English Countryside Meets Southern Charm

Where Timeless Southern Charm Meets Modern Luxury in the Heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains

By Dana Damato

There’s a warmth and comfort in a destination that feels like home every time you visit. From the familiar music you hear filling the space in a grandiose lobby, to the hospitality of the staff who feel like family, to the traditional Southern cuisine at each restaurant. Barnsley Resort, situated on 3,000 acres in Adairsville, GA, is just that – your own storybook destination that feels like home. Barnsley Resort is where nature, history, outdoor adventure and hospitality meet to create memorable experiences in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

As the summertime wanes and the fall season arrives, Barnsley Resort bursts into a vibrant palette of reds, oranges, and golds. The expansive grounds, once the estate of Godfrey Barnsley, who began construction on his Italianate villa in the 1840s, transforms into an awe-inspiring canvas as trees shed their summer attire. Guests can wander the manicured gardens and wooded trails, where every turn reveals breathtaking sceneries, and the crisp air is tinged with the earthy aroma of the fallen leaves. The sight of sunlight filtering through the colorful canopy creates a magical atmosphere that feels like you’re stepping into a beautiful fall painting.

This is the Barnsley Resort that I know and the experience I have each time I visit. However, a myriad of renovations and upgrades have debuted and are underway at one of the South’s most acclaimed destinations. Barnsley Resort is familiar like an old friend who has grown up and found a much more sophisticated and luxurious wardrobe. Just as lovely as you remember her to be with all her charm and beauty but has debuted with an elevated persona. 

One of the most notable features that encompasses the Barnsley Resort experience is their 39 free-standing cottages available to guests which can transport you to a quaint English countryside village. While these cottages have always embodied a cozy charm that makes you want to curl up in a blanket next to the soothing crackle of a stone fireplace, the newly renovated cottages have given the property a fresh appeal while maintaining its Southern charm and hospitality.  

The fresh but charming design is inspired by a heritage color palette and the classic flora and fauna that is both luxurious and nostalgic of the Southern region.  Accessories such as artwork influenced by the resort’s offerings, rattan sconces, vintage-inspired lanterns and other mixed-metal finishes blend seamlessly to feel as if they have been collected over time.  To establish a harmonious aesthetic across the Village Green, cottage facades also received a new color palette that embrace nature-inspired colors, including shades of Dried Thyme, Sage, Roycroft Bronze Green, Alabaster, Shell White, Toque White, and Charwood-stained patios and doors.

A beautiful new look isn’t the only upgrade coming to Barnsley Resort.  Complementing the newly renovated cottages, additional enhancements include a traditional German Biergarten expected for a late November completion. Located in the center of the resort village, Biergarten will have a two-sided stacked stone fireplace and a covered pavilion, providing guests with endless experiences, such as watching football and lawn games in an al fresco setting. A new kitchen and L-shape bar will serve an evolving menu of regional, German and European brews, paired with an all-day menu of biergarten classics, including pretzels and bratwurst, plus barbecue favorites slow-smoked by the resident Pitmaster, wings, salads and sandwiches. 

One of the most unique experiences offered at Barnsley Resort is located at The Beretta Shooting Grounds by High Adventure Company, an1,800-acre hunting preserve located less than five miles from the resort with quail hunting available seasonally. When adventure calls, there’s plenty waiting for you upon your arrival. The shooting grounds have enhanced its offerings for sporting clays with the addition of a new five-stand station, perfect for group activities and beginners. Two new 15-station clay courses have also been designed and installed next to the clubhouse, which has been upgraded with a spacious new deck for outdoor events. 

Additionally, a new field for Helice has been introduced, broadening the range of shooting experiences available. In Helice, participants aim at uniquely designed targets, called “Helices,” that are launched into the air and spin unpredictably, challenging their speed and reflexes. These additions complement the resort’s extensive sporting portfolio, which includes seasonal quail and pheasant wing shooting, the Swarovski 1,000-yard challenge, and exhilarating UTV rides, all now conveniently available at one location. If hunting and shooting aren’t in the cards for you, then put your chaps on for a guided horseback ride through the stunning Blue Ridge Mountains. For younger children who are still getting used to barnyard animals, the Animal Canvasing activity offers a fun finger-painting experience with smaller barnyard friends.

At Barnsley Resort, luxury meals surpass mere dining to become an unforgettable experience, and one that will surely awaken your palette. Imagine savoring exquisitely crafted dishes that blend the region’s vibrant flavors with gourmet techniques, all set within Barnsley Resort’s finest restaurants. Thanks to its close ties with local farmers and producers, Barnsley Resort offers some of the finest “Garden-To-Table” cuisine in Georgia. With three on-site restaurants showcasing the freshest seasonal flavors, your biggest challenge will be choosing a dish and the ideal cocktail to pair with it. 

Dining at Woodlands Grill features a refreshed English hunting lodge ambiance and scenic views of the golf course, making it a perfect spot to savor comforting Southern dishes. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, it serves delicious Southern fare at any hour, along with an extensive selection of wine, craft beer, and spirits. At the other end of the main road lies Rice House, a charming 19th-century farmhouse that offers a taste of history. Originally the home of the Rice Family from Rome, Georgia, this building has been carefully relocated to Barnsley Resort. As a cornerstone of the resort’s ‘Garden-to-Table’ initiative, Rice House features a menu that changes every few weeks, highlighting ingredients grown in the on-site garden and other seasonal local produce sourced from within a 150-mile radius.