Barnsley Gardens Resort - A Fairy-Tale Tenth Anniversary Celebration

 

“There are some places where happily ever after just happens.  Built on an incredible love story, Barnsley Gardens resort is a vacation getaway unlike any other. Originally home to Godfrey Barnsley and his family in the 19th century, the estate has withstood the tragic death of Godfrey's beloved wife, Julia, the destruction of the Civil War, and the devastating 1906 tornado. It wasn't until Prince Fugger purchased the property in 1988 that the transformation took place." So goes the story tale of this wonderful resort.

According to history, Godfrey Barnsley arrived in Georgia in 1824 and quickly became one of the wealthiest men in the South, selling cotton abroad and bringing European commodities back to the United States.  In 1841 he moved his children and ailing (consumption) wife Julia to the Bartow County plot where he would build an estate called Woodlands. But when Julia Barnsley died in 1845, the grieving widower, left with eight children, abandoned the construction of Woodlands and traveled for several years.

He eventually finished his estate, touring Europe for furnishings and art while his eldest son found precious plants in the Orient to be used for landscaping the grounds.  But much of Barnsley's work was destroyed during a Civil War cavalry skirmish that broke out on the property in 1864.

At the end of the war his unreconstructed Confederate sons immigrated to South America rather than sign the Oath of Allegiance. Barnsley moved to New Orleans to try to revitalize his failed cotton business and left Woodlands in the hands of his daughter Julia - thought to be a model for Scarlett O'Hara in Margaret Mitchell's "Gone With the Wind" - and her husband.

Barnsley died in New Orleans in 1873 without regaining the family fortune. His descendants lived at the estate until it was auctioned in 1942. According to a history published by the resort, at that point, the gardens and house fell into disrepair.

Prince Fugger bought a total of 1,300 acres of land in 1988 and began restoring the landmark. Cottages were built to resemble a 19th-century-style English village, and the gardens were revamped and expanded to complete the transformation.  In 1999, one of three investors bought Barnsley, and Julian Saul (President of Shaw Industries) paid 10 million for the property appraised at 25 million. His goal was to improve, but not change the resort, keeping its rich history and luxurious world-class appeal.  And in doing so, the love story of Godfrey and Julia live on.

"Years ago when Prince Fugger owned the property, he sat Fairy down on a very special rock in the woodland gardens at Barnsley Gardens Resort.  In this perfect setting, he then told her that he was making her a Fairy Godmother and gave her a very special wand that is on display in their reception area.  From this day forward, she has been the special light of the resort.”

Click here:  TV News Clip of The Fairy Godmother

Prince Hubertus Fugger: http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2213&dat=19940205&id=sJIwAAAAIBAJ&sjid=tDoDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2270,2147524

The Fairy godmother made our stay an exceptional one! My new favorite saying became, "Uh oh, the door is shut!"  While enjoying the day's activity, the Fairy Godmother worked her magic Love Spells in our bedroom and left the door closed behind her.  Each night of our stay was a different theme (big thanks to my wonderful husband for his romantic plans made over several months and collaboration with our FG).

The drive from Atlanta is quite rural, so you might begin to wonder where Barnsley Gardens is hidden. Luckily, the strategically placed signs really help. As you enter the main road to the resort, you quickly realize what a treat this place will be. We knew the weather may not hold up as this was the wettest year on record for Georgia. We could only hope… and wish that the weather would break for at least some of our planned activities. Checking in at the reservation desk was easy; we were given a map and a general explanation of the resort amenities. Our Arbor Cottages is one of the largest one-bedroom accommodations. Boasting a generous 1,056 square feet, the Arbor Cottages are free-standing structures for maximum privacy. They feature:

·         A large bedroom with king size bed and 32-inch High Definition TV

·         A living room with seating for five, pine floors, 12-foot ceilings and wood-burning fireplace

·         42-inch High Definition TV in the living room    

·         Wet bar with mini fridge, coffee service and complimentary non-alcoholic beverages

·         Private front and back porches (with a double swing) overlooking a unique garden

·         Period-inspired bathroom with a claw foot soaking tub and tiled shower

·         Private entrance and suite-side parking

·         Complimentary gourmet snacks, non-alcoholic beverages and wine service in-room

We fell in love with our cottage and the gardens and woods surrounding it.





