Magical Moments On Lake Chatuge
Editor’s Note: In April, ConventionSouth
Managing Editor Marlane Bundock traveled to North Georgia and toured The Ridges Resort and Club in Hiawassee. While I’ve frequently ventured to parts of the Blue Ridge Mountains, from North Carolina to Tennessee and the Virginias, I jumped at the opportunity in April to participate in a familiarization tour of North Georgia’s Towns County. It was a chance for me to visit The Ridges Resort and Club and see if the most southern part of this mountain range could ease my soul with its majestic beauty.
After a two-hour drive from Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, I arrived in Hiawassee, a quaint mountain town with an abundance of prime real estate and newly built homes. The word “Hiawassee” comes from the Cherokee Native American tribe for “meadow.” The town sits below a graceful span of mountaintops, including the state’s tallest peak, Brasstown Bald, and on the banks of Lake Chatuge, a manmade lake located in both Georgia and North Carolina that spans more than 7,000 acres.
Nestled within a quiet cove on the lake is The Ridges Resort and Club. Jarrell Johnson, the general manager, gave us a tour of the resort property, which includes a lodge, lakeside villas, an 18-hole golf course, a full-service marina, five restaurants, various indoor and outdoor meeting spaces, and planned residential communities that support the resort’s upscale amenities.
The warm, early spring weather provided the perfect environment to board one of the pontoon boats for rent at the resort’s marina. A convenience store is stocked with all the essentials for a boat ride that offers an ideal way for groups to explore the 140 miles of shoreline and the pristine, emerald green waters of Lake Chatuge. As the sun set while we returned to dock, it was apparent that the mountain scenery of North Georgia could magically ease any worries and renew the spirit.
Fully capturing the resort’s inviting charm is The Lodge, a recently renovated stone building perched on a high bank above the lake. A rustic stone and hearth design welcomes guests to the lobby and the parlor that surrounds a stone fireplace. Large windows lead to an outdoor gathering area complete with a fire pit. Guest rooms are spacious and well appointed with balcony seating areas that truly transport guests to a carefree world even while they read the daily newspaper with their morning coffee. In total, 130 guest rooms are available.
Just as The Lodge captures the mountain environment of the area, the cabin-styled design of the adjacent Old Hiawassee Grille captivates guests. The white lights that adorn the stone and wood fence surrounding the outdoor seating area encourage guests to relax and enjoy the view while sipping a glass of wine. And the menu offers a full selection of culinary delights ranging from trout to salmon and other Southern favorites.
The Grille, one of five restaurants on property, as well as the resort’s full banquet services are operated under the direction of Executive Chef James Reaux, whose background includes supervising the culinary operation of first-class resorts throughout the country like The Greenbrier in White Sulfur Springs, W.Va. Chef Reaux made his way to Hiawassee after providing consultation services for the fine-dining restaurant, Sequoyah. Part of The Ridges Country Club, the Sequoyah is Chef Reaux’s personal playground for creating top-notch culinary experiences for guests. In order to ensure his staff provides the best dining experience possible, Chef Reaux said he takes personal pride in developing the staff’s fine-dining skills and even recruits interns from culinary schools.
Meeting space can accommodate groups of up to 300 and includes the Red Banks Ridge, a lakeside windowed room with a timber-framed ceiling and a stone fireplace; The Board Room, an open loft with a high wooded ceiling, an antler chandelier and a conference table for up to 16; and Lakeside Pavilion, a covered lakeside area for up to 70 guests.
