1965 Map of Big Levels

About this map

George Washington National Forest blankets this high-country landscape, defined by the winding spine of the Blue Ridge along the boundary of Augusta and Nelson Counties. The Blue Ridge Parkway traces the crest, offering access to numerous vistas such as the Twenty Minute Cliff Overlook, The Slacks Overlook, and The Priest Overlook. In the lower elevations, the recreational character of the mid-1960s is evident at Shenandoah Acres and Camp Thunderbird, while the isolated settlement of Love sits near the headwaters of the South Fork Rockfish River. Industrial history is etched into the terrain through the Coal Road and scattered Claypits. Small community anchors, including Rankin Ch and Mountain Top Ch, provide key reference points for genealogists and local historians studying the rural social fabric of this mountain region.