Chetola Resort at Blowing Rock Review

A Mountain Escape to Chetola Resort at Blowing Rock

Nestled within the majestic Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina lies the charming Chetola Resort.  The mountain resort is home to 78 acres of lush property and is adjacent to the 3,600 acre Moses H. Cone Memorial Park.  After several months of uncertainly and turmoil, a visit to Chetola Resort was the much needed respite to breakaway and heal the soul.

 

 

For the exception of my weekly frantic grocery store visit or drive to a local restaurant to pick up take-out, it had been approximately six months since I left my home.  Embarking on my first trip in six months felt foreign.  This was an unusual feeling that I was not accustomed to given that I would travel for work and pleasure once every six to eight weeks.  As I processed the anomaly of feelings, I knew I had no trepidation about my upcoming trip to the 78 acre resort. I simply felt as though I was traveling for the first time.

Though many of my previous travel adventures included hopping from eatery to eatery, this trip would be different.  In spite of that, I found much enjoyment in being still and absorbing the surrounding peace and beauty at Chetola.

 

 

As a first time visitor,  I was immediately captivated by Chetola’s landscape.  I could have easily stayed in my condominium patio all day listening to the wind brush up against the trees and watching the rain dribbling against the grass.  During our weekend visit, the Western mountain range was impacted by remnants of a weakened Tropical Storm Laura.  A little rain, however, did not ruffle our plans.

 

 

A fully furnished privately owned one bedroom condominium was our home for the weekend.  Whether you are single, coupled or have a family, you will find great comfort and relaxation in the resort condominiums.  Even though we stayed in a one bedroom, the resort also offers up to a four bedroom condominium.  The largest of the premier condominiums are 3,000 square feet and have a maximum occupancy of 10.  Each unit is not only equipped with WiFi, but also a full kitchen, clean linens, a washer and dryer, a gas or wood burning fireplace and a range of other amenities.

 

 

Other lodging options available at the resort include the Bob Timberlake Inn and a 42 room Lodge that overlooks the lakeside and Chetola grounds.  The Inn is an elegant bed and breakfast experience equipped with an Inn Keeper that services eight rooms.  It is important to note that guests at the Bob Timberlake Inn must be 21 years or older.  If you are searching for a place that will offer a romantic setting, the Bob Timberlake Inn is definitely an option to consider.  In case that you are not convinced, then amenities such as a personal pantry, wine and cheese social and fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies nightly might win you over.

 

 

One of my favorite weekend experiences was simply sitting on the patio and soaking in the 70 degree weather.  The gorgeous climate was a welcome reprieve from the intense 90 degree heat in Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill.   Every night, we spent a couple of hours gazing at the sunset while enjoying a glass of wine.  As the constant planner,  I arrived to Chetola prepared  with two bottles of my favorite wine as well as a medley of cheeses and meats for a charcuterie board. In the event you do not have time to pack your favorite snacks or drinks for your trip, there are a couple of grocery stores that are a short drive from the resort.

 

 

Despite my love for exploring as many North Carolina eateries that I can fit into my travel schedule, we dined at Timberlake’s two nights in a row.  This was not due to a lack of other dining options that were made available to us.  We made a conscious decision to visit the restaurant a second night because of the wonderful service and fantastic cuisine prepared by both Chef Matt Rivers and Pastry Chef Candace Hagaman.

Chef Matt Rivers menu is inspired by world-renowned North Carolina artist and designer Bob Timberlake’s culinary favorites.  The restaurant features three dining rooms, an intimate wine room and waterfront dining on the patio.   In spite of a rainy Friday night which limited us to indoor dining, we took full advantage of a sun-filled Saturday by dining on the waterfront patio.

 

 

In addition to daily menu items like the tender melt in your mouth eight-hour house-smoked Korean BBQ Boneless Short Ribs, Chef Rivers also features nightly specials.   One special feature that I enjoyed during my stay was a gorgeous plate of Sesame Crusted Scallops served with Wasabi Aioli and Eel Sauce accompanied by Korean BBQ Brussel Sprouts.  Nightly specials such as this one are not to be dismissed.

