Product Code Database
Callaway Resort & Gardens is a resort complex located near Pine Mountain in Harris County, Georgia, from LaGrange, Georgia. The world's largest azalea garden, this destination draws over 750,000 visitors annually. Callaway Gardens was ranked as Best Georgia Attraction in 2018 by USA Today.
On April 6, 2022, Herschend Family Entertainment agreed to purchase the revenue-producing assets at Callaway Gardens from the Ida Cason Callaway Foundation. The foundation remains responsible for operation and maintenance of the garden's free attractions.
To create the garden, streams were dammed creating 13 lakes; bulldozers filled in eroded gullies and drained bottom land clogged with silt; crops were planted that restored nitrogen and other nutrients in the soil. Virginia Callaway consulted with Gilmore David Clarke, a noted landscape architect, to plant more than 20,000 trees, shrubs and native flowers in the renovated landscape.
After serving in the Korean War, their son Bo Callaway returned to Harris County, Georgia to help his parents develop and run the gardens. He was named executive director on June 10, 1953. On April 12, 1961, founder Cason J. Callaway died. He was succeeded as chairman of the board by his wife, co-founder Virginia (Hand) Callaway. Virginia Hand Callaway . Callawaygardens.com; retrieved July 2007
The gardens have been expanded several times following Cason Callaway's death. The Cason J. Callaway Memorial Forest opened in 1972, and was designated a National Natural Landmark by the United States Department of the Interior. NATIONAL REGISTRY OF NATURAL LANDMARKS . National Park Service. June 2009. Retrieved December 26, 2011.
The Ida Cason Callaway Foundation applied for and was granted conservation easements on land in 2004 and 2007 by the Georgia Forestry Commission. The easements lower property taxes and restricts use of the land if sold. It can only be developed to include a lodge on .
During the economic downturn in 2012, Callaway Gardens sold 7,000 of its 13,000 acres to remain solvent. Edward C. Callaway remained in charge until 2014, when he stepped down. Don Perry served as acting president and CEO while an executive search continued.
Bicycle trails throughout the gardens were upgraded in 2016 at a cost of approximately $750,000.
In early 2017, about 11 acres of 60-year-old timber was clear cut. Doyle stated that it was done to open the views from the Lodge/Spa. Niles Bolton Associates were hired to landscape the open area. Doyle did not comment on the tree income or provide a project cost but claimed it "would not be inexpensive". The gardens closed temporarily following Hurricane Irma in September 2017, as it downed hundreds of trees and left the area without power. Cleanup lasted more than a week.
Cason’s Tap Room is Callaway Gardens’ newest eating and drinking establishment just outside the Lodge. It opened February 5, 2018, on the birthday of founder Cason J Callaway. In addition to the standard menu served at all restaurants in the Lodge complex, craft beers (including their own, Cason’s); "handcrafted" (specialty) cocktails; and an extensive wine menu, including their own Callaway Family Wines, are offered. Patrons can sit inside or outside on the patio, depending on the weather.
During Doyle's tenure he closed two popular major attractions that had been open for 30+ years: Sibley Horticultural Center. This brought some criticism.
Doyle resigned effective July 8, 2019, to return to a previous employer, Herschend Family Entertainment. He briefly remained a trustee of the Ida Cason Callaway Foundation and assisted in the search for his replacement.
Garland E. Horton, III was hired as President/CEO in 2019 and continues as of 2022. Nation's Restaurant News: January 4, 1993- Columbia's Gonzmart dies at 72 by Jack Hayes
The Lodge opened November 1, 2006, just as attendance peaked at 1 million admissions. Noble developed the property, but Callaway Gardens had the option to purchase it. Noble contracted with Marriott Hotels & Resorts to operate the property, and Noble kept all the profits. Two years later, the 2008 financial crisis sharply reduced tourism. Yearly visitors had dropped to 400,000 in 2010/11 just as debt had grown to more than $44 million. Callaway Gardens sold the Mountain Creek Inn, its conference center, to Noble Investment Group for $12 million, along with 40 cottages for $4 million, but that was not enough. The Ida Cason Callaway Foundation decided that selling large tracts of land was the best way to reduce debt. In July 2012, was sold to Joe Rogers Jr., Chairman of Waffle House for $8 million.
