February Greetings from Tom!

Dear Capon Friends,

Tom here!  A couple of weeks ago, the family was kidding me about dressing up like the Maytag Repairman and posing for a picture here at my desk.  Things were a little quiet "back then", like they have a tendency to be in late January.  Then at our first February meeting, we were brainstorming about how to fill in the last weekend in May.  We came up with a theme:  "Let's throw a Party!"  That was around noon on Monday, February 2.  An email blast went out on Tuesday and by Sunday afternoon, we had filled up the entire place!  I basically camped out at Capon for 4 days arranging (and then rearranging!) room assignments to fill all the requests.  I've been doing this for nearly 40 years, and I can truthfully say that we have never had a response like this before!  This has all the makings for one of our best seasons on record.

2015 SEASON NEWS AND SAVINGS

We want you to know that we do listen!  We take your suggestions seriously and try to fit your ideas into just how we map out our upcoming season.  Everyone was really thrilled with the rate specials that we offered last year; so much so that we have nearly doubled the number of nights when you can stay with us for just $99 per person!  Exactly how many?  (Take a guess and then check the bottom of the page to see how close you are!)  You also asked if we could give you more notice on just when we would offer these rates, so you could plan out your entire Capon year.   We've done that as well, and the $99 nights are all listed on the rates page on our website.

So now that your lonely Maytag Repairman has handled the onslaught of bookings for the last weekend in May, I'm primed and ready to take your requests for ANY time throughout the season from May until mid-November.  That's right!  Based on the totally positive comments surrounding our Veterans Day activities, we have decided to stay open again this season until November 11.  And here's an inside tip....We have never seen such demand for weekend space as early as this before.  This is partly due to SIX weddings already booked and a couple of others already in the works!

ON A MORE PERSONAL NOTE...

Patty and I have plans to head to Florida in mid-march to celebrate our 10th anniversary.  (Yes, Ten Years!  Time flies when you're having fun!)  We will be vacationing on Anna Maria Island, thanks to the generosity of some very special friends!  We both continue to stay active in the community through the churches, Neighbor to Neighbor and Lions Club.  In fact, this past Saturday, Patty received the Melvin Jones Fellowship Award from the Wardensville Lions Club.  This is the highest form of individual recognition within this fine international organization.  Patty also stays very active with her children's and youth choirs in Winchester.  In late March, she will be the guest conductor for the All Virginia Elementary Chorus.  (Can you tell that I am the very proud husband!)

So if you happen to sense that I am pretty excited about the 2015 season, you are absolutely right.  Phil says that if I'm smiling in February, it's going to be a very good year.  Can't wait to see you all soon and to help make your Capon experience exceptional!   (BTW, there are 41 nights where $99 rates are being offered this season!)

Tom (Third Generation Family Member and Reservations Manager)

For the Capon Family

January Greetings from Pete!

Hello and Happy New Year from Pete and Capon Springs!  

Where did the Holiday Season go?  It seems like just yesterday morning Carolyn and I were out on our annual early Black Friday shopping adventure, but here it is the end of January. We're just as amazed at how quickly 2014 flew by.  Last year was our first year of not being at Capon on a daily basis in nearly thirty five years.  So, we had a lot of items on our retirement list.  Carolyn is absolutely loving retired life.  In addition to crossing things off that list, with three sets of grandchildren spread out between Winchester, Arlington and Lancaster, PA, she has had plenty to occupy her time with shopping for them, babysitting, school runs, scheduling visits and all those things you grandparents out there can appreciate.  She also visits with her dad Ted in Winchester several times a week.  He is 94 and is always happy to hear about Capon and his old friends.  I am kind of semi-retired.  

As the golfers in your Capon family know, I couldn't stay away from the golf course.  My great fortune is that I have been able to continue enjoying two of my favorite Capon things - watching over the maintenance of the golf course and visiting with golfers on the first tee in the mornings and afternoons. I've developed so many friendships during my forty plus years as a starter on the golf course.  In many cases I have gotten to know three or four generations of your families.  To be able to continue to catch up with everyone is just a wonderful thing!  

For those of you I do not see on the golf course, maybe this coming season we'll cross paths down at the Main House or on the lawn.  Jonathan has twisted my arm (not a really tough task) and I will be leading history tours again around the grounds on Tuesday afternoons in the Spring & Fall. Stay tuned for information on when those will take place. 

Hope 2015 has Capon in your plans!       

Pete (3rd Generation Family Member)

~For the Capon Family

Timeless Treasure of Time Together

Jonathan Bellingham (third generation Capon family member) here...

With all the merry-making that goes on this time of year, I find myself pausing and reflecting about how holidays and traditions are interwoven into the fabric of our shared Capon experience. This year the calendar lined up just right so we could celebrate Easter on the front end and Veterans Day on the back end of the 2014 season. When you think about it, during our usual 6-month stretch we get to enjoy most of the three day holidays along with some really big ones like 4th of July and Halloween.  Even the traditional Thanksgiving feast doesn’t escape us as we enjoy every Saturday dinner with turkey and all the fixings. And for those of you who go back in years a ways, you can recall how we even used to celebrate Christmas in June. (Any former Capon Santas out there?)

Sign that hangs on Main House Porch

Of course many of you tell us that because of competing school schedules, extended family commitments and even the weather, Capon vacation time has become THE ONLY time to gather as an entire family. This is especially true for military families, who because of their transient nature of their assignments, Capon is the only stable “home” they know. The evidence of this situation abounds this time of year as we receive many family holiday photos that highlight the smiling faces of your clan gathered here this past year.

For those who have generational ties with our family, those shared times connect all of us to even deeper heritage memories. And not to get too “smaltzy” on you, but as I watch the usual Hallmark Christmas movies this month, the message that comes through most of them is the same. One of the most important things we can do as parents to develop and support healthy, fulfilling family relationships is to provide opportunities to create and relive shared memories.

I relearned this lesson recently when our son Stephen was home for Thanksgiving during his first real visit from his freshman year at the Air Force Academy. Besides playing in the snow and enjoying a great meal, we watched some home movies.  Along with the videos of multiple family vacation and holiday gatherings, we found one that included his
first aviation experience just before his 6th birthday.  How rewarding it was to see him connect with his younger self as he now realizes the fruits of that foundational experience!


As you reconnect with family and friends at the end of this month, may you be blessed by shared memories, as well as be a blessing to others who may not be as fortunate to experience such love.

Happy Holidays from all of us at Capon,

Jonathan

~For the Capon Family

Jonathan, Betsy, Stephen & Katie during trip last year to Colorado Springs, CO.