Eseeola Magazine 2019

2019

ESEEOLA THE MAGAZINE OF LINVILLE RESORTS

Unlock Adventures In and Around Linville CRAFT • WINE • SPORT • NATURE

2019

ESEEOLA Things to do. Places to see.

The grounds around the Eseeola Lodge are once again in bloom and another summer season beckons members and guests from across the South and beyond for great food, relaxation and recreation.Â

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LINVILLE FOUR BALL

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THE ART OF A CRAFT

For nearly 70 years, the Linville Four-Ball has introduced golfers to the magic of Linville Golf Club and the Eseeola Lodge and given players of all skill levels a chance for competition and camaraderie.

Visiting Penland School of Craft and the surrounding community is a creative and inspiring way to spend a day.

Learn about the history of utilitarian crafts and how they played an important role in Penland and beyond. See the creative works of today’s artists carrying on this rich tradition.

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HIGH COUNTRY WINE TIME

Local wineries are proving there’s no need to travel far to experience a thriving viticultural experience. Live music, food, grape stomping, family atmosphere and plenty of scenic views just enhance a day of discovering fine wines in the mountains.

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TAILS AND TRAILS

What the Bear Boyd family of Spartanburg thought was going to be a golforiented destination has turned into a family outdoors recreation venue, with James Boyd (above) grinning ear-to-ear over the big catch.

SIDE NOTES

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WALKING HOME TOUR

There’s a walking tour right around The Eseeola that lets visitors go at a leisurely pace and discover Linville’s own historical journey.

A CHEF’S CHOICE

Coconut cake is a long-time Linville favorite, and pastry chef Desiree Schreiner’s updated version is sweet, creamy, velvety and to die for!

Eseeola Director of Communications: Betsy Austin Writer/Editor: Lee Pace • Graphic Design and Writer: Sue Pace Photography: Todd Bush, Monty Combs, Robin Dreyer, Charlie Neufeld, James Shaffer, Jacob Wiseman, Jessica Wiseman Published by Linville Resorts Inc. For reservations and additional information visit www.eseeola.com or call 800.742.6717.

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great Places!

Today is your day!

Your mountain is waiting, So get on your way !”

“You’re off to

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H

ere at Eseeola, we’d like to think Dr. Geisel was referring to Linville and the surrounding area when he wrote those lines for his endearing book, Oh The Places You’ll Go. We admit that’s wishful thinking, but who could argue that coming here hasn’t inspired a few fantastical adventures?

We know our lodge is a haven for relaxation, fine dining and challenging golf, all within walking distance of your room. Add a few more arrows onto your compass and roads will also lead you to arts, entertainment, wineries, hiking trails, scenic vistas and so much more.

No matter your reason for a sabbatical from everyday life, there are so many great places just waiting to be explored here.

Are you seeking creative energy? Penland School of Craft is just the destination for you. It’s a world-renowned campus cultivating talent from students who come from all over the country, and it’s open to the public. It is as tied to the region as vineyards at the local wineries are rooted in the rich, loamy soil.

While a trip to a winery may be an education of another sort, experiencing a tasting flight of some of the area’s best wines is a perfect way to spend an afternoon with friends and family.

And speaking of flights, teams are once again gearing up for Linville Golf Club’s long-standing Four-Ball Tournament which has been drawing golfers to the renowned Donald Ross-designed course since 1952 for keen competition and spirited nightlife.

If sitting, sipping or swinging a club aren’t on your day’s agenda, adventure seekers can just go take a hike or wade in a stream and live the dream of getting back to nature.

So while there aren’t enough pages in this magazine to list all there is to do here under the sky, we hope we’ve given you a few reasons to get on your way because we’re certain all roads will eventually lead you back to Eseeola.

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school

Skill

“I want to bring about a revival of hand-weaving and provide our neighbor mothers with a means of adding to their generally meager incomes without having to leave their homes...My mind wove fanciful visions while my tired, sore fingers were weaving tangible materials.”

–Lucy Morgan, Founder of Penland School of Craft, 1929 Today, weaving is just one of the many creative aptitudes being nurtured and cultivated at the Penland School of Craft. Located south of the lodge on a scenic 45-minute drive, you can explore the talents of some of the brightest and best artists from around the country, learn about the history of Penland and its vital connection to the community and maybe even be inspired to return as a “student” one day.

Penland is an international center for craft education founded by North Carolina native Lucy Morgan in 1929. A college graduate from Central State Normal School (today’s Central Michigan University) in 1915, Lucy returned to North Carolina a few years later to teach at the Appalachain School in Penland. She went on to become an accomplished weaver by the mid-1920s and this drove her passion to help the locals earn a better wage by utilizing their creative skills. Lucy’s educational exposure and her ambition were the driving forces behind her vision for Penland in the Depression-era of 1929.

DETAILS: Textiles student Mirrah Johnson working in the Penland weaving studio.

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[PLACES TO GO] Weaving may have been Lucy’s inspiration, but there were plenty of other creative applications that were also considered necessities to everyday life back then such as pottery and metal. In other words, bowls, plates and kitchen utensils.

Under caring leadership by only a handful of directors since 1929, today Penland School of Craft is a campus brimming with ingenuity ranging from beginner’s workshops to a three-year artists-in-residence program in areas of specialization that stretch well beyond the basics of forty years ago. Intensive eight-week workshops in spring and fall are offered to the public as well as one- to two-week opportunities in the summer where ability ranges from the novice to the noteworthy.

Over the years through grants and patronage, dorms and educational buildings have been built; barns converted; galleries opened and beautifully-equipped studios erected– all to continue to nurture the simple belief that someone’s craft is of immense value. There’s even a comprehensive art supply store and a coffee shop open to the public. And visitors can take it all in.

There are four galleries all located in a stately building that once was a dormitory and chapel for an Episcopalian children’s school. Today it functions as the main welcome center for Penland School of Craft campus. There you can visit a small video theater to learn about Penland’s history; enjoy curated shows from world-renowned artists; be inspired by a focus gallery highlighting one or two Penland artists; and soak up the Lucy Morgan gallery filled with a wide variety of items for sale, including jewelry, textiles, sculptures, paintings, pottery, glass and much more.

