In July of 1985, we went with Betsy and Joe to Williamsburg, Virginia, staying at the Williamsburg Motor House (which is no more) and paying visits to Busch Gardens, the pottery factory outlet, and the first round of golf for Joe and I at the Golden Horseshoe. We don’t have any pictures from the trip, but some brochures and memorabilia.
This was our first real trip with Betsy and Joe, and also our first time in ages in Williamsburg. Each of us had visited as kids at various points with our families, but it was our first chance to explore the town and environs on our own. We would return a number of times over the years.
The Williamsburg Motor House was a 1960s relic of a motor lodge, but considerably cheaper than the Williamsburg Inn. It was near the Visitors Center, and being part of Colonial Williamsburg, it gave us access to the historic district and golf courses. We did a basic tour through the historic Colonial Williamsburg area, but truth to tell we were mainly in town for other recreational activities.
Busch Gardens was a relatively new theme park and offered a few modern roller coasters with loop-de-loops. I found a coaster buddy in Joe and we rode the Loch Ness Monster over and over. Barb and Betsy did spinny rides and Da Vinci’s cradle. We all liked the Octoberfest Festhaus where we had beer and brats and I’m betting Betsy found schnitzel.
The Golden Horseshoe Gold course quickly became my favorite golf course, one of the prettiest I ever played. The tall pines were reminiscent of Augusta, the island green at 17 was a precursor to the famous TPC course in Florida, and the atmosphere was of a genteel private club. Joe and I would return there many times.
While we played golf, Barb and Betsy went to the Pottery Factory. At that point, factory outlet stores were relatively new and there were no others in Williamsburg. Not long after this visit, a number of other outlet malls started springing up and the Pottery Factory fell on hard times.
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