Chetola Resort and Spa

Imagine an 87-acre resort within walking distance of a quaint mountain village, neighboring a 3,600-acre National Park and surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains.  That is where our Active Adult group went for their annual Christmas luncheon this year.  Chetola was built in the 1840's and has been a family home and a boarding house. In 1982 a development company purchased the estate and built the lodge, some condo's and a meeting facility that holds 150 people.

The Manor House in the 1940's

The view from our dining room

I was very excited to go there for lunch.  We set out on a chilly and dreary day full of rain and wind.  The drive to Blowing Rock was almost an hour long, but well worth it.  As soon as we turned onto the estate we saw  flocks of white swans swimming on Chetola Lake, which was surrounded with Christmas lights and light displays.


Our group had their own private dining room and I don't think I've ever encountered a nicer wait staff.  One gal rubbed people's backs as she talked to them.  The buffet lunch consisted of salad filled with strawberries, cheeses, and roasted peppers, turkey, pork roast, stuffing, risotto, and the most wonderful bread filled with nuts and whole grains.  Dessert was a yellow cake topped with slivered almonds, a crunchy topping similiar to creme brulee, and fresh whipped cream with strawberries on the side.

Yum.

The fire place in our dining room

After lunch we each shared how our year had been since our last Christmas luncheon and what we were thankful for.  After singing a few Christmas carols (I was glad we had our own dining room so no one could hear us) we headed for home.