From there visitors can walk or drive just around the country bend to the campus. An old stone farmhouse and renovated barns share space with a very contemporarylooking educational center. The architecture is as varied as the artists and their creative interests.

Robin Dreyer, Penland’s communications director, says there is much to explore in and around Penland. “Docents are on hand and tour guests are allowed to walk through the studios,” he says. “Visitors are welcome to meander around the campus anytime, but the teaching studios are generally off limits.”

However, Dreyer does add that Penland has a group of resident artists who welcome visitors into their studios when they are working.

There are two other ways visitors can get direct exposure to artists who have come for a session at Penland.

At 11:00 a.m. on the last day of each session, the school hosts a show-and-tell, open to the public, in which students and instructors display work they have made during the session and everyone talks to each other about what they are seeing.

“It’s freeform, chaotic, and a lot of fun,” says Dreyer.

DETAILS: Resident potter Matt Repsher working in his Penland studio (above left). Glass instructor Jason Minami working in the Penland glass studio (top right). The Penland Gallery features work in many different media by dozens of artists affiliated with the school (opposite top). A Penland Gallery exhibition of work by artist Cristina Córdova (opposite lower left).

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“Everything we do at Penland has the same end goal– to promote the value of handmade items. Process.

Materials. Skills.”

–Robin Dreyer

Visitors can also participate in auctions that take place at 8:00 p.m. on the night before each session ends. Works are put on display and then auctioned off, with proceeds benefitting Penland’s scholarship fund.

When he is asked why “Craft” remains part of the Penland name, as opposed to something a bit more resplendent, Dreyer responds with an easy grin knowing some might find the word a liability.

“I get that question a lot,” he says. “Everything we do here at Penland has the same end goal—to promote the value of handmade items. Process. Materials. Skills. Those three words are rooted in the idea of a ‘craft’. It’s inclusive and was born out of Lucy Morgan’s desire to help promote utilitarian items, but in a way that honored the skill involved to make these items.”

That kind of vision is perhaps why some artists who have come to study at the school have ended up buying homes in the area and opening up their own studios which are designated with orange and green posts located on their personal property. This allows a visitor to explore not only the Penland campus but also the individual talents of the local artists.

A map, located at Penland’s main office and gallery, gives the visitor a wonderful overview of the campus and surrounding studios, including contact information and hours of operation.

One of the most anticipated and popular events that Penland hosts is its annual Benefit Auction and Gala weekend (this year, Friday, August 9 and Saturday, August 10) where 240 works in all types of medium are available for purchase through bidding. It is one of the most important craft-collecting events in the Southeast and a wonderful way to enjoy a summer weekend in the majestic North Carolina mountains.

So a day trip from Eseeola to Penland might just turn into a lifelong love and appreciation of a craft and the people whose skills honor the process in a region that inspires us all.

For more inspiration on Penland School of Craft, its workshops, open houses, gallery hours, tours and Summer Gala visit penland.org.

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[SIDENOTE]

PtoATH thePAST

There are many places to explore around Linville, but sometimes staying put at The Eseeola can be a learning adventure, too. No car keys required, just a pair of walking shoes, a map (from the front desk) and a curiosity about how Old Linville came to be such a magical place for all who visit.

The history stretches back over 125 years, beginning with Hugh MacRae who, at the request of his father in Wilmington, N.C., rode horseback into the Linville Valley in 1893. Realizing the potential of the land’s beauty and resources, the MacRae family wasted no time in securing investors. Soon after, the Linville Land, Manufacturing and Mining Company was born and the groundwork laid for a fully-functioning town. Plans, however, were soon

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reimagined and Linville as a mountain resort sprung to life.

Explore the past as you follow the map to some of Linville’s oldest landmarks. Locate the spot where the original hotel—The Eseeola Inn—once stood while imagining a time when guests arrived by stagecoach. See the first “resort home,” designed by famed architect Henry Bacon. Discover the building conceived as a school and mission for the mountain residents. Observe the Linville clubhouse and see how earlier efforts to fire-proof the building still resonate in today’s design.

The walking tour’s points of interest are centered around The Eseeola. The pace is easy and yours to determine. Best part of your adventure—discovering Linville’s own path in history.

DETAILS: The original Linville clubhouse was designed by the Boston firm of Stearns and Brophy and was dedicated in 1928. It burned down in 1952 and a new one replaced it a year later.

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Confection Perfection CHEF‘S RECIPE

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Eseeola’s Coconut Cake

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oconut cake has been a Linville and Eseeola tradition for many years. But a slice of this sweet and creamy dessert is even more coveted today with the special touches and flare added in the last few years by Desiree Schreiner, who joined the Eseeola staff in 2014 as pastry chef.

Desiree’s resume in a dozen years in the baking and pastry field includes a three-year stint as pastry chef at the renowned Russian Tea Room in New York City.

She prepares all desserts for consumption on property and for outside catering and special events.

“This cake is very filling and is always the most asked about at our weekly Seafood Buffet on Thursdays,” she says. “It’s definitely a house favorite at every location on property. When you hear coconut cake in Linville or even in any surrounding towns, this is the cake everyone is talking about.

“The burnt Swiss meringue frosting covers the cake as well as some toasted coconut on the sides, and mixed with what seems like endless layers inside, makes every mouthful taste just like heaven.”

Chiffon Cake: Beat together in a mixing bowl 5 egg yolks and 1¼ cups sugar until ribbon stage (very thick and pale yellow).

Add to egg yolk mixture ¾ cup water, ½ cup canola or vegetable oil, 1 tsp grated lemon zest and 1 tsp vanilla extract.

Sift together and then add to mixing bowl 2½ cups all-purpose flour, 1 tbsp baking powder and 1 tsp salt.

Mix 8 large egg whites until foamy and soft peak. Add ¼ cup sugar gradually and mix until medium peak meringue.

Fold egg whites into previous mixture gently with a rubber spatula. Do not over mix.

Weigh out 20oz of batter into a greased parchment round 10 inch cake pan and bake at 325 until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean (approx. 35-50 mins).

Simple Syrup: Mix ½ cup water and ½ cup sugar and bring to a boil, strain and let cool.

Add ½ cup Malibu Rum (optional).