Our first activity was a two hour romantic wilderness ride for two with our own guide, Scott Thompson; he has an incredible voice. I love his song Something ‘Bout the Rain- check it out! http://jscottthompson.com/

He and Ed quickly found something in common; they both play music. (Scott’s CD's are in the store in the SpringBank Sporting Club.) Unfortunately, after an hour into our ride, we had to hightail it back to the club because of storms looming ominously over the mountains. Our horses, Lovey and Sarah, were just a bit skittish as thunder intruded on our day. Scott frequently checked his phone’s weather app, and made his decision to return just in time.



Our ride for the first hour - http://www.kevingarrett.com/

A picnic on the porch during a downpour...awesome!

We were supposed to have and elegant picnic lunch at the top of the mountain complete with linens, china, and silverware. Instead, we enjoyed our picnic on the big back porch watching torrential rains, chatting it up with Scott, and listening to country-western music. It was most relaxing.

With all the rain, we now had to make a decision about dining “out” whether to enjoy a private four-course dinner for two served by our own private butler under the stars at the Manor House Ruins… or have our dinner under the cover of the porch at the Museum next door. After consulting with the registration desk about the weather and talking to the Fairy Godmother, we decided to go for it. We would have our private dinner at the Ruins. There was a small window of better weather after 5 o’clock. After all, we had been looking forward to this our most special night of all.

And oh was it special!!! I kept my 3 o’clock appointment with Melissa Sutton at her hair salon called Hair Clips in downtown Adairsville.  http://www.yelp.com/biz/hair-clips-melissa-adairsville  

Hair by Melissa at Hair Clips

I have to admit I was a bit nervous, but Melissa was recommended by the resort and definitely knew what she was doing. In less than an hour, Melissa had my extensions and hair curled and sprayed to handle any weather, and waterproof makeup because she knew I’d probably cry with happiness at some point in the night. Ed was in touch with the photographers he hired, Ryan and Tricia of 3 Rivers Photography-http://3riversphotography.com/    - so we were all set for our special 10th Anniversary celebration.

We were picked up at our cottage à la “golf cart”, and driven to our Grand Dinner at the Manor House Ruins. Ryan and Tricia took several garden photos before we ate. We exchanged our gifts and wined and dined until the sun was fully set. The open ceiling and stunning views created a surreal ambiance… the sounds of nature and the pristine beauty of Barnsley gardens made this night one to remember. We could smell the fragrance of the heirloom roses, feel warm breezes, and just delighted in what turned out to be a spectacular rain-free evening.

Front porch of the Ruins

Back yard of the Ruins

Sites from our golf cart

The meal was delicious and with impeccable service from our butler, Logan. He was even more amazing when you consider he had to drive to pick up each portion of our meal from the Rice House (their premier restaurant). Even the choice of wine from the Wine Snob (frequently available to make recommendations regarding wine selections during your stay at the resort) was delectable. The wine choice went well with our choices: Crispy fried Maine lobster tail over wakame salad with Chinese honey mustard sauce and drawn butter, Chilled gulf shrimp cocktail with jicama slaw, Stilton and pear salad with artisan greens, red grapes, spicy pecans, pears, Stilton crumbles and apple walnut vinaigrette, Woodlands Caesar, fresh Pan seared rainbow trout over sweet corn risotto, spring vegetables, toasted almonds and lemon buerre blanc, Pan seared chicken breast supreme topped with goat cheese and sun-dried tomatoes over angel hair with asparagus and herb-ed sunburst squash. We finished with Bourbon pecan pie and Florida key lime pie – can you spell, Divine!!!

A rose...before dinner

Chatting before we were seated for dinner

Cheers!

Logan, our butler

Stellar service from Logan

Did not want the night to end!

After Logan took a parting picture of us, he drove us back to our cottage where the Fairy Godmother had worked her first love spell.

“Uh oh, the door is closed!” (That became my new fav saying)

Peeking in, our bedroom had been transformed into a fairytale scene with dozens of shimmering candles, champagne and glasses, and a bed full of rose petals! “Wow,” was all we could say! Then…what else is a girl to do with all those petals!!!

