WEEKENDER: Barnsley Resort

Stone pillars and manicured flower beds flank the entrance to Barnsley Resort, a 3,000-acre property in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in northwest Georgia. The narrow, winding road to the three-story inn runs through a rolling field lined with wooden fences. Park the car, stretch your legs, and breathe in the fresh mountain air spiced with the smell of charred hickory and smoked brisket. 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.

Cotton broker Godfrey Barnsley established the estate in the 1840s, not as a plantation but an Italian-inspired manor for his wife, Julia. Barnsley lost his fortune during the Civil War and moved to New Orleans before he died in 1873. The estate stayed in the Barnsley family for a few more generations, but a tornado damaged the original home, and it gradually fell into ruin. 

In 1988, Prince Hubertus Fugger of Bavaria purchased the property. He spent the next three years restoring the Manor House and its gardens, which revealed original paths, boxwood hedges, and flower beds beneath the dense overgrowth. It’s now one of the few surviving antebellum gardens in the country. 

In 1991, Barnsley Gardens became a public garden and museum for day visitors. The resort opened eight years later with additional guest cottages, a golf course, a spa, and a range of outdoor activities. Since 2004, a family in Georgia has owned the property, which is 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. 

Accommodations include cottages and guest rooms and suites at the Inn at Barnsley Resort.

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. Certain cottages are pet-friendly, and each one has a name that’s significant to Barnsley’s history. (Julia Cottage is named for Godfrey’s wife, Adelaide Cottage for their daughter.)

Rice House offers formal dining.

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, Pimento 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 you can smell from the parking lot. The breakfast menu includes coffee and breakfast sandwiches, and the all-day menu has barbecue, wings, and pizza. On Friday and 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. (Rice House does not offer a children’s menu.) Each night, the Inn provides s’mores kits that you can take to any of the fire pits if you’re in the mood for a sweet treat.

Barnsley’s trail guides lead guests 11 and older around the property on horseback.

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.

Holidays at Barnsley

The resort lights up its Christmas tree in late November and adorns the Manor with white twinkle lights for the holidays.

Barnsley kicks off the holiday season with its annual Village Lighting Celebration on Nov. 22. 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 lineup also includes making gingerbread houses, breakfast with Santa, and a wreath-crafting workshop. Check the calendar of events online for the full schedule.

TAYLOR BOWLER is the lifestyle editor.