Pastry Cream: In a bowl mix together ¼ cup corn starch, 114g (8) egg yolks (pasteurized if available), 1½ cup milk, 1 cup cream, ½ vanilla bean split (1/4 tsp extract), rub bean into sugar before adding the liquid, ½ cup sugar, ½ stick unsalted butter.

Boil milk, cream and sugar bean mixture, then gradually add hot milk mixture to egg and cornstarch mixture. Place back over medium heat until mixture starts to bubble and thicken very well. Remove from heat and add butter, stirring until completely melted and dissolved.

Strain into a clean container and cover with plastic directly on top of the custard to prevent a skin from forming. Cool in an ice bath and then refrigerate overnight for best results and up to five days. Custard should be spreadable but very stiff.

Swiss Meringue Frosting Heat and mix over a double boiler 2/3 cup egg whites, 2 tbs cream of tartar and 1 cup sugar until hot and foamy. Then mix in a Kitchen Aid mixer until cool, thick and shiny. Should be stiff meringue and room temperature.

Toast unsweetened coconut in sheet pan on parchment until desired color, mixing every 15 minutes to prevent burning Assemble: Cut chiffon cake into three layers.

Brush each layer well with the coconut simple syrup.

Spread pastry cream onto each chiffon layer with some toasted coconut.

Refrigerate cake once last layer is assembled, leaving out the pastry cream on top layer.

Frost the cake and burn the top with a torch.

Use toasted coconut for the sides of the cake.

Yield one 10-inch cake (12-14 servings) ESEEOLA

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elevated

DETAILS: Linville Falls W inery (above) and other vineyards are proving that there is no shortage of award-winning wines in the region for enthusiasts to sample. Jack W iseman, owner of Linville Falls W inery (inset), loves to give his visitors an up-close tour. Nicole and Dylan Tatum of Grandfather Vineyard (opposite) sample from the barrel.

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deep roots

Guests at Eseeola Lodge have come to expect a high standard of excellence planted in a rich tradition. In the last few years, roots of another kind have taken hold in and around Linville. Several local vineyards have opened wineries offering yet one more way for people to feel akin to mountain life.

But first we must discuss a brief, albeit surprising, history of winemaking in North Carolina. While today’s wineries in this state with their tasting trends, food trucks and live music are still in their infancy, there’s a valid vineyard heritage. It’s not surprising that most people are unaware of this little slice of winelover’s heaven when points west, not to mention across oceans, have garnered all the attention. What people also don’t know is that prior to Prohibition, North Carolina ranked as the leading wine producer in the United States. It seems after a brief intermission, we’ve found ourselves back on the map, with North Carolina as one of the top 10 wine-making states in the country.

The local wineries have worked exhaustively to research what grows well in the craggy soil of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Thanks to the closeknit vineyard community working together to spread the word about the fruits of their labor, Western North Carolina was accredited with its AVA, or American Viticultural Area, just two years ago, making the Appalachian High Country AVA the fifth in the state. An AVA is a designated wine grape-growing region in the United States that has distinct topography, climate and soil types. This is defined by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau of the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

These wineries are well worth a visit. The AVA certification is sweet news, but let’s dispell the misconception that most North Carolina wines are syrupy. They are not. Today you will find plenty of dry, very dry, off dry

and medium selections, too. There is a wide variety to satisfy any wine lover’s palette and these wineries have plenty of awards to prove it.

The High Country Wine Trail is comprised of five wineries—Banner Elk Winery, Grandfather Vineyard, Linville Falls Winery, Villa Nove

Vineyards and Watauga Lake Winery.

All are an easy drive from Eseeola.

That’s great news for guests staying at the lodge because there is an abundance of activities to explore— each winery offering its own distinct flavors. There’s also a special gift for visitors who complete the trail.

GRANDFATHER VINEYARD

Nestled at the foot of North Carolina’s most beloved mountain, Grandfather Vineyard opened in 2011 and is family-owned by Sally and Steve Tatum, who are long-time residents of the area. Back in the ’80s, Steve handcrafted beautiful wood furniture while Sally had the creative eye for staging it all in their little shop. Their skills were in such high demand they expanded their design services and square footage and opened Tatum Interior Design in 1985. It’s located right on Highway 105 two miles up from the winery and open six days a week. You can find beautiful home décor, accessories and furniture of all kinds. Sally is also the talented interior designer for Eseeola.

“We wanted the same sense of family here at the winery as we have with our loyal customers at the design studio,” Sally said when asked to describe what they envisioned in 2003 when they first planted grapes.

Dylan Tatum, Steve and Sally’s son, has a degree is viticulture and is the resident winemaker. His wife Nicole is the tasting room manager.

Together they operate this charming, bucolic vineyard right along the Watauga River. We’d be remiss if we didn’t include the vineyard dogs,

It seems after a brief intermission, we’ve found ourselves back on the map, with North Carolina as one of the top ten wine-making states in the country.

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Casey, Willa and ZoeBelle, as part of this hard-working operation because it’s been said people come not only for the wine, but for the dogs’ company as well.

Sally designed the cozy tasting room using signature rustic touches.

Steve handcrafted an amazing, one-ofa-kind bar top. Special panels on the base are constructed of the signature chestnut bark of the region that can be found on many home exteriors and, yes, Eseeola Lodge. Steve tends

to the vines and can be seen with Zoe-Belle at his side mingling with guests. “Sometimes he even brings them to the back to taste wine still in the tank,” says Nicole. A master craftsman, he also has designed much of the outdoor structures like the timber frame pavilion, enlarging the patio and making the front door to the tasting room. Dylan manages the science behind the taste. Nicole not only runs the tasting room but is such a welcoming and wellread ambassador for the winery.

Dustin Pinckney, a bundle of energy and enthusiasm, got his job because “I was honest when asked about my wine-making experience.

I had none,” he says with a chuckle.

He is now assistant general manager.

It is obvious he was a quick study and is well-versed on every nuance of the wine-making process. They are all passionate about what they do.

While Grandfather Vineyard is known for its dry wines, no taste

takes a back seat. The winery has an extensive list of awarded wines, and the staff is particularly excited about its refreshing 2017 Appalachia Bubbles that won double gold at the Dixie Classic Fair this year.