Another was sold for $4.63 million to an Atlanta Real Estate broker Brad Smith. CEO Edward Callaway stated that the Gardens were now "on sound financial footing" with total debt down to $7.5 million, which he called a "sustainable level". Callaway Garden's land area was reduced from with no plans to sell more. However, at some point the left after the 2012 sales was reduced by , because current promotional media states that Callaway Gardens is a garden. Although Edward Callaway claimed that the gardens finances were stable following the 2012 land sales, there were deeper cuts to be made. Two popular major attractions, Mr. Cason's Vegetable Garden and the Sibley Horticultural Center were closed in late October and early November 2015. Each had been open for more than 30 years.
William R. Doyle III, President & CEO announced in mid-April 2016 that Callaway Gardens had purchased The Lodge & Spa from Noble Investment Group and would begin a $2.5 million renovation of the entire Lodge & Spa facility. The spa was renamed, “Spa Prunifolia”, a reference to the rare azalea that still grows at the garden. Nearly of pine trees were cut in early 2017 between Robin Lake and the Lodge. It created a clear line of sight between the hotel and the water plus a view of land in the F. D. Roosevelt State Park. Many of the trees were 60 years old, planted in the 1950s, but Cason Callaway did the same thing years prior for the Mountain View Inn. The open area will remain greenspace, have scattered and hammocks.
Renovation for the Lodge conference center was scheduled to begin in late 2019 and be ready in February 2020. The Longleaf Ballroom can accommodate 450-500 people; the Cypress Room holds 75-100 people; the Ironwood Courtyard seats 50-75 people.
The property finally sold in late March 2019 for $1.28 million; the extra acreage was not included in the final sale.
On April 6, 2022, a press release announced that Herschend Family Entertainment agreed to purchase the revenue-producing assets of Callaway Gardens from the Ida Cason Callaway Foundation. These include The Lodge & Spa, Conference Center, Golf Courses and Robin Lake Beach. Herschend will also lease and manage the Virginia Hand Callaway Discovery Center, the Ida Cason Memorial Chapel, the Cecil B. Day Butterfly Center and Callaway Gardens. There was no mention of Callaway's 500 employees.
Fran Rogers, Board Chairwoman for the Ida Cason Callaway Foundation, was quoted, "This is an exciting and important milestone for the Foundation — one that assures we can continue our philanthropic efforts in the community and continue Cason and Virginia Callaway’s vision of ‘creating a garden so beautiful that it would make visitors want to go home and lead better lives,’ for generations to come.”.
A quote in that document from Andrew Wexler, CEO of Herschend, stated, "We’re honored to carry on the Callaway legacy by bringing our more than 70 years of experience in destination marketing to further develop Callaway as Georgia’s premier resort destination. We are wholeheartedly committed to preserving and strengthening all that makes Callaway so beloved and special — and look forward to celebrating the area’s natural beauty with a focused effort on world-class events and activities that complement the surrounding landscape."
The release also said that Herschend plans to invest over $20 million in the next five years on renovations and other improvements at Callaway Gardens.
|
|
The conservatory is maintained at approximately 80 °F and 74% relative humidity. The center has 1,000 butterflies representing over 50 species. The butterflies are received in the pupa stage (or chrysalis) from Malaysia, the Philippines and Central and South America. Because the butterflies are considered to be invasive species, an inward blast of air is shot by a machine at the doorway to prevent any butterfly breakouts.
The attraction was expanded in 2013.
The Sapling Course is for young children; the Discovery Course is more advanced and the Lake Course is challenging and includes two land zip lines and three water zip lines which range between . A spiral staircase rises up.
