History of the Shenvalee Golf Resort


President: Ron Gore
Architects: Rod Smith and Ed Ault
Pro Shop Manager: Karl Doller
Reservations: Kim Olinger
Human Resources Cindy Salyards
Controller: Sheri Burke
Greens Superintendent: Mac Henry
General Manager: Dick Barkley
Assistant General Manager: Victoria Thomas

Featuring:Shenvalee Sign

The Shenvalee is located on historic ground once owned by Valentine Sevier as part of his 378 acre plantation granted to him by Thomas Lord Fairfax on July 21, 1749.

By Deed dated May 9, 1765, Valentine Sevier sold his former home and 378 acres of land at New Market to his 20 year old married son, John Sevier.

In 1762, at the age of 16, John Sevier (1745-1818) had married Sarah, the 15 year old daughter of Joseph and Sarah Hawkins of Hawkinstown. Despite his early marriage, he went on to become General John Sevier and the first Governor of Tennessee.

Shenvalee, located on the central part of the Sevier plantation, has in notable succession been owned by Thomas Lord Fairfax, Valentine Sevier, (1749), John Sevier (1765), Joseph Strickler (1772), Henry Sulcer (1778), Mathias Sulcer (1779), George Lafferty (1802), William Steenbergen (1805), John Click, Jr., (1809), Dr. John Strayer (1818), Joseph B. Strayer (1876), B. P. Newman (1889), William A. Pence (1902), Clarence A. Pence (1919), Roland G. Hill (1926), Shenandoah Valley Estates, Incorporated (1926), and the family of Dr. Casper Otto Miller, whose son, John G. Miller, sold it to the present stockholders.

Early Painting done at Shenvalee Golf Course
Bobby Jones, world famous golfer, driving off Tee # 5 on July, 7, 1927.

During the era that preceded the 1929 stock market crash, the area in and around New Market experienced spectacular growth and development. Three major caverns, Shenandoah, Endless and Luray, had been developed. Numerous spas such as Orkney Springs, Brock Springs, Shenandoah Alum Springs and others were going full tilt, catering to those of wealth and leisure, many of whom came from the nearby Washington-Baltimore metropolitan areas. It was into this climate of economic prosperity that Roland G. Hill came to New Market with the dream of building a resort type hotel and what was to be the first of its kind in the Valley, a nine-hole golf course. From Clarence A. Pence, Hill, in 1926, purchased what was then known as the "Dr. Strayer Upper Farm". Utilizing the dwelling that stood there, Hill enlarged it into a two-story hotel with rooms surrounding a central balconied ballroom. At the same time, the first nine holes of the present golf course were constructed by a large force of men wielding picks and shovels and using horse drawn wagons to transport the dirt excavated in the process. It was opened to the public on July 7, 1927.

In January, 1929, disaster struck in the form of a fire which started in room No. 10 on the second floor and which resulted in extensive damage to the hotel. Upon rebuilding, a third story was added and the ballroom, now used as a dining room, was sealed over. The charming era of the balconied ballrooms had passed.

The name Shenvalee was chosen by the owner and New Market newspaper publisher, John G. Miller, from a combination of three famous words: Shenandoah--Virginia--Lee, hence Shen-Va-Lee or Shenvalee

Around 1944 the U.S. State Department, looking for a place to hold their Italian prisoners of diplomatic rank, took over the entire facilities of Shenvalee for that purpose. A small group of Italian diplomats, guarded by local New Market residents, enjoyed a leisurely 14 months at Shenvalee.

In 1956 a corporation was organized to take over the property. As the need for more space became apparent, in 1960, the Poolside Motel, to the south of the Lodge, was built and the following year a swimming pool was added.
In 1964 the back nine holes was constructed. In 1965 the present golf shop was erected and in 1969 the Golf Course Motel. A new wing to the Golf Course Motel was added in 1973 and Tennis Courts were added in 1975.

The front nine holes of Shenvalee Golf Course occupy land which was within the area of operations of the Battle of New Market, fought May 15, 1864, between a small Confederate army under the command of Gen. John C. Breckenridge, and a large Union force commanded by Gen. Franz Siegel. Among Gen. Breckenridge's forces was the cadet corps of the Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Va., which gained undying fame by its famous charge that turned the tide of battle. This historic incident is now perpetuated by a well-endowed foundation, financed by the bequest of the late George Collins of Charleston, West Virginia, and former VMI cadet. The "Million Dollar" New Market Battlefield Park and Museum was dedicated in May, 1970, just one-half mile northwest of The Shenvalee.