WEEKENDER: Barnsley Resort

The entrance to Barnsley Resort looks like a vintage postcard, flanked with stone pillars and manicured flower beds. A narrow, winding road takes you through rolling green fields lined with wooden fences, and the smell of charred hickory and smoked brisket hits you as you pull up to the three-story inn. Park the car, stretch your legs, and breathe in the fresh mountain air. If the last leg of the five-hour drive from Charlotte felt endless, the warm chocolate chip cookies in the lobby will make you forget all about it.

This 3,000-acre property sits in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in northwest Georgia, an hour north of Atlanta and south of Chattanooga on I-75. The resort has a variety of guest cottages, a golf course, a spa, and a range of outdoor activities. The grounds are dotted with hammocks, cornhole boards, and fire pits surrounded by Adirondack chairs. It’s family-friendly (but not crawling with kids), and a great place to de-stress and recharge when you have a long weekend and crave some time outdoors.

Barnsley Gardens is one of the few surviving antebellum gardens in the country.

STAY

The Inn at Barnsley Resort has 55 guest rooms and suites and a lobby with a grand staircase, exposed beams, and wagon wheel chandeliers. The common area feels like an English hunting lodge with dark wood bookcases and paintings of foxhounds and Irish setters. When you want to cozy up indoors, play a game of chess or relax on a leather couch beside the wood-burning fireplace. If you have a large group, book one of the six Manor Cottages, which have four bedrooms and porches with rocking chairs or swings. Estate Cottages sleep six to 18 people and are equipped with full kitchens and dining rooms. Many cottages are pet-friendly, too.

The Inn at Barnsley Resort has 55 guest rooms and suites.

Many of Barnsley’s cottages are pet-friendly.

EAT

Woodlands Grill is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and serves “garden to table” cuisine. Feast on steaks, pasta, and seasonal vegetables—and don’t skip their signature appetizer, the Pimiento Cheese Beignets. Eat in the formal dining room, on the covered porch, or in the bar area if you want to grab a quick bite and watch the game. The Beer Garden has a selection of regional brews and a smoker full of brisket that you can smell from the parking lot. The all-day menu includes coffee and breakfast sandwiches, plus barbecue, wings, and pizza. If you come on Friday or Saturday nights, settle in for some live music and order another round while the kids play bocce ball. Rice House is open for dinner on weekends and serves seasonal tasting menus with wine pairings. (Note: Rice House does not offer a children’s menu.) Each night, the Inn provides s’mores kits that you can take to any one of the fire pits and enjoy a sweet treat.

The Beer Garden has an all-day menu and love music on weekends.

The Beer Garden’s all-day menu includes brisket sandwiches, nachos, wings, and pizza.

Woodlands Grill is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and serves “garden to table” cuisine.

The Inn provides s’mores kits each night.

PLAY

The outdoor activities at Barnsley make it feel like a posh summer camp. Try archery and ax throwing or take a canoe or kayak out on the 10-acre lake. If you want to fish, complimentary poles are available for catch and release at The Outpost. Adults and kids 11 and up can book a guided horseback ride; younger kids can do a corral ride or visit the miniature horses at Barnsley Farm. The resort also has adult-sized beach cruisers for rent, but bring your kids’ bikes if they want to pedal across the property, too. Visit the Manor House Ruins to see remnants of the original 19th-century villa and explore the gardens, which include a meditation garden with a bamboo grove. A nine-hole disc golf course meanders through the grounds, and the Jim Fazio-designed golf course has 378 acres of championship greens. If you need some pampering, book a massage, body treatment, or facial at The Spa at Barnsley Resort.

The archery program combines traditional skills with modern recurve bows.

Canoes and kayaks are available to take out on the 10-acre lake.

Kids can do a corral ride and learn the basics of horsemanship at Barnsley Farm.

The property has multiple cornhole boards where kids can play.

HOLIDAYS AT BARNSLEY

Barnsley kicks off the holiday season with the annual Village Lighting Celebration on November 22. See the resort transform into a winter wonderland with Christmas trees on the lawns and wreaths on every door and window. Enjoy visits with Santa, seasonal treats, crafts for kids, and live music in the Beer Garden—and don’t miss the Manor House Ruins decked out in white twinkle lights. The holiday line-up also includes gingerbread house making, breakfast with Santa, and a wreath-crafting workshop. Check the calendar of events for the full schedule.

Than annual lighting of the Barnsley Resort Village