Sugar House. An unseasonally warm day meant short sleeves and no coats! |
We came home with some beer, some syrup, and a lot of great memories! Definitely a wonderful resort with friendly employees and gorgeous scenery that allows visitors to enjoy nature.