Day two: We woke in time for breakfast at the Woodlands Grill house before our tee time at 8 o’clock. Because of our early start, we were able to fit in all 18 holes before the rains came. The lush emerald fairways and bent-grass greens of this Jim Fazio designed championship golf course was quite a challenge. The hilly cart paths and views from the tees were stunning. The grounds, even on the back nine (high in the hills), were meticulously kept. One thing we really looked forward to was the cart service on the 10th hole where we ordered Bloody Mary’s and freshly made chicken salad sandwiches.


After a quick dip in the pool, we enjoyed tooling around in our golf cart exploring the gardens and trails on the premises. Next up was a date to shoot sporting clays.

Sporting Clays

In Sporting Clay shoots, 5 to 10 targets are shot at each station by a squad of up to six shooters for a total outing of 50 to 100 targets per person. Numerous hunting conditions can be simulated by combining various speeds and angles with different types of clay targets. Each station is unique. Throughout a course, the shooters might see targets crossing from either side, coming inward, going outward, flying straight up, rolling on the ground, arcing high in the air, or thrown from towers. One of my favorite stations had “rabbits” where the clay targets never follow the same bouncy path; another is where we shoot a clay target that is launched vertically and drops straight down into a reclaimed bauxite mine pond. Barnsley’s course was challenging so our scores weren’t the best, but it was sooo much fun!

Pretty grounds on the golf course.

An unbelievable view from the top!

By evening, it was raining once again, but never-the-less, we enjoyed the ride in our golf cart to the Woodlands Grill

http://www.barnsleyresort.com/eGallery/upload/Barnsley%20Gardens%20Resort/Barnsley%20Gardens%20Resort/Files/woodland-grill-spring-summer-dinner-5-17-13-no-prices.pdf

- this time for a fancy steak and salad. Dining was enhanced by the ambiance of this English hunting lodge with sweeping views of the golf course and surrounding hills. It was a perfect end to a stellar day. We ordered drinks to go for the cottage where we enjoyed sitting on the swing on the back porch with a good cigar. That tell-tale sign from the Fairy Godmother caught our eye; there was a bouquet of balloons attached to a fancy bucket of fragrant bath items, a fruit basket, and a bottle of wine. Now that’s mighty.

Woodland Grill House

Ed on the 18th hole

Day three: Nine holes of golf, then breakfast while we waited out another storm. Since this storm lasted, we begged off golf and carted to the Museum where we delved into Barnsley family history. We learned so much about their trials and tribulations: the devastating loss of Julia Barnsley, the destruction from the tornado in 1906, and the Civil War that set Godfrey Barnsley into financial ruin. The book, Barnsley Gardens at Woodlands – The Illustrious Dream by Clent Coker, captures the romance, history, and mystical legends of this most wonderful place in the woods.http://www.amazon.com/Barnsley-Gardens-Woodlands-Clent-Coker/dp/0970193602

Clent Coker signing our book

Ed made appointments for us to have Hot Stone Messages at 1:30 at their renowned Spa. I was ready for some pampering after those hills on the golf course!

http://www.barnsleyresort.com/unwind/spa.asp.

Spa Overview

·         10 Treatment Rooms

·         Massage & Body Treatments

·         Skin Treatments

·         Aromatherapy

·         Pure, Organic Products

·         Co-ed Whirlpool

·         Ladies & Gentlemen's Lounges, Saunas, Steam Rooms

·         Relaxation Room with Water & Teas

·         Gift Certificates

·         Adjoining Fitness Center & Grecian Style Swimming Pool

It was worth every penny…and we made another appointment for Friday! We hurried back to our cottage in anticipation of the Fairy Godmother’s third love spell: the No Siesta, Fiesta! It was a fun late-afternoon treat of chips and salsa, homemade guacamole, a pitcher of margaritas, and assorted party favors. Of course, we indulged in a little Mexican playfulness.

A beautiful mid-afternoon delight from the Fairy Godmother!

We ended this day with dinner and a game of billiards at Dugan’s Tavern inside Woodlands Grill.

By Thursday, and only nine holes (yup, rain!), I decided to do a little shopping at Addie’s Boutique. I perused the unique one-of-a-kind gifts, jewelry, clothes and accessories, and their assorted gourmet snacks and wines. I bought a summary top, a bejeweled bottle of PooPouri – bathroom citrus spray (I know but had to have it. Lol), and a Barnsley garden magnet. The SpringBanks Sporting Club and the Golf Shop also offer a full line of golf apparel and gear or outdoor sporting needs for shooting, hunting, fishing, and other fine gifts.