 

 

One of my favorite entrées at Timberlake’s  is the Fisherman’s Pie.  The British inspired pie is made with shrimp, scallops and salmon covered in white wine cheddar Béchamel and topped with a mashed potato crust.  I will not confirm or deny that I still dream about the Fisherman’s Pie.  However, I will affirm that my plans include to recreate this recipe at home in the near future.

 

 

After eating a wonderful selection of entrées, it is hard not to wonder about dessert.  I am always intrigued if the dessert offerings at a restaurant will elevate an already fantastic dining experience .  Chef Candace Hagaman won over our palates with her Apple Cobbler and Cinnamon Swirl Biscuit.  In fact, we shamelessly ordered that dessert two nights in a row. Along with the exquisite cobbler, we also sampled a decadent German Chocolate Cheesecake and a beautiful Pineapple Upside Down Cake.  Assuming that readers would be curious about the Apple Cobbler and Cinnamon Swirl Biscuit, I included a clickable link to the Recipe. Chetola Resort graciously shared the Recipe on their Instagram page recently.  I anticipate making the dessert using some North Carolina apples from Millstone Creek Orchards.

 

 

Dessert is a must, especially if you have a sweet tooth like mine.  While Timberlake’s dessert menu does rotate, I have great confidence that all desserts created by Chef Candace Hagaman are exceptional.  With this in mind, do not leave without sampling at least one of Chef Hagaman’s desserts.

 

 

Over and above Timberlake’s generous wine list, the restaurant is equipped to make some tasty libations like a Salted Caramel Martini, a Chocolate Espresso Martini and more.   Should you fancy a tipple or two before your scheduled reservation, the cozy Headwaters Pub is located inside Timberlake’s main entrance.

Whether you choose to dine at Timberblake’s or enjoy an evening libation at Headwaters Pub, make it point to visit on a night that the restaurant features live music.  The restaurant hosts live entertainment on Wednesdays through Saturdays from 6 PM to 9 PM.  A list of Timberlake’s scheduled musical acts is available on the restaurant’s website.

 

 

Timberlake’s Restaurant is open for both dine in and take out at a 50% capacity.  Dinner reservations are required for both indoor and patio seating.  Having said that, I highly recommend that you make reservations in advance of your visit.  Requesting a reservation the day of your desired visit, may be too late.  Timberlake’s has one shared menu for lunch and dinner and the service for both is held between the hours of 12 PM to 9 PM.

Should you choose not to dine in the restaurant or it’s waterfront patio,  Timberlake’s also offers room service and carryout.  Guests that are not interested in eating in their condominiums or other form of lodging can choose to enjoy their carryout in the lovely picnic tables that are situated around the resort.

 

 

One of my epic foodie fails was not waking up early enough to sample Timberlake’s breakfast menu.   If you plan on eating breakfast,  service starts at 7:30 AM and ends promptly at 10:30 AM.  Two menu items that I had my taste buds set on are the Bananas Foster Waffle and the Apricot Marmalade and Cream Cheese Stuffed Challah French Toast.  If you try it, please share your experience with me so I can live vicariously through you.

As much as we enjoyed the resort, we did take a short trip to Downtown Blowing Rock.  Chetola guests can walk from the resort to the downtown shops, however, we decided to take the two minute drive to Blowing Rock because of the rain. On the occasion that you are unable to find parking on Main Street, there are a couple of free parking lots that are made available to visitors.  Aside from eateries and antique shops, downtown Blowing Rock boasts charming specialty shops like Neaco, which sells a combination of arts, home accessories and more.

 

 

One special landmark in Blowing Rock that should not be missed is the The Prayer Tree.  As someone who is deeply spiritual, I was immediately pulled in by the  lavender building on the corner of Maple and Main Street.  It is impossible to miss the landmark.  I encourage visitors to circle the entire property and admire the numerous prayers that are hung on the trees, plants, the lavender building and its fixtures.