“That was so exciting for us,” said Nicole. “It really gave us credibility.”

On any given weekend in the high season from May through October, you can listen to live music, enjoy food trucks (or bring your own picnic as long a you buy their wine) and enjoy the soothing sounds of the Watauga River playing harmony in the background. Kids play. Couples chat. Girlfriends laugh. Dogs mingle but have been known to gravitate towards returning customers, down to recognizing the sound of the car when they drive in.

You’ll find Nicole and other knowledgeable staff serving in the tasting room, educating eager patrons on what their palettes are experiencing. They are now offering a wine flight of your choosing which is very popular.

Like most wineries, they have a wine club which is easy to join and fun to be a part of. Members enjoy

DETAILS: A bird’s eye view of Grandfather Vineyard with its namesake mountain keeping watch in the background (top left). Owners Sally and Steve Tatum of Grandfather Vineyard (top right). Casey and Zoe-Belle, two of the beloved winery dogs, are the official greeters (lower left). Dustin Pinckney combines skill and passion for the wine-making process (lower right).

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perks such as a catered dinner served outdoors paired with perfect wine selections, open barrel tastings and other behind-the scenes activities.

When Sally is asked if there has been a specific “Ah ha” moment since the winery opened signaling their hard work has paid off, she doesn’t hesitate, “Oh, that’s every weekend when we look out and see crowds of people laughing, drinking and enjoying their time here. We marvel at just how special this place really is.”

We can all raise a glass to that. www.grandfathervineyard.com 225 Vineyard Lane Banner Elk, NC 28604

lover’s dream in the heart of the Blue Ridge mountains.

Jack Wiseman was born 87 years ago not far from what is now his family legacy and spent time in Napa Valley after returning from the Korean War. He came back to North Carolina, wed and eventually purchased the 40-acre former dairy farm he visited as a boy and started a very successful Christmas tree farm. In 2006, he decided to add a new venture— grapes. In 2012 at the age of 80, Jack opened Linville Falls Winery. Each day, Jack proves that youth is indeed wasted on the young by climbing ladders, engaging guests and, oh, that little task of actually making the wine all by himself.

He has no time to sit back and sip the fruits of his labor, although a dry Merlot or Cab are his favorites. A proud-of-it mountain man, he doesn’t

LINVILLE FALLS WINERY

A short distance down highway 221, atop spectacular rolling farm land surrounded by Fraser Firs (yes, think Christmas trees), a little piece of Napa has come to call Avery county home.

Linville Falls Winery is a vineyard-

embody the Sommelier attitude. Jack just knows what tastes good.

“My Grandmother taught me how to make wine, brandy and moonshine when I was eight,” he says. “I learned in Napa in my twenties. I know what works on this mountain and what doesn’t.” He says this surrounded by a backdrop of lush, healthy vines on rolling majestic hillsides that serve as a reminder to all that he knows exactly what he’s doing.

Jack’s granddaughter Jessica is the winery manager. She and her mom Linda take care of the day-to-day operations. Jessica, a UNC graduate, was drawn back to the region full time in 2017. Conversations between Jack and his granddaughter revolve around tannins and tastings. She’s not your typical millennial who prefers pecking out characters in a text as a way to communicate. She’s running a

“My Grandmother taught me how to make wine, brandy and moonshine when I was eight. I learned in Napa in my twenties. I know what works on the mountain and what doesn’t.”

–Jack Wiseman

DETAILS: Awards and accolades abound not only for Grandfather Vineyard (top), but for all the High Country W ine Trail wineries. Linville Falls W inery (lower left) offers another wonderful experience tasting the local flavors and soaking in the mountain views.

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“When one winery wins an award, that’s a win for all of us in this region.”

–Jessica Wiseman successful winery operation alongside her Grandfather.

“That one,” Jessica says pointing to Jack as he hops in his truck to head up the mountain, “is such a character.

He is the heart of this place. It shows in every aspect. Our wines reflect the soil and soul of this area.”

Jessica says Riesling is a specialty of their winery, but that they are

mastering many tastes and, like Grandfather, winning awards. She also says that the local wineries are all very collaborative.

“When one winery wins an award, that’s a win for all of us in this region,” she says.

Along with wine tastings, there is live music from the likes of Shelby Rae Moore, the Harris Brothers and other local legends every weekend from May through October. From dinners to grape-stomping, there are many activities whether on the veranda with stunning views and a crackling fire or inside the Tuscanstyle villa, which serves as a grand tasting room with lots of seating and bar space.

A wine club is certainly part of the offerings, too, so that no matter where you live, a little bit of the wine region of the Blue Ridge is never far away.

Deep roots, delightful wine and fresh mountain air. They may say salt water cures what ails you, but we’ve got to believe the Appalachian High Country AVA gives new definition to a healthy heart and soul.

www.linvillefallswinery.com 9557 Linville Falls Hwy Newland, NC 28657

DETAILS: Linville Falls W inery owner Jack W iseman and his three grandchildren Jacob, Lindsay and Jessica, stand in front of their sweeping hillside vineyard (top left). The Tuscan-inspired villa is surrounded by gorgeous views (top right) and anchored by the red barn (lower left) which is used for Christmas tree sales during the holidays. Its namesake, Linville Falls (lower right), is another fun adventure to explore while in the area.

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The High Country Wine Trail Keeps Flowing

Banner Elk Winery, Watauga Lake Winery and Villa Nove Vineyards Farm Winery complete the High Country Wine Trail and are equally worth a visit. Just pick up your passport at the first winery, have the card stamped at each of the five locations and once completed, show your card at the last winery and receive a special gift. ted on 35 acres overlooking Watauga Lake in Tennessee. It’s a little under an hour’s drive from Eseeola to an amazing vineyard of over 4000 wine grape vines. Today, Villa Nove is a wedding destination. But it’s also part of the High Country Wine Trail where visitors can take in a breathtaking 360-degree view of the mountains, enjoy a tasting flight or a bottle of wine, along with items you can purchase from their deli.

It’s obvious retirement from the export business hasn't slowed Linda and Wayne down in the least.

