PRIM AND PROPER GREAT GETAWAYS

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1 GREAT GETAWAYS PRIM AND PROPER Primland: A resort of mountainous proportions TEXT BY BILLY WILSON PHOTOGRAPHY BY GERIN CHOINIERE There s an amazing experience waiting for you just two and a half hours north of Charlotte. And as impressive as it is, I am surprised at the number of people who know nothing of its existence. Welcome to Primland, a pristine mountain resort carefully nestled into 12,000 acres of heavily wooded Blue Ridge topography. Let s start with the Lodge, which stands as an iconic centerpiece to the resort. It is an impressive blend of contemporary and rustic architectural features. This statement may be at odds with itself, but the results certainly work esthetically in a big way. As you enter the Lodge you are welcomed by a soaring Great Hall with twin fireplaces and the 54 CHARLOTTE LIVI NG largest coffee table book you ve ever seen. The halls throughout feature original art from around the world, and although you feel as if you re within a gallery of wood, stone, metal and glass, there is a genuine sense of comfort here. The Lodge features 26 guestrooms and suites, each with a distinctive floor plan. The finishes and materials are all absolutely first rate, but the interior designer showed a delicate touch of restraint, making this lap of luxury a very comfortable one indeed. Additional accommodations exist here beyond the walls of the Lodge. Three Fairway Cottages are available along the 10th and 18 holes of The Highland Course (we will get to that subject later). Individual Mountain Homes are available as well, featuring splendid views and well-appointed accommodations. Within the Lodge are two restaurants. Elements offers fine dining with an emphasis on local, organic and sustainable food. The chef created plates for us that were as beautiful as they were flavorful. An extensive wine list complements the menu, and a two-story wine room is available for your perusal. Elements is open for breakfast and dinner. 19th pub is the perfect place to escape for your favorite cocktail, draft beer, or single malt after a round of golf. This well-stocked pub offers a casual option for lunch and dinner.

2 The most iconic architectural feature at the Lodge at Primland is its distinctive silo. At the very top of this silo, you ll find an Observatory Dome complete with a Celestron 14 CGE Pro 1400 telescope. This offers guests the opportunity to explore the stars, planets and even galaxies beyond our solar system. Guests can even experience a Tour of the Universe, an extraordinary 1.5 to 2 hour program that is sure to please astronomers of any age. Also within the Lodge is The Spa, a well-equipped and staffed environment created for renewal and rejuvenation. The wisdom of Native American healing and European spa rituals are interwoven here with each of the treatments. And the facilities themselves create a soothing and tranquil place to escape within yourself. Golf is an amazing experience at Primland, and the Highland Course is simply a jewel. Designed by famed Scottish golf course architect Donald Steele, the Highland Course has already won high praise. It was rated as one of America s 10 best new courses by Travel and Leisure Golf in Golfweek ranked it in the top 25 of best resort courses. And Golf Magazine recently ranked it as the 13th best public course in America. During my visit, I was fortunate to play a round with Head Pro Brian Alley, and not

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5 GREAT GETAWAYS only is the golf course spectacular, the views are breathtaking. It seems that at most mountain courses, you re in a valley looking up at mountains. Here, you re on top of the mountain, looking down into the Dan River Gorge. The Highland Course is a shot-maker s golf course. But even if you snap hook your ball miles into the gorge, as I did on occasion, you are rewarded with a splendid view. In fact, everywhere you look seems like a picture post card. Outdoor activities abound here at Primland. Sporting Clays features 14 stations over a mile-long course. A variety of clay targets are presented and mimic the flight of game birds. The staff there has even created a virtual course where you walk down a path as a staff member releases clays as he sees fit. Additional outdoor activities featured at Primland include fishing, horseback riding, kayaking and mountain biking. ATV tours are also offered as a fun way to get out and explore the beauty of the property. Guests at Primland can also enjoy deer, turkey and pheasant hunting on-site. Deer hunting is a semi-guided activity offered during state-regulated hunting season. Primland is an Orvis endorsed wingshooting lodge. Driven Pheasant Shooting that compares to the best in the UK is also offered here. As impressive as the myriad of activities are at Primland, just as impressive is the level of service and attitude of the staff. At each touch point in the resort, we found welcoming smiles and friendly, helpful people. If you are fortunate enough to ever visit here, you ll leave grateful to have experienced Primland. 58 CHARLOTTE LIVI NG

6 MANLY MEN PLAYING WITH GUNS AND STUFF TEXT BY BILLY WILSON PHOTOGRAPHY BY GERIN CHOINIERE Photographer Gerin Choiniere and I have been on a number of assignments to area resorts in search of a good story and some pretty pictures for this magazine. But never have we felt so manly. We spent most of one day at Primland s Activities Center where we both had our first experience with sporting clays. First, our guide Mike took us through some safety instructions. Then, he showed a great measure of courage by letting us handle a loaded shotgun. When we got the hang of not aiming it at each other, or Mike, we found ourselves yelling PULL! as clay pigeons flew at us from different directions. BAM! BAM! BAM! went the shotgun as each and every target smashed into bits. Unfortunately, most of them smashed into bits as they hit the ground. As we slowly got the hang of it, some targets actually began to explode in the air as they were miraculously hit by birdshot. Did I say manly? After our shoulders became numb from shooting and wounding a number of clay pidgeons, Mike took us on another manly activity. We climbed aboard ATVs and toured the mountain terrain around Primland as manly men would do. We looked and found some beautiful views, saw wild turkey, pheasant, deer and heard about the abundance of black bear in the area. For some reason at this junction, we picked up speed. Along the way, All in all, there is no better way to explore the mountain majesty than on an ATV. Wow...that sounded manly and American. It was a great day to feel the testosterone flow through our bodies. In fact, on our way back to Charlotte, Gerin and I considered stopping to buy chewing tobacco and changing our names to Buckshot and Scruffy. For detailed driving directions or more information visit primland.com or call Primland Resort is located at 2000 Busted Rock Road, Meadows of Dan, VA CHARLOTTE LIVI NG 59