 

 

As I gazed in admiration of The Prayer Tree,  a Blowing Rock local shared that the lavender building was home to Take Heart, a boutique that sold clothing, jewelry and other items.  A fire in 2019 led to the shop’s closure, however, all of the prayers that adorned the boutique and trees were left in tact.  Even though the small business has not reopened since the fire, a rustic table graces the front of the property with a bowl of pens and paper tags enveloped in plastic sleeves.  Locals and tourists alike can use the tags and pens to leave their prayers behind, should they be compelled.  The beautiful building adorned with thousands of prayers is one of my favorite landmarks in downtown Blowing Rock.

 

 

Despite the fact that I am an avid foodie, incorporating exercise and activities is a fixture in my daily routine.  For this reason, I find Chetola Resort at Blowing Rock incredibly alluring.  Hiking, fishing, kayaking and swimming are just a few ways guests can stay active, connect with nature and have fun.  There is no need to bring your paddle boat, kayaks and paddle boards from home.  All of this equipment is made available for guests to use at the resort.  While I did not fish during my stay, I saw several girls and boys of all ages enjoying the pastime across the resort.

 

 

Guests seeking a little more adventure are in excellent hands. The Chetola Sporting Reserve offers archery, fly fishing wade trips, pistol and rifle range shooting and more.  As much as I enjoy fly-fishing, I opted to experience clay shooting for the first time.  The sporting reserve is resort owned and operated and offers 67 acres of pristine wooded land.  It  is located approximately 35 minutes outside of the Chetola Resort at Blowing Rock. In the event that you have a scheduled appointment at the sporting reserve, I recommend printing directions to and from the reserve.  In addition to having one of our friend’s at Chetola lead us to the sporting reserve, we also had a successful WiFi connection which enabled us to use our google maps application.  All things considered, it never hurts to have a back up. For this reason, I suggest printing a set of directions.  The road to the pristine wooded land is an adventure in itself.  If you are not accustomed to driving in the mountains like us, use caution and take it slow.  As a passenger, it was a fascinating voyage through the mountains.

 

 

As a born and bred Texan, it may come as a surprise that I had never held a gun until my visit to the sporting reserve.  Clay shooting would be my first experience holding and firing a gun.  The staff at Chetola Sporting Reserve are professional experts that are prepared to educate guests with all levels of experience.

 

 

The sporting reserve offers 5 side-by-side stations that accommodate up to five shooters at the same time.  Expert shooters can choose from finely crafted shotguns as well a diverse selection of clays.  As a novice, my primary focus was to listen, learn and follow the guidance of the sporting reserve expert.  In any sport, my safety and the safety of others is always a priority.

 

 

Clay shooting was not only a new experience, but it was rather exhilarating.  To my surprise, it was one of the many highlights of our weekend trip.   We were so impressed and excited by our lesson, that we now have an interest in finding a venue that offers clay shooting in our area.  Guests interested in  clay shooting or any of Chetola’s other sporting reserve activities do require an appointment.  To guarantee that you can participate in your desired activity, I recommend that you make a reservation in advance of your trip.

 

 

If you plan to visit Chetola Resort at Blowing Rock, note that temperature checks for every guest are required upon immediate arrival to the resort.  Security will scan the temperature of each guest before entering the property.  Only one individual from each party is permitted to check in at the front desk at any given time.  Facial coverings are required in the resort, when social distancing is not an option.

As a traveler, I packed important essentials like disposable masks, antibacterial wipes, antibacterial solution, cleaning solution and napkins.  I find these essentials necessary to not only protect ourselves, but protect others.

 

 

The Chetola Resort  at Blowing Rock experience not only introduced us to a new sport, but it also offered serenity, a wonderful cuisine and provided much needed rest and relaxation.  It is a destination that is fit for a foodie and built for the adventure seeker.  If you do not fall into these two categories, rest assured that the resort also sets the stage for both a romantic and restful weekend getaway.  Chetola Resort is located on 185 Chetola Lake Drive, Blowing Rock, NC 28605.

In addition to Blowing Rock, another North Carolina mountain town that I absolutely adore is Brevard.  Click here, to read my weekend guide of The Best Things to do in Brevard, NC.