In an era when the gap between haves and have nots grows disconcertingly wider,  Roaring Gap represents a refreshing change from the in-your-face celebration of conspicuous wealth so common today. A private summer resort since the late 1800s, Roaring Gap is tucked away in the mountains of Alleghany County in a purposefully obscure spot. It says a lot about today’s world that a club for the wealthy – located in a county where more than 20% of the population lives in poverty – can invoke a kind of nostalgia for a past gilded age.

My friend Tootie invited me to come along with her close knit group of friends to enjoy a few early autumn days in the beautiful mountain region that is home to Roaring Gap. These are women who value friendship and know how to have fun together. Even when things look bleak, there’s something to be said for all of us, rich and poor, escaping to a place of great natural beauty and taking time to have fun.

September 16, 2017, County #35 – Alleghany