BANNER ELK WINERY

www.villanovevineyards.com 1877 Dry Hill Rd, Butler, TN 37640

In 2005 Banner Elk Winery became the first commercial winery to open in Avery and Watauga Counties. Once a blueberry farm (you can still pick your own during the summer season), visitors can now come taste a variety of award-winning wines and two beers on tap by Kettle Beer Works and enjoy a relaxing afternoon playing bocci ball or corn hole.

The tasting room has a cozy fireplace, ecletic artwork that reflects the region and plenty of seating. The bar is roomy and the staff are well versed.

In the summer listen to great live music as you sit by the pond and roast s’mores over a bonfire. Bring the dogs and kids and enjoy a family atmosphere where there is something for everyone. www.bannerelkwinery.com 60 Deer Run, Banner Elk, NC 28604

VILLA NOVE VINEYARDS

Owned and operated by Wayne and Linda Gay who both retired from an Italian export business they had for 22 years, this stunning Italian-inspired farmhouse is situa-

WATAUGA LAKE WINERY

The Gays also purchased and renovated the historic Johnson County Big Dry Run Schoolhouse and opened it as the Watauga Lake Winery in 2012. There’s an education of a different sort there now, as guests can take a tour of the old gymnasium converted to house the entire wine production and learn just how their wine is made.

As with the other well-awarded wineries on the High Country Wine Trail, there’s no shortage of accolades for Watauga wines and a member’s club allows you to enjoy the fruits of their labor any time of year.

Sangria Saturdays and wood-fired pizzas are very popular in high season along with music and other events. www.wataugalakewinery.com 6952 Big Dry Run Rd, Butler, TN 37640 ESEEOLA

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DETAILS: Three generations of Bradshaws have won the Four-Ball, including Charlie (above photo on right along with partner Julian Taylor on the left) and son Bill and grandsons Brewer and Thomas (left).Â

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The Linville Four-Ball, A Venerable Mountain Golf Tradition

LORE of theFOUR T The oldest consecutive running golf tournament in the nation was conceived as a means to generate traffic and publicity for a golf destination and resort. The Tufts family of Pinehurst conceived the North and South Amateur in 1901 to help put bodies in the beds of the Carolina Hotel and golfers on the original Pinehurst course, and the tournament has now run 118 years with no breaks for world wars, giving it more longevity than even the U.S. Amateur.

DETAILS: Seven-time winners of the Linville Four-Ball Tournament have been Charles D. Gray III and Dr. Sidney L. Woody, shown in photo above-right in 1975 with Hugh MacRae presenting the trophy.

Given that Richard Tufts ran Linville Golf Club and Eseeola Lodge for five years after World War II and that long-time Linville club manager John Pottle came to the mountains from Pinehurst, it’s no wonder that same idea migrated to Avery County.

Pottle became general manager in 1952 and in his first year conceived the Linville Four-Ball to serve as part member-guest and member-member tournament and part marketing endeavor for the Eseeola Lodge. This year the tournament will be staged for the 68th straight year with a field of 96 teams convening the third week in June for four days of spirited golf, relaxed social events and a luxuriating experience in Linville’s unique atmosphere.

“Sixty-eight years is a long time for one tournament at one venue,” says Gunn Murphy, a former president of Linville Golf Club. “The Four-Ball has a long and loyal following. It’s pretty much sold out with the return mail.”

“Linville to me is almost like how I’ve felt about Pinehurst—it’s such a special place,” adds Julian Taylor, a four-time Four-Ball winner with partner Charlie Bradshaw.

“If you’re a golf person and you gather there every year with people from all walks of life who share the same love of the game, the Four-Ball becomes an important part of your life.

Golf is held in such high esteem and reverence in Linville,

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“One of the great things about this tournament and golf in Linville is it’s held on a wonderful Donald Ross venue that literally hasn’t been touched.”

–Gunn Murphy

and every year you see old friends and just enjoy the game and their friendship.”

The champions roster from the early days of the competition is replete with the top names in amateur golf of the era—Billy Joe Patton, P.J. Boatwright, Dave and Charlie Smith and Harry Welch among them. And the format has always reflected the club’s “pure golf” mentality—there are no handicaps, you play it down and the qualifying round is played from the blue tees, putt everything out.

“There are no gimmicks with the Linville Four-Ball,” says club director of golf Tom Dale. “So many clubs have tournaments with nine-hole matches. To me, that’s not golf. And we never have a handicap question because we don’t have handicaps. This tournament started out as a great way for the best amateur golfers in the Carolinas to meet every year. We’ve kept it simple and maintained that ideal.”

“I love looking down that list of names,” Taylor adds.

“There are so many good golfers and good golf people there. No handicaps, go out and play and get flighted and play straight up.”

Ben Rudisill and Dan LaFar are Exhibits A and A-1 of how the tournament has lived up to its original premise— to bring golfers to Linville and expose them to the green mountainsides, summer flowers and cool temperatures that drew the first settlers in the late-1800s (the town of Linville was launchded in 1892). Both lived in Gastonia in the mid-1970s and had heard about the tournament and entered in 1977.

“We liked it so much, in 1979 Dan bought a house in Linville and joined the club,” Rudisill says. “Four years later, he said, ‘I’m going to buy a bigger house, why don’t you buy mine?’ I thought, ‘That’s not a bad idea.’”

So for nearly four decades, Rudisill and LaFar have competed in the Four-Ball. Their sons have been partners as well and the four of them have even traveled to Scotland on a golf trip.

“You make lifelong friendships from the Four-Ball,” Rudisill says. “But the golf is very competitive. In any flight, you’ve got some team that could beat your brains out. The format makes it challenging—like putting everything out. On Linville’s greens, even a one-footer can be a real

gruesome experience on certain holes.”

“The tournament has served as a great introduction for people to Linville,” adds Logan Jackson, a three-time winner with Sammy Rothrock. “You can go and stay in the lodge and play in the tournament. That’s how I ended up joining the club. They have an unbelievable mix of players, top amateurs in the state to guys who shoot 95. It’s as competitive as any amateur golf tournament during the day, but at night it’s as much fun as any member-guest. It’s great for young guys because their wives get to go. It’s not just a golf trip.”

The tradition of the Four-Ball has been accented by players like Bob Gaylor, who played in the first one in 1952 and the next 51 before passing away.

