Ever since I've been coming to Front Royal, before I moved here, I'd always been intrigued with a little tree that juts out from the mountain skyline, and is particularly visible when you enter Front Royal from the north as you drive over the bridges that span both forks of the Shenandoah river. I've spent many a car journey entering the town, and just staring at that little seemingly forlorn tree that stands alone, looking the exact same in any season, and just simply looking lonely. It had always affected me, making me feel a little sad as I stared up at it, despite the fact, that of course it's not lonely; there's millions of trees up there with it. And maybe it wasn't lonely, it was actually a bad-ass rebel tree, that wanted its own identity, thank you very much, and if it had to stand aside and have it's own silhouette, then it darn well would.
So, I was exceptionally pleased when one day while scrolling through Facebook, I found a post on The Lonely Tree, and behold, many, many people loved this little fir tree, and many also crossed those bridges, peering up at the mountain skyline, and imagining their own story line about the little tree.
The now famous tree stands proud about one mile up before Dickey Ridge, on the right hand side. There's no actual overlook there to stop and park, but it's clearly visible by the stone wall as you drive past.
People uploaded a few photos and explained what the tree meant to them, and I realized that there was a Lonely Tree Community!
I was amazed at how many people had been touched by this tree. There's been a local beer named after it, people have had it tattooed on their arm, and a couple of people in town have created their own artwork of it. There were hundreds of comments from folks who made a point of visiting it regularly, had their own name for it and some had even scattered loved one's ashes there or got married under its boughs.
Some of the comments follow:
One guy has been telling his granddaughter that the Grinch lives there.
There used to be a smoke stack next to it. I remember seeing it as a girl.
My Grandfather use to call it "The Lone Sentinel" as it looks like a lone soldier walking down the mountain.
That tree is such a landmark can see it when crossing the bridges coming into Front Royal ❤️ makes me kinda homesick !
It’s definitely a loved sight and tree in this community. Living
out 619 my entire life, I look forward to seeing it everyday I pass the
livestock. A local artist Tiffany Budzisz did a fabulous portrait it.
“The Lone Tree” 💙
My dad is laid to rest at that tree. ❤️ It warms my heart to know others love that spot as much as us.
Mawmaw’s rooster tree 🌲
When my son was small he thought it was Barney the dinosaur 😂
We've called it the rooster. It's my front porch view. Love it.
In Grade School, I Remember It Being Called “Man On The Mountain” 😅
That’s my husbands tree. He called it his tree. He died in
November. Can’t look at it without thinking of him. My stepdaughter even
had it tattoed on her arm.
Pretty sure everyone is aware it's "just a tree". As you can tell
from the comment section it's way more then "just a tree" to many
people.
So many of us have
been fascinated by that tree 🌳. My late husband would point it out and
wonder...it is a reminder that even in a forest full of trees it is
possible to stand out OR to stand alone. Perhaps it reminds me of the
creator who put it there for a distraction from all the craziness going
on around us.
OMG...that's
been my tree for years...I have showed it to my family and told them you
ever want to know where Mamaw is I live right under that tree...You can
see it coming into town from many directions and when you get into town
you just need to look up for it on the drive and there it is...I am so
proud of it because it has been my friend for many years and I hope it
has many more...
I got married at that tree. we call it the Wedding Tree ❤
I’ve always called it Frank.
My
wife and I named it Mildred when we first got married. Idk why but it’s
always stuck with us. I work for Amazon and move all over but when I
come home to visit family we always say hello to “Milly” as well
My
dad loved that tree. He passed away in November. Michael at Tried &
True Tattoo blessed me with this sweet memory. A good friend also
gifted me with the painting shortly after he passed. It hangs in my
hallway between two pictures of us from my wedding. I can also see it
from my living room window. It’s a very special tree. - photo
I
got married there at sunrise. Nothing could have been better, we had
three deer that came out and just watched us the whole time. When we
were done and started walking they walked away too.
I
think it’s awesome that this simple little tree that I’ve seen sooo
many times means so much to many. I will never look at it the same. ❤️❤️
A couple years ago my
girls asked me why that giant always stands in the same spot and never
moves they was 5 and 7 so I went w it lol. The other day the oldest seen
it and she asked the next time we go to that mountain if she could stop
by and thank him for protecting everyone in Front Royal lol...
I refer to it as my "help me tree." Based on Psalm 121:1-2 NIV
1 I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.
It helps me lift my head a bit higher when in the valleys and reminds me I'm not alone.
In hindsight, I shouldn't have been so surprised that so many people watched, gazed upon, looked out for, and revered this little tree. Front Royal is a small town filled with many kind-hearted people, a community that so often comes together for those that are less fortunate among us.All the monuments and special places in the town are respected and loved, so why on earth wouldn't this little tree that stands so proud on the skyline be an exception? Some people even suggested creating a Facebook page for it. At least I now know, this little tree isn't really lonely at all.
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