The Station's regular season is from June through mid-August. All research and living facilities are available during this time.  Use of the Station in the off-season for research or visiting groups is invited, but requires special arrangements. All station users must complete an on-line application - Click Here.

Accommodations:
A variety of modern and rustic dormitory, apartment, and private cabin accommodations are available to suit most personal and family needs. Many families live at the Station each year and children are welcome.  All dormitories and cottages have electricity, lavatory, toilet and shower, single beds, dressers, tables, chairs and study lamps. Most do not have central heat aside from fire places, but winterized and heated modern apartment suites and single rooms are available.  Housekeeping facilities are not available and cooking is not permitted in the dorms or cabins.  The dining hall serves three meals a day to all station residents.

Off-Site Local Area Links and Information:

Mountain Lake Hotel:
More luxurious accommodations, meals, and family recreation can be had at the Mountain lake Hotel located just two miles from the Station on the shores of Mountain Lake itself.  Contact the Hotel (info@mountainlakehotel.com) for information and reservations (800-346-3334 or 540-626-7121 or 540-951-1819, or fax: 540-626-7172).  A reminder to all MLBS residents - please do not use Hotel property or facilities without checking first with our office, or the Hotel.  Residency at MLBS does not come with Hotel privileges.  We have an excellent relationship with the Hotel that we wish to maintain.

Two Giles Country web sites - GilesCounty.org, GilesCounty.net
Local Accommodations
General Information
Maps
Food
Lodging
Recreation

Communication at the Station:

Incoming Calls: 540-626-7196. This is the Station Main Office where messages can be left for residents. In emergencies only and if the Main Office is closed, the caretaker's home number is 540-626-7171 (year-round), and the Associate Director's cabin number is 540-626-7159 (summer only). There are no phones in cabins or dorms.

Outgoing Calls: May be made from a public phone using credit/calling cards.

Cell Phones:  There is no cell coverage at MLBS.

Fax Service: The Main Office has one fax machine. It is available for both sending (you will be billed for the call) and receiving faxes when the office is open. Fax number: 540-626-5229.

Private Phone Service:  Researchers and faculty may request private phone service to labs or offices.  Contact the Station to make arrangements. Voice mail instructions for phone line holds (click here).

U.S. Mail, U.P.S., Federal Express, and Airborne Express / DHL Address:

Jill A. Student
MLBS / 240 Salt Pond Circle
Pembroke, VA 24136

NOTE: Please remember to discontinue mail delivery to this address when you leave the station. Mail delivered to this address after you depart will need to be forwarded by our office which can take some time. We STRONGLY recommend using "Temporary" rather than "Permanent" mail forwarding. You can do this on line at: https://moversguide.usps.com/?referral=USPS

 




Email Messages can be left with the Main Office at mlbs@virginia.edu . Residents DO NOT have access to this address for regular use. High-speed Internet service is provided throughout the station at no charge.

Computer Network and Internet Access: Ethernet and wireless access is available in both lab buildings and in some residential buildings.  A full-service computer lab is open 24h/day and is equipped with Windows and Macintosh workstations, and printers. 

Personal Items to Bring:

Due to a limited water supply, the Station provides only minimal laundry facilities:  two coin-operated washers and dryers, as well as laundry lines.  Residents must provide their own laundry soap.  Most residents find it more convenient to use Laundromats in Blacksburg (30 minutes away).

Climate:

In spite of the southern location of Mountain Lake, summers at the Station are pleasantly cool. The mean temperature for the summer months is approximately 68^o F, the nights being markedly cool, and the midday temperature seldom rising above 80^o. The temperatures for a typical summer are as follows:

                        Maximum     Minimum

High (day)               85                62

Low (night)             61                41

Average                  77                55

  (January, -20C, -4F)

Visit our monthly weather data summaries page for recent conditions.  Because of its mountainous location, the Station has frequent showers. Warm informal clothing is recommended. For nearby current conditions visit the National Weather Service's Blacksburg site.

Health and Safety Issues and Services:

MLBS is a safe place to live and work. But we are also committed to providing support with any personal, student, or occupational health issues that may arise. Please notify station staff if you have any concerns about your own physical or mental health and safety, or that of others. We have a variety of resources at our disposal and will be eager to assist in a sensetive and confidential manner.

• Information on local medical services can also be found in the MLBS Handbook.
• Emergency procedures are outlined in the "Disaster Plan" and in the "Evacuation Plan."
• Mental health contact information is listed in a recent UVA report on mental health on Grounds.
• UVA Emergency information and alerts

The station is 30-45 minutes away from the nearest hospital or doctor's office. 911 response is 20-30 minutes. A modern hospital is located in Blacksburg, off Rt. 460, 20 miles from the Station.

Recreation:

New River Mall Movie Listings

Lyric Movie Listings

	Blacksburg, a typical university town (Virginia Tech) is 30 minutes away by car.  Recreational activities at the Station include campfires, folk singing and dancing, seminars and slide shows, movies, volleyball, basketball, a team triathlon, swimming, caving, rock climbing, hiking, and white water canoeing on the New River. Among other special events, the McKenzies (at left) join us once or twice a summer for a wonderful evening of singing and dancing. They are a Mountain Lake tradition that should not be missed! Get a preview of (or buy) their music at their web site.

Rules:

The Station is a branch of the University of Virginia and those using the Station in any way are subject to the rules, regulations and customs of the University (click here for current UVA Regulation, including alcohol policy). In order to protect the interests of the community, the Station Administration reserves the right to dismiss any person behaving in an inappropriate manner or whose actions it is judged pose a danger to him/herself or others. Basic Station rules and procedures are given in the MLBS Handbook and it is the responsibility of all users to read and follow them.  Station users are responsible for knowing and employing appropriate laboratory and field environment research procedures and regulations (University, Federal, and otherwise), including proper applicable Animal Use Protocols.   UVA's Laboratory Survival Manual contains useful general laboratory procedure and safety guidelines.
 
UVA Alcohol and Drug Policy

See "Research" page for science-related policies and regulations.

Pets:  No pets of any kind are permitted on the station without the explicit and advance permission of the Director. No pets may be left in vehicles.