“Can you imagine in June never having a wedding, never having an illness?” Murphy muses. “That’s quite a remarkable run.”

And by a team like Charles Gray and Dr. Sid Woody, who won seven times from 1973-98 and were in their 60s

The peaks of Grandfather Mountain loom in the distance from the 11th tee at Linville Golf Club; the course has had very little work done over the years to disturb the purity of the design from Donald Ross, who’s commemorated with a set of tee markers (opposite).

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when they won the last one, becoming the oldest winning team in Four-Ball history.

“Sid and I were not the best golfers,” Gray says. “But we played good four-ball golf. Charlie Bradshaw one time said, ‘You’re the best worst golfers I’ve ever seen.’ We would miss a fairway and chip through the branches and get it up and down. We found a way to be successful in four-balls.”

Golf was played on a rudimentary course as early as the late 1890s in Linville until Donald Ross, the Scottish golf architect, visited from Pinehurst in 1924 to design a new layout that opened in 1926. It’s been considered one of the Carolinas’ top courses for nearly a century and features the ever-present Grandmother Creek meandering throughout and smallish greens made of native poa annua grass that get lightning quick from mid-June on.

“One of the great things about this tournament and golf in Linville is it’s held on a wonderful Donald Ross venue that literally hasn’t been touched,” Murphy says.

“We’ve done a few things over the years, mostly added a little length, but it’s pretty much a pure golf course. Not many people in the Southeast get to play poa annua greens.

What a great golf course to be able to go up and play.”

“The average guy can play it and have a ball, but for the scratch player, when those greens get quick and hard, it’s tough to break par,” Taylor says. “The average guy is going to make a lot of bogeys but not many doubles and triples.”

The tournament is held the third weekend in June concurrent with the U.S. Open (except in the years when the Open is played at Pinehurst, in which case the FourBall moves up one week). So keeping an eye on the scores of Tiger and Dustin and Rory and catching a few minutes TV time around matches is part of the drill. Thursday is qualifying day to set the 96 teams into 12 flights, then match play ensues in each flight Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Coping with the weather, which in June in the North Carolina mountains can be wet or foggy—or both—is part of the lore of the Four-Ball.

“Part of the Four-Ball is, you better be ready to put on your rain suit and go play,” Murphy says. “We play rain or shine. We only come in if the course is unplayable. When the fog rolls through the mountains, you’ve got golfers holing out on the green and calling back to the fairway that it’s clear to hit. Then you hit in the general direction of where you think the green is. We’ve played a lot in the fog and a lot in the rain over the years.”

Rudisill chuckles remembering tournaments during the era of head pro Burl Dale running the golf operation when it looked too wet to keep playing.

“It can rain in Linville and you think you’re in Seattle,” Rudisill says. “It not only rains, it rains hard. We came in one time in a driving rain and Burl said, ‘What are you doing in here? Go play.’ We said, ‘But Burl, it’s pouring!’ He said, ‘Go play!’”

A welcoming cocktail party on Wednesday night after qualifying, the Eseeola’s Lodge’s renowned seafood buffet on Thursday night and a Saturday night dinner at Camp Yonahnoka are highlights of the post-golf schedule.

“The camaraderie is wonderful and the staff does such a great job with all the parties,” says Bill Bradshaw, who won in 1983 with partner Fred Wadsworth. “The wives love it because they are included in so many things. I don’t know if you ever find a better setting than Camp Yonahnoka on that Saturday night. That’s a special time.”

The Linville Four-Ball has been an important element of the golf lives of three generations of the Bradshaw family, with Charlie winning four times, son Bill winning once and Bill’s sons Brewer and Thomas teaming for the 2014 championship. Bill’s son-in-law, Michael Cromie, has also played. Charlie and Julian Taylor first won in 1989, the first time they teamed together, and followed in 1993, 2000 and 2001.

“We won in three different decades,” Bradshaw says.

“We were hoping for one more decade but couldn’t pull it off. I’ve had some knee problems in recent years, so I had to pull out and let Julian find a better partner. But we’ve had a great run. I was in my mid-50s and he was 29 the first year we won. He’s been almost like a son to me.”

Charlie lives in Linville most of the year except for a wintertime interlude in Florida. Bill lives in Columbia and gets to Linville for two weeks in the summer, and the FourBall is the anchor of that visit.

“I’ve been going to Linville for so long I have so many wonderful memories,” Bill says. “Driving up there, when you get 12 or 15 miles away you start relaxing and looking forward to the slower pace and friendly nature of everyone there.”

“Linville’s my favorite spot in the world, and I’ve been all over the world,” says Charlie, who was in the hotel and travel business through much of his working life. “I saw a lot of beauty and a lot of things God put on this earth, but to me there’s no better place than Linville, North Carolina.”

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“A lot of resorts in North Carolina offer

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LINVILLE FOUR-BALL CHAMPIONS

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1952

Dave & Charlie Smith

1986

Charles D. Gray III & Dr. Sidney L. Woody

1953

Dave Smith & P. J. Boatwright

1987

William E. Clark & Mark Wagner

1954

Fletcher Wall & Ben Goodes

1988

William E. Clark & Mark Wagner

1955

Harry L. Welch & Ray Taylor

1989

Charles J. Bradshaw & Julian Taylor

1956

Tuffy & Willis Henderson

1990

Dr. A. Ray Newsome & Dr. James C. Patti

1957

Billy Joe Patton & Frank Nabers

1991

Charles D. Gray III & Dr. Sidney L. Woody

1958

Joe McDonald & David Griffith

1992

William E. Clark & Mark Wagner

1959

Keeley Grice & Pete Parker

1993

Charles J. Bradshaw & Julian Taylor

1960

Jay Baumgardner & Jim Reuning

1994

Paul E. Demick & Paul A. Demick

1961

Keeley Grice & Peter Larkin

1995

Charles D. Gray III & Dr. Sidney L. Woody

1962

Buzzy Basinger & Bobby Sisk

1996

Paul E. Demick & Paul A. Demick

1963

Charlie Robinson & Marshall Trammell

1997

Chip Williamson & Bob Dooley

1964

George Mountcastle & Bob Galloway

1998

Charles D. Gray III & Dr. Sidney L. Woody

1965

Coy Hicks & Dan Blevins

1999

Sammy Rothrock & Logan Jackson

1966

Don McMillan & David Griffith

2000

Charles J. Bradshaw & Julian Taylor

1967

Hall Thompson & Ed Pascoe

2001

Charles J. Bradshaw & Julian Taylor

1968

Bieman McKenzie, Jr. & John Scronce

2002

Paul A. Demick & Mark Wagner

1969

Wesley Brown & Lew Boyd

2003

Pat Corey & Lex Tarumianz

1970

Ernest Hayes & Bill Benson

2004

Murray Glenn & Raleigh Shoemaker Jr.

