Peaks of Otter, Life and Times

Benjamin Wilkes owned the Peaks of Otter during the civil war era. He commercialized the popular spot near Bedford on what is now the Blue Ridge Parkway. He built the first hotel on a site close to the present Peaks of Otter Lodge. There is a national park service marker where the original hotel stood.

His accomplishments were all but forgotten when Peter Viemeister, a transplant to Bedford from NYC, began researching the history of the famous mountains. He tells in Peaks of Otter, Life and Times, the history of the mountain community and the people involved in a fascinating story that spans over a hundred years. The book contains more than 200 maps and illustrations, a 17-page index, color jacket, and 278 cloth hardbound pages. ISBN 0-9608598-9-6 $24.50