Greetings from BRCA 28605! We have some Blue Ridge Parkway news we are holding until next week due to the length of this communication with work that begins mid-March on BRP.
The Laurel meeting last night at the American Legion building was well attended. The were a number of questions and some concerns expressed. The plan is to build an 85-room lodge, have two restaurants with a shared kitchen, two parking structures with over 300 parking spaces, a spa. meeting venue, and housing for 28-32 employees. Below are the details of the project from the developer and I will summarize the meeting in the video today.
The Laurel
Welcome to a new standard of Appalachian Splendor:
The Laurel at Blowing Rock
Honoring the Legacy of the High Country…
Introduction.
For more than 150 years, Blowing Rock has been a picturesque and sophisticated getaway in the heart of the Blue Ridge mountains. The Laurel at Blowing Rock is poised to honor the legacy of “The Crown of the Blue Ridge” as the town looks forward to the next 150 years.
Resident, and developer, Gordon Lovingood, is an experienced hotelier and homeowner in Blowing Rock. Having spent a lifetime visiting the town, he has developed a vision to create a new standard of Appalachian Splendor in Blowing Rock. Taking inspiration from the history of the original Blowing Rock inns, his plans for a signature resort will unite the charm of the town’s first grand inns with the spirit of a modern-day retreat.
The Resort.
The Laurel at Blowing Rock will be a high-end resort-style hotel, featuring 72 rooms and suites. From its name, a nod to Blowing Rock’s native evergreen, to its aesthetic, a modern take on rustic charm, The Laurel will be a destination for visitors seeking a relaxing getaway in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. Our intention is not to provide competition for existing hotels, but to elevate the market with the addition of first-class, uniquely appointed amenities for both residents and visitors. In addition to overnight accommodations, The Laurel at Blowing Rock could also feature several restaurants, a spa, retail outlets, and indoor and outdoor meeting spaces.
Dining. The resort and its grounds could feature 2 restaurants, a lobby bar, and a rooftop bar providing additional dining options for the steady increase in visitors to Blowing Rock. Carefully selected to offer unique experiences, proposed food and beverage plans may offer an upscale steak house and a relaxed rooftop bar & grill. An authentic Irish Pub, furnished from a longtime pub near Dublin, will round out the restaurant portfolio.
Spa. Our proposed day spa will be a sanctuary for both hotel guests and residents of Blowing Rock and surrounding areas. Services would cater to those who are looking to experience relaxation, rejuvenation, and revitalization, and may include nail treatments, massage, and signature cleansing and detox sessions. We plan to offer daily appointments in addition to luxurious wellness packages.
Meeting and Conference Spaces. Our hotel, our amenities and ample on-site parking will make The Laurel the perfect destination for meetings and special events. We will include indoor and outdoor gathering spaces like board rooms, a multi-use banquet facility, and outdoor gardens. Our diversified spaces will cater to everything from small businesses meetings to relaxing retreats to unique weddings. Each event will be managed by our team of experienced designers, ensuring that every detail is meticulously arranged.
Community.
The Laurel is designed to be a beautiful extension of the Town of Blowing Rock. The Developer has owned a home here for many years, and his vision is to develop a destination property that both nurtures its residents and attracts new visitors. From unique details, like using North Carolina made furnishings, to one-of-a-kind events, everything about the resort will purposefully enhance and promote Blowing Rock and its surrounding communities.
Made in North Carolina. Where possible, we intend to use and promote items and vendors from the great state of North Carolina. We will prioritize selecting North Carolina contractors and designers, and North Carolina made items in our design and décor packages. The “Made in North Carolina” vision will be continued in our food & beverage and retail spaces, and in services we offer as part of travel packages.
Calendar of Events. We intend to promote alln local events like Art in the Park, the Blowing Rock Farmer’s Market, the Blowing Rock Charity Horse Show, Winterfest and others either as a sponsor, by providing accommodation packages, and/or providing transportation with our electric shuttles.
Special Events. The resort could be home to all manner of special events and holiday gatherings, including live music shows, vintage car shows, etc. Special Events will be created to attract visitors to Blowing Rock while also providing unique opportunities for residents.
Amenities. In addition to the spa and restaurants, the resort may also offer amenities like outdoor firepits, hammocks, golf cart and bike rentals, and recreation areas (corn hole, horseshoes, etc.). Offsite amenities will be developed with local tour operators to include experiences like hiking, fishing, golf, skiing/tubing, and more.
Workforce Development
The Laurel at Blowing Rock will be central to the development of the hospitality and tourism industry in North Carolina, and beyond. Designed to be a teaching hotel, it will provide firsthand learning and development experiences through internships and partnerships with universities and other hospitality institutions around the world.
Additionally, the resort will provide stable, year-round employment opportunities in hotel operations, catering, event management, maintenance, groundskeeping, and sales and marketing.
