by the 1930s, there were several concessions operated by private firms within the area that would become the park, some going back to the late 19th century. these early private facilities at skyland resort, panorama resort, and swift run gap were operated only for whites. by 1937, the park service accepted a bid from virginia sky-line company to take over the existing facilities and add new lodges, cabins, and other amenities, including big meadows lodge. under their plan, all the sites in the parks, save one, were for "whites only". their plan included a separate facility for african americans at lewis mountain—a picnic ground, a smaller lodge, cabins and a campground. the site opened in 1939, and it was substantially inferior to the other park facilities. by then, however, the interior department was increasingly anxious to eliminate segregation from all parks. pinnacles picnic ground was selected to be the initial integrated site in the shenandoah, but virginia sky-line company continued to balk, and distributed maps showing lewis mountain as the only site for african americans. during world war ii, concessions closed and park usage plunged. but once the war ended, in december 1945, the nps mandated that all concessions in all national parks were to be desegregated. in october 1947 the dining rooms of lewis mountain and panorama were integrated and by early 1950, the mandate was fully accomplished.