Guest Blog: Meet 4th Generation Austin Family Member, Alex Kot

Alex Kot, 4th generation Austin family member (grandson of Claire Austin Bellingham, son of Kristy Bellingham and nephew to Jonathan Bellingham), was recently at Capon for several days to help us prep for the 2021 season. In this guest blog post, Alex shares a bit about himself and about his love for Capon…

“My name is Alex Kot. I am the oldest son of Kristy Bellingham and the great-grandson of Lou Austin and part of the Capon family. I joined the Army after graduating college in 2015 and have served as an Officer since then. I am currently stationed at Fort Campbell, Kentucky about an hour north of Nashville, Tennessee. I have been coming to Capon since I was a baby and will continue to do so with my family for as long as I can!

Of my most cherished memories, Capon occupies several of the top spots. Reaching the mountain road across the state line into Capon at the end of our five hour journey, we rolled the windows down to smell the cool mountain air, listen to the gravel crush under the tires, and watch rocks tumble down the steep cliffs on the side of the vehicle. As a child running the Capon Mile, visions of grandeur flashed through my mind as I tried to keep up with my older cousin, Sam, who was trying to keep up with my Uncle, who was trying to keep up with another Uncle, Jonathan, of UVA running lore. Needless to say, I was not able to keep up. I remember the moment when I finally reached the age to join the adult softball game, instead of just watching on the sidelines. Now in my twenties, I allow myself to have two desserts. Last summer, I brought my then girlfriend for the Capon test. She passed and is now my fiancée. I’m sure for most of you, these sound eerily similar, almost universal.

However, these memories are more than just in my mind. Each time I travel over the mountain pass by the trailhead to Eagle Rock, my experiences come rushing back. The sights, sounds, and smells of Capon evoke feelings of excitement, joy, and hunger! Fortuitously, I recently had the opportunity to travel to Capon in March to assist the preparations for the coming season. For five days, I organized, carried boxes, moved furniture, cleaned, swept, and dusted. The card room, at the end of the Main House, is now as it was before the pandemic: bathed in sunlight and prepared for puzzles. The Water House recreation room has been organized for the equipment for all games and activities from shuffleboard to ping pong, from basketball to tennis, from tubing in the pool to croquet, and everything in between. Yet, what I did was small compared to the monumental effort underway here in the shadow of the Appalachian mountains. Capon co-workers and family are preparing for a memorable season. We hope you and all guests are too!”