 

This is where you can clean your guns after Sporting Clays

After a quick trip back to the cottage, we grabbed our Tilley hats and took off to explore the Conifers Garden to see the very unique imports from China and around the world. The whole resort was decked out for Fourth of July! We were asked if we’d like to honor any family members who might’ve served our country.

In honor of those who served

They took the names of Ed’s mom and dad, my brother, and Uncle Sam; their names were laminated and attached to the flags which were displayed in front of the Woodland Grill’s garden. Our family’s flags will be displayed every year from now on. Barnsley Gardens’ goal is to fill a meadow with all the flags they collect over the years. We thought the display was rather stunning and poignant.

This night we had reservations at the Rice House: http://www.barnsleyresort.com/eGallery/upload/Barnsley%20Gardens%20Resort/Barnsley%20Gardens%20Resort/Files/rice-house-spring-2013-final-no-prices.pdf      

Libations were delightful and in Fourth of July style. The blue martinis were edged with red pop rocks and made for an “explosive” sipping experience!

Firefly Light-bulb necklace 

We ordered the Vidalia Onion Soup (to die for!), King Crab toastettes, Beef Tenderloin, and Straus Veal Chop, but begged off dessert to get S’mores made over a fire pit just outside our cottage. I caught a few fireflies to enjoy in my Firefly Light Bulb Necklace from the Fairy Godmother! She must have heard how tickled I was to have Logan catch one for me at the Ruins. It’s that kind of detail that she’s known for at the resort. She is also known for her brand of Woodford Reserve Bourbon… and we hope to purchase a hand blown bottle of her brew for Christmas this year!

On the 5th and final night of our stay, we enjoyed a full round of golf…more Bloody Marys and chicken salad sandwiches then on to another Spa treatment.

We dined at the Rice House again because we so enjoyed the night before and even asked for the same table and waitress since Logan was not serving this night. We did see Logan at Woodlands Grill for breakfast most mornings, and it was always awesome seeing him again. The staff here was exceptional, so cordial, and remembered our names. We felt like family.

Our bedroom door was closed again … our final Love Spell was dark Chocolate covered strawberries, a gift of “travel items” (let your minds wonder), balloons, and Champagne chilled in a beautiful brandy glass the size of a bucket.

 We were sad to have our stay come to an end, but we were also ready to go home again. The Fairy Godmother left a parting gift – a beautiful basket of garden bounty! The vegetables and fragrant herbs smelled so good…I couldn’t wait to cook up a meal of naturally ripened veggies!

We arrived home late Saturday, unpacked, and fell into our dreamy bed to visions of fairy spells and magic nights. This was definitely a fairy-tale tenth anniversary celebration.

We hope you will book a stay for your special occasion, and tell them Ed and Cher sent you! You could have the time of your life there… golfing, swimming, dining, shooting, horse riding, hiking, canoeing, etc.

Garden fresh for the restaurants

Barnsley's Family Grave site

One last visit to see Sally and Lovey

A parting gift from our Fairy Godmother!

We love tooling around even in the rain!

We'll be back Barnsley Garden Resort!

Barnsley Gardens Resort has a Fairy Godmother!

Barnsley Gardens Resort...teaser.

Just celebrated our 10th Anniversary at this amazing resort! The Fairy Godmother (click the link) made our stay a pretty magical one. Stay tuned for the supporting blog.

In a cozy alcove in the kitchen, guests at the coveted Chef’s Table get a front-row seat where Chef Hunnel starts the evening with a Champagne toast and discusses ideas so that he can craft a personal menu. With up to 13 courses, the experience offers small tastes of everything from caviar to Kobe beef and Japanese Wagyu strip loin, paired with wine and spirits. The dinner lasts nearly four hours, the time filled with marvelous tastes and Hunnel’s banter between courses. For foodies, it’s never long enough, a meal as entertaining as it is delicious.

From their Link: Victoria and Albert's Private Kitchen Table

See my article from Dining 2009 on the side selection.

Personally created menus - a parting gift:

Each was individualized for tastes and wine pairings:

The Boardwalk Grill

Spring Break!

