Issue:
August
2011

Story and photos by Barbara Penny Angelakis

Primland: A nature’s lover paradise

Primland in not your normal resort. It is not easy to get to. There is no evening entertainment, in fact no entertainment at all, except of your own making. After dinner the public rooms are virtually disserted and the lights turned down. There is a 2-story wall of wine but only one small bar. And yet this is one of the most exciting resorts I have been to. Primland is literally a nature’s lover paradise!

Located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia near the Dan River basin, the 12,000 acres of virgin forest is difficult to get to unless you have access to a private helicopter and can land on the Primland helipad. Otherwise, you must fly into one of the airports in North Carolina and drive more then an hour just to arrive on the property, and then another 20 minutes to actually reach the lodge.  But for lovers of nature and luxury, it’s well worth the effort.

The property was purchased for its timber rights, back in 1978 by the Primat Family of France. Their operating company Primtimber, eventually became the largest distributor of wood bundled product in the marketplace, all the while harvesting wood in a eco-friendly sustainable manner. This successful enterprise was the first step in Didier Primat’s dream of making direct contact with nature accessible and luxurious while still protecting the environment.  Slowly the dream unfolded… and six years ago golf architect Donald Steel was called in to create the Highland Golf Course. Allowing the natural landscape to be his guide, he created a course on one of the highest ridges of the property, providing spectacular views and challenging fairways. So successful was Steel that the Highland Course has been recognized by Travel and Leisure Golf, Golf Digest, and Golfweek, and was named one of the top courses in the country.

To accommodate overnight guests, individual Fairway Cottages - which are perched on the 10^th and 18^th fairways - and secluded Mountain Homes - which are tucked into hillsides - offer luxury accommodations with spectacular views. And now there is the lodge…72,000 square feet of ultimate in luxury for those who enjoy being pampered. The lodge has 26 spacious rooms and suites with a minimum square footage per room of 518, escalating all the way up to 1,800 square feet for The Pinnacles Suite. The materials used are all natural stone, glass and rescued wood and slate. The bedrooms are comfortable and welcoming. Only the finest fabrics and linens have been used and the color palette is elegant earth tones. There is nothing jarring or out of place, each element lends itself to your comfort. The bathrooms are spacious and well thought out even to the non-slip slate on the shower floor that absorbs whatever water does not run off. The bath towels are thick, large and plentiful, as are the floor mats. Every time I left my room, I returned to find it refreshed, and evening turn-down service included a tymbal of freshly made chocolate truffles. The view from my room was out over the meticulously manicured green, which was edged with brightly colored flowers near the property, adding a festive look.

During the warm months, along with golf  there is bird watching, mountain biking, fly fishing, ATV (all terrain vehicle) riding, sporting clays, tree climbing, and the latest challenge “geocaching” (an outdoor treasure hunt using a GPS to locate the cache). In the cooler months there is game hunting, strictly controlled with well-maintained rifles, appropriate ammunition, and guides who know the game and the territory and in many cases were born just down the road. In all activities safety standards are strictly enforced under the watchful eyes of Primland staff with necessary equipment available on site. And for all seasons there are nature trails to explore, horseback riding, billiards, star gazing at Primlands Observatory atop the Lodge - with experts in the field of astronomy invited to share their knowledge on special astral weekends - and of course enjoying the indoor pool or being pampered in the spa. Native American practice and culture was the inspiration for the spa and you can read my review by visiting the Spa section.

In addition to the observatory, the spa, pool and fitness center, meeting facilities and theatre, ballroom and board room, game room and fully stocked golf shop, there are two restaurants located at the Lodge. Primland’s kitchen is overseen by Executive Chef Andrea Griffith, whose innovative and imaginative use of locally grown ingredients never fails to surprise and delight. The 19^th Pub offers indoor - and weather permitting - outdoor dinning, on a broad terrace overlooking the 18^th green and 10^th tee, and is perfect for casual meals at lunch, dinner, or anytime in between.

But for a truly glorious dining experience to top off a day of activity and adventure, there is Elements. For a restaurant located in the middle of 12,000 acres of natural forest, and at an elevation of 2,800 feet, you would not expect to fine Butter Poached Lobster dressed with Butternut Squash and Grilled Broccoli on the daily menu. Nor would you expect it to be fresh and succulent as if it just jumped into your plate from the sea, presented like a gift. Nor would you expect perfectly grilled Seared Foie Gras with Apricot on a freshly baked Brioche or Sashimi of Ahi Tuna accompanied by Watermelon, Pickled Jalapeno and Orange Supremes. In fact every meal at Elements was a delightful adventure in gastronomic anticipation.

One morning for breakfast I ordered Eggs Benedict ala Elements featuring 55 minute eggs. The eggs were left in their shell and bathed in a warm water bath for exactly 55 minutes before being dressed with crisp prosciutto, chopped tomatoes fresh from the garden, and home-made hollandaise sauce and served over whole-grain toast. Like everything I tasted at Elements, an ordinary dish was made extraordinary by the talented Chef Griffith.  One of my favorite lunch dishes was Chef Griffith’s take on Caesar Salad. In this case a vertical wedge of romaine lettuce was grilled and topped with pickled white anchovies, perfectly grilled jumbo shrimp, and house-made Caesar dressing, and accompanied by toasted rounds of baguette. A stunning and unique dish that tasted as good as it looked. (see recipe in Cook’s Corner).

You would expect that with this concentration on sybaritic pampering of their guests, Primland personal would maintain a certain discrete distance … not so. I have never enjoyed a more sincere or warmer welcome then from Patricia who not only served my meals but helped me to make informed selections; to Scott the resident Starmaster who enthusiastically tried to cover the entire universe in the clear, crisp mountain night sky; to Brian the golf pro who was generous with his time and tips; or Jason, Marcus, and Colt, who drove me around the property, taught me clay shooting, and willingly shared their personal stories and knowledge gained from being born and bred in this section of the Appalachian Mountains. 

Primland is that special kind of retreat that provides whatever you want in terms of outdoor activities plus indoor pleasures.

For directions or information on activities visit www.primland.com
or call Reservations at 276.222.3800

© August 2011 LuxuryWeb Magazine. All rights reserved.