1971

Jay Baumgardner & Brock Rowley

2005

Sammy Rothrock & Logan Jackson

1972

Bob Bryant & Olin Williams

2006

Sammy Rothrock & Logan Jackson

1973

Charles D. Gray III & Dr. Sidney L. Woody

2007

Bailey Patrick & Nolan Mills

1974

Harry L. Welch & John F. Pottle

2008

Chris Cupit & Bob Yarnall

1975

Charles D. Gray III & Dr. Sidney L. Woody

2009

Brett Bonner & Lans Slack

1976

R. S. Williams & Sid Dosh

2010

Greg Terry & Thad Begelin

1977

Charles D. Gray III & Dr. Sidney L. Woody

2011

Chris Cupit & Bob Yarnall

1978

R. V. McPhail, Jr. & James C. Poag, Jr.

2012

Jackson Hughes Jr. & Jackson Hughes III

1979

Andy Gaither & Ken Carter

2013

Chris Cupit & Rob Butler

1980

Marshall Dark & Cecil Kaylor

2014

Brewer Bradshaw & Thomas Bradshaw

1981

Dr. A. Ray Newsome & Dr. James C. Patti

2015

Robert H. Chapman III & Jeff Knox

1982

Larry Conger & Hugh Fields

2016

Andrew Crowley & Sam Sikes

1983

Robert H. Chapman III & Richard B. Lowry

2017

Chris Cupit & Rob Butler

1984

Bill Bradshaw & Fred Wadsworth

2018

Rion Moore & Perry Peace

1985

R. S. Williams & Bill Cantey

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Connect with Linville’s Dazzling Outdoor Pursuits and Get Back to Basics

B

ick Cardwell grew up before color televisions were mainstream. Bear Boyd is 42 years old and didn’t get his first cell phone until he graduated from college in 2000. Both understand and appreciate the days when their parents or grandparents fed them breakfast and shooed them outside—not to be seen nor heard from until they rang the dinner bell 10 hours later.

“We’d spend the whole summer with my grandparents in Linville in the 1950s,” says Cardwell, an Atlanta resident and long-time summer visitor in Linville. “We’d have free reign of the place. We’d camp out on the top of what is now Sugar Mountain and also up by the Swinging Bridge at Grandfather Mountain. I remember hearing a mountain lion screaming.

It was kind of an eerie sound and a little bit frightening to a kid. We rode horses up to MacRae Meadows.

“It was a wonderful time and place to grow up.”

Boyd grew up in Durham with a father who was an avid golfer, so the golf course was their bonding venue.

Today Boyd lives in Spartanburg and

relishes the time with sons James, Heath and Carter fly-fishing on the Linville River—sans electronic devices.

“Smartphones, iPads, X-Boxes, PlayStation, video games, all those are such a huge part of kids’ lives and their friends’ lives,” Boyd says.

“We police it pretty hard at home, and that’s one of the great things about Linville. We made a conscious decision at Linville for those things

DETAILS: Heath Boyd (opposite) proudly displays his trout catch from the Linville River while dad Bear and brother Carter net another catch on a beautiful summer day.

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to not be part of the equation. The outdoor program is just an extension of that.

“Whether we’re hiking or fishing on the river or playing golf, there are no smart phones involved. There are very few opportunities for kids to be device-free for any period of time, and Linville is one of them.”

Linville’s smorgasbord of recreational activities under the purview of Director of Outdoor Programs Alan Burchell includes hiking, fishing, tennis, sporting clays, swimming and yoga. Guests and members are free to use the facilities on their own or with the expert instruction and guidance of Burchell and his staff.

As a father himself, Burchell appreciates the environment’s ability to distract youngsters from their favored world of high-tech.

“Getting kids away from their electronics is tough,” Burchell says.

“I’ve got a 10-year-old son who loves to play Fortnight on his computer. I want to get him away from that here.

And they need to spend their summer doing things that they have never done, and I think that’s the goal. We’re getting there.”

Eseeola Lodge is open 180 days a season, and Burchell and his staff are occupied almost every one of those days taking guests and members fly fishing or on guided hikes. Members fish and hike throughout the year, depending on the weather.

“The program with me and two other assistants is about at full capacity during the season,” Burchell says.

“We’re running wide open.”

“There is no real season for members of the Linville Fishing Club,” Boyd says. “Alan is available year round provided the weather is warm enough. I have fished in February and also when in town for Thanksgiving.”

Dr. Bill Viar began visiting Linville from his home in Birmingham, Ala., in the early 1980s, joined the club around 2003 and built a home in 2008. Since retiring, he spends six months during the warm-weather months in Linville,

and his favorite activity is fly-fishing.

“A lot of resorts in North Carolina offer golf and tennis and hiking, but the one thing Linville has that 95 percent of the others do not is a private river,” he says. “Alan and his staff have done a great job managing the river. The fishery is so good that people are now coming to the lodge not only for the golf and scenery and cool temperatures, but to go fishing.”

Viar had never gone fly-fishing until he visited Linville and over the years has become quite adept at it, traveling to the Bahamas, the western U.S. and even the Seychelle Islands off the coast of Africa to fly-fish. As his skills have evolved, he’s enjoyed teaching the sport to weekend guests and his grandchildren.

“A couple of my grandchildren caught their first trout on the Linville River,” he says. “I have fished so much over the years, what I really enjoy now is taking a novice or someone who’s never fished on the Linville River and as acting as a guide.

“When they catch that first brown trout or rainbow, to see the grin on their face is a big treat for me.”