Internships. Our unique teaching hotel will be developed in collaboration with Appalachian State University, East Carolina University, the Technological University of Dublin (Ireland), the North Carolina Restaurant & Lodging Association, and UNC – Wilmington, to name a few. Students and interns will have the opportunity to work in every department of resort operations in partnership with their university, and beyond the scope of existing internship programs.
Employee Housing. To contribute to the development of a sustainable workforce in Blowing Rock, we are committed to providing housing opportunities for local employees.
Future development could include temporary housing for interns and students in addition to transitional accommodation and relocation assistance for full-time employees.
Downtown DevelopmentSituated on Main Street, between Chetola Resort and Hill Street, The Laurel at Blowing Rock is ideally located as a natural extension of the downtown area. Recognizing that visitor and resident enjoyment is somewhat impeded by a lack of parking, The Developer is intentional about providing additional parking spots with easy access between the resort and downtown.
Pedestrian Traffic. Building upon the town’s reputation as a walkable city, the resort and its grounds will become an extension of downtown Blowing Rock. The inclusion of wide sidewalks and a well-marked crosswalk will connect The Laurel with our downtown neighbors. Our careful development of these features will allow for safe and smooth pedestrian travel.
Shuttles. We also intend to provide transportation between the resort and downtown merchants via electric shuttles.
Parking. The developer intends to include parking access, which will benefit not only guests of the resort, but downtown visitors. We plan to leave a landscape buffer from Hill St. to the main entrance of the hotel area, providing a natural sightline barrier between car and pedestrian traffic and parking areas.
Landscaping.
Every effort will be made to ensure that a natural buffer will be maintained along Main Street between the main entrance and Hill Street, intentionally avoiding a stark, commercial view of the property. The resort’s landscaping package, created by local Landscape Architect, Ron Cutlip, will feature native flora and fauna, remaining true to the overall aesthetic of beautiful downtown Blowing Rock. Carefully selected trees and shrubs will screen the resort grounds from Main Street, while also providing shade and sustainable growth of regional plants. In the same way that Mayview Manor used azaleas, laurels and rhododendrons to enhance its grounds, every effort will be made to preserve existing plants and trees along Main Street, while installing additional landscaping around the property.
The Team
Chamberlain Architect Services. Working across North America and globally for over three decades, Chamberlain has been dedicated to improving means, methods and processes for successful realization of great environments. We focus on creating and sustaining value for your investments. Every project we design and construct comes with the research and experience of our expert team who are dedicated to solving your unique challenges. Pioneers in the use of Integrated Project Delivery (IPD), Leaders in Energy and
Environmental Design (LEED) and Building Information Modelling (BIM), we utilize the latest technology and processes available to create cutting edge, sustainable and relevant solutions for your needs. Chamberlain is the Owner’s Advocate, from first sketch to ribbon cutting, integrating design and construction to save time and money while creating the buildings that embody your brand. Augmenting our
IPD/LEED/BIM processes with our Quality Management System (QMS) allows us to navigate the complex permitting and approval maze in a timely manner. Our focus is to Listen to your needs, Learn your business and Lead you through the complex and sometimes contradictory world of project realization within an atmosphere of exemplary communication and collaboration. chamberlainipd.com
Municipal Engineering Services Company (MESCO). Municipal Engineering offers planning, analysis, and design services to both public and private entities. Our extensive experience ranges from the design of solid waste landfills, to water and wastewater treatments plants, site development and much more. For over 40 years, Municipal Engineering Services Company has been delivering functional, high-quality projects at the lowest possible cost. mesco.com
Ron Cutlip. Ronald S. Cutlip, local Landscape Architect, creates residential designs of distinction by custom tailoring each project with the client’s needs and desires in mind. His keen eye for detail and free flowing and rolling signature creations allow for exceptional garden spaces that grow in beauty with each new season. ronaldscutlip.com
Eleanor Erickson. Eleanor has more than thirty years experience in hospitality businesses, including hotels, restaurants and cruise operations (shoreside). Eleanor has been part of the The Developer’s portfolio since 2000, and has served in both sales and management roles. She received a Masters of Science in Sustainable Tourism and Hospitality from East Carolina University in 2023, and is dedicated to the development of sustainable workforces that nurture and develop talent that will thrive in the industry. She also serves as a training facilitator and speaker, and has worked with global brands such as Ford, Lincoln, Porsche, and Carnival Cruise Lines. eleanorerickson.com
Thank You! On behalf of all of us at BRCA we sincerely appreciate your financial support and your ongoing engagement. Thank you for following us. We also want to welcome our new members and viewers; we welcome you to BRCA. Have a great weekend. If you are not a member of BRCA please consider joining for a little as $100 annually. Have a great weekend!