John's Pass, Madeira Beach, FL



Our three friends at The Boardwalk Grill.

This spring break, my mom and I also went to John’s Pass Boardwalk in Madeira beach, Florida. We probably walked about three miles checking out all the cute stores for souvenirs for mom’s friends back in North Carolina. The weather was picture perfect, and the waterway traffic was fun to watch. People were boarding boats to go parasailing, fishing, and just cruising around. It was also a great day for pelicans, egrets, and the occasional noisy parrots flying by.

Of course, the sea air and our strolling walk made us both ravenous. We decided to forgo the usual places to eat, and came upon The Boardwalk Grill (Marker 6 if you’re on the water). What caught our eye was their sign touting a traditional New England lobster roll. I was a bit reticent -would it be too saucey, small, shredded, etc., but the three guys working there assured us we would not be disappointed. Our waiter suggested an ice cold beer with our lobster rolls and that sounded just about perfect. We sat facing the water at the window bar, and welcomed the light breezes and commotion of the boardwalk scene. Our neighbors (from  Wisconson), overheard our order and decided to have the same...they, too, were enjoying the day.

First the beer was served… delicious and refreshing. Then came the eye-popping lobster roll; it  was overfilled with 8 ounces of cold-water main lobster knuckle meat, celery, and a very light dressing. It was as delicious as advertised. The hot dog roll was toasted and buttered, so the whole combination was “as authentic as it gets.” In fact, neither my mom (of PattyBanks.blogspot.com) nor I even took a picture of our meal because we were so enthralled with our lunch; we dove right in, and  we were on our last few bites when we realized what we had done!  Obviously, we enjoyed every bite and will be sure to visit this spot again.

Check them out next time you’re at John’s Pass…their menu will satisfy any seafood or Land Lubber cravings, and they also serve Fried Oreos – battered double stuffed Oreos fried and covered in powdered sugar! Need I say more!!!

The Boardwalk Grill

204 John’s Pass Boardwalk East

Madeira Beach, FL 33708

727-391-8947

Open daily at 10 AM seven days a week weather permitting.

Up, up, and away in our beautiful balloon...

Balloonist Prayer

May the winds welcome you with softness.
May the sun bless you with its warm hands.
May you fly so high and so well that God
joins you in laughter and sets you gently
back into the loving arms of Mother Earth.

At 4:45 the alarm rings…and mom and I are off to a sunrise flight followed by a traditional champagne toast then on to a hot brunch! Considering my mom is almost 79, I had concerns about the safety and ease of such a thrilling adventure.  Those concerns were quickly mitigated with some research (see end of article and videos) and opinions from my readers and friends. We were definitely ready for the ultimate sky cruise. 

 Our adventure started with a record breaking cold for Spring here in Florida.  There was actual frost nipping at our toes, but wearing closed toed shoes, warm socks, and layers as suggested was a blessing. Getting up early is a must as the drive to the launching site has to be determined by the pilot and his crew that morning and may be one of several choice open fields.  This Thursday turned out to be exceptional…winds 5-8 mph, ground fog lapping the edges of the ponds and low lying areas, and a crisp clear sky.

After boarding the van with its trailer carrying all the equipment, we headed north but south of Ocala to a small field near a new homes construction site. The whole process of unloading and setting up the balloon (envelope) was quite interesting, and we were amazed at the unfolding of the whole event.

 First is removing the gondola, a real wicker basket; ours had four compartments for two and the pilot’s middle section where the fuel tanks and gages are inserted. The burners are set atop the basket which is then laid on its side in preparation for the envelope to be pulled out to begin the process of filling the balloon with cold air (from commercial size fans and generator) then hot air so it can rise ever so gently over the basket tethered by ropes. It’s an amazing process directed by the pilot, crew, and willing participants.

With heightened anticipation, we assisted my mom into the stepping holes and over the padded edges into the gondola. She did that with relative ease considering her two titanium knees. The staff was very considerate, assisting all of us up and over into the wicker chariot, and then, with the most quiet and graceful departure, we were on our way. Understanding that we were at the mercy of the winds, our experienced pilot, Dave, answered all our questions about flying, equipment, and training.  Any concerns melted away as we glided over Tampa’s homes, scenic pine scrubs, and ponds, as we took photos of all things worthy. We saw deer, curious cattle, and flocks of birds. It was so serene. Everyone, eight passengers and our pilot, cruised over tree tops with such ease…we stayed at around 80 feet this day so as to slow the speed of our journey. It was worth every dollar!

