Long before Lassie strolled through the rolling hills of Thompson Valley and years before Homer Hickman’s dream of rocketry propelled the small community of Coalwood to the big screen, a little movie called “Dirty Dancing” helped shine a Hollywood spotlight on our region.
The year was 1987, and a then up-and-coming actor named Patrick Swayze, made the long trek to Mountain Lake in scenic Giles County to film a movie with a plot that was largely a mystery at the time. Even many local extras who were hired for the movie weren’t sure about the actual name of the film or its plot at the time. They simply knew the movie would involve dancing.
The movie, of course, went on to become a cult classic of modern cinema. Was the movie perfect? No. Were their parts of this movie that some may consider offensive? Probably. But at its core was a simple love story that was enjoyed by both young and old alike. Many have watched this particular movie dozens, if not hundreds of times, over the past 20 years. It also spawned a timeless soundtrack that you can still often hear on the radio.
Today, more than 20 years later, the legacy of “Dirty Dancing” lives on at Mountain Lake. While only parts of the movie were shot at the mountainous Giles County resort (other parts of the movie were filmed in Lake Lure, N.C.), promotions associated with the movie continue to this very day at Mountain Lake, including regular tours and other activities dealing with “Dirty Dancing.” Recently, a reality show from England based on “Dirty Dancing” was filmed at the resort, along with a “Dirty Dancing” documentary.
The movie was also the precursor to a number of other movies filmed in our area, including “Lassie,” “Country Justice” and “Primal Fear.” And while neither “October Sky” or “A Beautiful Mind” were actually filmed in our region, both movies still helped shine a national spot light on the respective communities of Coalwood and Bluefield.
While it is not everyday that a film crew comes to our region, the influx of outside dollars are still welcomed. We believe the scenic mountains of southern West Virginia and Southwest Virginia would make a great setting for future films, and would love to see more projects produced in our region.
While Swayze may have lost his long battle with pancreatic cancer Monday, memories of his work on “Dirty Dancing” at Mountain Lake will continue to live on for folks across the region, including those who were lucky enough to appear as extras in the movie.
We are glad our region had a chance to play a small role in such a beloved film. And we are glad Swayze had a chance to visit our region for the filming of this movie. His legacy will certainly live on at Mountain Lake.
Thanks for the memories.