Cardwell’s grandfather was an Atlanta opthamologist who vacationed in Linville. He and wife D.D. are avid hikers. They inherited the mantle as leaders of the Linville hiking community from Scotty and Nancy Cramer, Scotty being a former president of Linville Resorts Inc. “There’s a primal feeling about Linville,” Cardwell says. “If you look for it, hike and get out in the woods, you can be in the food chain if you want. Coming to Linville in the summer is almost a religious experience.”

The Cardwells helped organize

“The views at Roan Mountain in June with the rhododendrons in bloom make you feel like you’re in the ‘Sound of Music.’”

–Bick Caldwell

DETAILS: Bick and D.D. Cardwell enjoy the beautiful views at Roan Mountain (above), while D.D. joins her daughter and two grandchildren at Grandfather Mountain (opposite).

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“The fishery is so good that people are now coming to the lodge not only for the golf and scenery and cool temperatures, but to go fishing.”

–Bill Viar

a map and description of all 31 hikes in and around Linville, giving guests and members instructions on how to find the trailhead, degree of difficulty and suggested time to set aside for each adventure.

“The variety we have is remarkable,” Bick says. “If it’s a rainy day, you can go for a hike in the woods near the lodge and club. If you want something more dramatic, you can drive to Roan Mountain, which is one of our favorites. The views there in June with the rhododendrons in bloom make you feel like you’re in the Sound of Music.”

Boyd was first exposed to Linville as a golfer, and he and his wife Jamie joined as non-resident members in 2012 at first so Boyd would have an out-of-town golf escape handy to their home in Spartanburg. Then they learned more and more what was available beyond the golf. And since one of his boys does not play golf, flyfishing gives them the opportunity for quality one-on-one time.

“The selling point for many people here is golf,” says Boyd, who’s been universally known as “Bear” since he was a baby and his grandmother joked that he was a handful to manage. “But we didn’t realize how much more there was to do up here. What we thought would be a golf destination has turned into a family-outdoors destination.”

And an opportunity to not stress if they can get only one bar or no bars on their iPhones.

“A huge part of the attraction of the outdoor program is to be unplugged and away from our devices, being with family and being present,” Boyd says. “That’s one thing we talk about with our kids, being present and appreciating the beauty of what we have up there.”

DETAILS: Bill Viar not only loves fishing himself but also introducing friends and family to the sport and the charms of the Linville River.

Here his grandsons W ill and Matt Synnott are all smiles just after nabbing that first trout on a flyrod.

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CROWD PLEASERS July 2019

Linville Foundation Cocktail Party

May 24

Welcome Back Cocktail Party

Nothing could be finer than to be in Carolina—particularly, Linville for the first party of the season. Have a drink, sample some of Chef Patrick’s tastiest hors d’oeuvres and catch up with old friends, make plans for a golf game or a lunch outing with the girls. Open to club members and their guests.

Each year the Linville Foundation brings the dream of a college education closer to reality for many of the resort’s summer employees. Now, over 50 years old, the foundation finds itself giving to a second generation of recipients. The organization that made college possible for the parent, is now making it possible for the child. This esteemed institution has not only grown but thrived thanks to the generosity of our club members. Join us as we pay homage to the Linville Foundation, just one more facet of this extraordinary community. Open to club members and their guests.

Mid-June—Mid-September

July 4

Fourth of July Celebration

Every heart beats true for the red, white, and blue, so gather up the grands and don your best flag-inspired attire.

Barbara Pollygus is planning another oldfashioned, all-American, Independence Day throw down. There will be games and inflatables for the kiddies, cool libations and great conversation for the adults, and finger-licking picnic fare for all. Of course, the real star arrives at sundown— fireworks over Lake Kawana. What better way to celebrate the US of A! Open to members and guests of The Eseeola Lodge

Embers, Members & Friends

Beach music in the mountains. Really, does it get any better? And, The Embers, no less.

A sundress and sandals for the ladies, and for the gentlemen, leather-bottom shoes and a shirt cut generously enough to twirl and swing. Now, all you have to do is keep the beat—one and two, three and four… Bring friends and come ready to cut the rug. Open to club members and their guests.

Labor Day Weekend

Wednesday Wine Tastings

New this season! Our food and beverage director, Brandon Wilson, has scheduled an ace line-up of vendors and vintners to showcase some of the most interesting wines available. Planned for every other Wednesday afternoon, mid-June until mid-September, each tasting will center around a theme. They're all sure to be grape fun. Open to members and guests of The Eseeola Lodge.

August 24

Linville Labor Days: Work Hard, Play Hard July 11-14

Grandfather Mountain Highland Games

Shake out your kilt, grab your bagpipes and make your way toward MacRae Meadows. It’s time to join your clan for four days of Celtic music, spirited competition and Scottish fare. What, no clan tent for the Steinfeldts, no tartan for the Cabreras?

No worries, you don’t have to be Scottish to enjoy this celebratory weekend of all things Gaelic. For more information, visit gmhg.org.

August 3

Fancy Dress Ball

Those in the know, know that Fancy Dress is the pinnacle of the Linville season (dating back to the early 1900s). Families and friends pool their theatrical resources—scripts, costume design and acting. The result is a series of madcap vignettes presented before a panel of stern-faced judges (all of whom are wearing something on their head that closely resembles a mop). Mayhem is presided over by a king and queen, with everyone receiving a royal helping of hilarity. It’s a night of laughing, dancing and inter-generational camaraderie. Open to club members and their guests.

New this year! Plans are still underway for this fun-packed, family-oriented weekend. Words like eighties band, food trucks, and Bloody Mary bar are being tossed about. If these ideas are any indication, there’s going to be a lot to love about this weekend. Keep an eye on The Linville Weekly and future emails for the latest info. Open to club members and their guests.

October 11-12

Fall Family Weekend

October is truly one of the prettiest times in Linville. In addition to a last round of golf or game of tennis, leave time to participate in our 6th Annual Shooting Tournament. Then, Saturday afternoon, grab a sweater and join us at Camp Yonahnoka to bid farewell to another great season. No need to call a babysitter.

There will be face painting, pumpkin carving, games, and inflatables for the little ones. A Thanksgiving feast is planned for dinner, with dancing to follow. Fall colors may signal the end of the season, but that doesn’t mean it can’t go out with a bang.

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