 As Dave radioed his choice of the landing spot, Mom and I noticed the high wires, but Dave was quick to inform us this is the norm to have to pilot over them. He did so easily. The descent was much more gentle than we anticipated considering we were briefed for the roughest possibility. We learned to hang on to the handles inside the basket, lean with our backs against the edge facing away from the direction we would come into for the landing, and maintain bent knees to absorb any shock.  Of course, we came in so softly hovering just  inches above the ground to an exemplary touchdown. Dave made us all laugh when he started screaming, “Oh no, watch out, ahhhh!!!” just before we “hit” ground!

 The experience doesn't end for the ground crew who met us at the final destination, nor Dave because packing it all up is quite an ordeal! The process looks choreographed as each member pulls on the balloon as it falls deflated to the ground looking much like it did at the beginning of our journey. Dave brings out a bent pipe, and he and a crew member tug it along the balloon’s length to get all the residual air out before packing it into the bag again. The gondola is dismantled, and everything is placed back into the trailer. We are given a short history of ballooning, shared a prayer, and participated in the traditional champagne toast. The morning had warmed as did our friendships for all those who joined us on this Big Red Balloon 
sightseeing cruise in the sky.

Cold air fill.

Our adventure was an absolute pleasure, and now I will begin to work on the other half of TravelingTilleys for a hot air balloon ride over the scenic autumn foliage up north someday soon. As dreams go, this marked one off my list, and I got to do it with my mom!

Hot air fill.Up, up, and away.

Running deer.

Skittish cattle.

Awwwwwsome.

Our pilot, Dave, and a little history.

Big Red Balloon Sightseeing Adventures: Click link.

…………….

“Buying a hot air balloon and becoming a hot air balloon pilot will put you in rare company. There are only about 4,000 hot air balloonists in the United States. Hot air ballooning is regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and all pilots and balloons must meet their regulatory standards. New balloons are expensive (think luxury car prices) and must pass annual and 100-hour inspections. In addition to the balloon, pilots must invest in additional equipment, ground crews, and insurance,” according to whatitcosts.com

Some research points:

“Training for a private license requires at least ten hours of flight instruction combined with additional hours of ground training and a written test. A commercial license requires more experience- pilots must have at least thirty-five hours of flight time with additional ground experience and must pass a much more stringent written test.”

“The costs for training for a private license can range from $1,200 to $2,750, a commercial license can cost anywhere from $1,500 to $3500.”

“Buying a “flight system” consists of the balloon (also called the envelope), the basket or gondola, fuel, burners and an inflation fan that is used to help inflate the envelope. Costs of these items can vary and some of them are included when you purchase a balloon. Others you will have to buy on your own, such as fuel for each flight (from $15 to $30 and up per hour) and the inflation fan ($900 and up). Additionally, comprehensive insurance will cost anywhere from $500 to $1,200 annually.”

“During the flight, members of the chaser crew keep in contact with the pilot via two-way radio and ultimately meet them at the flight’s landing spot, where they help pack up the balloon and bring the pilot and any passengers back to where they started from.”

“A new balloon will last anywhere from 300-500 hours before it needs to be replaced or significantly repaired.”

“Smaller or sport-sized balloons are for solo flights (pilot only) can start at $20,000. Larger balloons for commercial flights, where pilots are hired to take people on rides, can start at $45,000 and can go much higher.”

“Balloons must undergo annual and 100-hour inspections, fees vary for this inspection, a good ballpark cost for inspections is $350.

For more of the complete article see:  http://hobbies.whatitcosts.com/buy-hot-air-balloon.htm

Up, up, and away!

bigredballoon.com

 

 

Been dreaming of doing this!

I'll be boarding tomorrow morning....more when I have video/pictures.

Love Cafe Ponte's new promo...

Without reserve, this is what food is all about. This month brings the mighty Black Truffle (link: Black Truffles), and I am looking forward to seeing what Christopher Ponte (link: Chef) will be creating with them. I'll let you know!