History
From mineral spring retreats to ski slopes and a mountain airport — the story of Basye.
The Roots of Basye: A Journey Through Time
Tucked into the mountains of Shenandoah County, Virginia, Basye is a small community with a surprisingly rich backstory. Its identity is tied closely to one family, one resort, and a series of bold bets that paid off over more than a century.
How Basye Got Its Name: A Family Legacy
The name “Basye” honors a prominent local family who put down roots here generations ago — a Basye family cemetery is reportedly still visible near one of the golf course holes at the resort. The community takes its name from Martha Basye, who married William Brice. That connection matters, because William Brice was the man who opened “Bryce’s Hillside Cottages and Mineral Baths” in 1909 — the seed that would eventually grow into what we know today as Bryce Resort.
From Orkney Springs’ Neighbor to a Defined Community
For years, Basye was considered part of the broader Orkney Springs community — a historic resort town just a few miles down the road, known for its mineral springs. Over time, the two places took on distinct identities. Basye wasn’t officially recognized on its own until the 2000 U.S. Census, when it was listed as a Census-Designated Place (CDP) under the name “Basye-Bryce Mountain.” By the 2010 Census, the name had been simplified to just “Basye.”
The Brice Legacy and the Birth of Bryce Resort
The story of Basye is really the story of the Brice family. In 1909, William Brice opened “Bryce’s Hillside Cottages and Mineral Baths” to catch the overflow of guests from the nearby Orkney Springs Hotel. He chose to spell the resort’s name “Bryce” — with a y — rather than use his own surname, giving it a distinct brand from the start. The early resort was simple: hillside cottages, a dining hall with food grown on-site, and mineral baths. Visitors came to escape summer heat and breathe mountain air.
The real transformation came in the 1960s. In December 1965, Pete Brice — William’s grandson — opened ski slopes on the mountain just in time for Christmas, using the then-new technology of artificial snowmaking. It was a gamble that worked, turning Basye into a winter destination. Pete then turned his attention to the sky. In 1966, he broke ground on a small airport across from the ski slopes, driven by his love of flying and a hunch that pilots would enjoy having a mountain getaway to fly into. Sky Bryce Airport officially opened on March 1, 1967, and remains an active general aviation airfield today — even serving as a landing point for medical evacuation helicopters.
Basye Today: A Blend of History and Modern Recreation
Today, Basye is a close-knit mountain community in Shenandoah County. The Basye name lives on in the land, and the resort William and Pete Brice built continues to draw visitors year-round. What started as a handful of hillside cottages built to absorb overflow from a neighboring spa has grown into a full four-season destination — skiing in winter, golf and hiking in summer, and a community of residents who came for a visit and decided to stay.