Callaway's birds come to them injured or are human imprinted, which means they never learned to survive in the wild. Raptors are federally protected, so Callaway is permitted to keep and use the birds for conservation education. Show attendees can learn about different raptors from a bird handler and see them fly from their aviary to perches around the arena, then receive a reward. The audience is cautioned not to stand up or raise their hands while the birds are being flown to avoid collisions and/or injury to the birds and spectators. The show usually lasts less than an hour and includes at least one hawk and an owl.
Due to declining popularity and cost-cutting measures, the attraction was permanently closed October 26, 2015. A November 2, 2015, article in the
Atlanta Business Chronicle stated, "There are plans to move the garden elsewhere, but a decision has not yet been made regarding the location and size." In a November 9, 2015, Columbus Ledger-Enquirer article, then-President & CEO Bill Doyle said the vegetable garden land might end up being the site of a golf course clubhouse or a hotel or both. As of April 2022, no additional plans had been announced.
The goal of the Sibley Horticultural Center was "an expression of man working in harmony with nature while addressing the needs and wants of both plants and people". John A. Sibley Horticultural Center . Callawaygardens.com. Retrieved December 26, 2011.
The facility was permanently closed on November 12, 2015.
Renovation for the Lodge conference center was scheduled to begin in late 2019 and be ready in February 2020. Three buildings were demolished eliminating 115 hotel rooms. The facility once contained two swimming pools. The smaller pool sat right outside what was then called the Plantation Room Restaurant which was replaced with a paved courtyard and a koi pond. When asked what happened to the pool, a waitress responded, "I think some of the older ladies didn’t appreciate their husbands ogling over bathing beauties during their meals."
Golf and tennis
As of 2022, Callaway Gardens had two golf courses in operation. The Lake View Course was opened on May 21, 1952, the same day the gardens opened. The Mountain View Course, designed in 1965, hosted the Buick Challenge from 1991 to 2002. In 2001, Buick pulled its sponsorship of the tournament because of low attendance and little network coverage. Buick switches events ... and brings Tiger with it. Sports Illustrated. July 24, 2001. Retrieved December 26, 2011. A third course, the Gardens View Course, was opened in 1969 but was closed in 2002. GOLF TIMELINE . Callawaygardens.com. Retrieved December 26, 2011.
TreeTop Adventure
This attraction opened in May 2011 and combines a Zip line with an Obstacle Course. The 25 "games" run over in length. Instructors review tethering and safety before going to the course, but participants move their own carabiner while on the course.
Birds of Prey
The Birds of Prey Show is presented several times a day at the Discovery Amphitheater. In the mid-1990s, the Earthquest company was contracted to conduct shows during the Summer season. In 2000, the Discovery Amphitheater was constructed along with hawk mews and the flight tower. Earthquest began performing more shows until 2005, when Callaway Gardens decided to hire their own staff and do it themselves.
Chapel
Situated on the shore of Falls Creek Lake, the Ida Cason Callaway Memorial Chapel was built to honor Cason J. Callaway's mother. It was dedicated on April 12, 1962 by Dr. Norman Vincent Peale, "to the glory of God, and in loving memory of Ida Cason Callaway."
Constructed using regional materials such as fieldstone quartz, massive pine beams and a slate roof, it was inspired by Gothic architecture. The stained glass windows depict a forest through the four seasons.
The chapel was rededicated in 1990.
A majestic Möller pipe organ is used for seasonal concerts, weekend services during the Summer and at Christmas, plus weekend afternoons from 2 to 4 PM. Randall Smith has been the principal organist at the Chapel since 2008. The pipe tower on the right side of the chapel has 1,229 organ pipes. The chapel is a popular location for small wedding ceremonies but seats only 50 people.
Former attractions
Vegetable Garden
Mr. Cason's Vegetable Garden was started in 1960 and named for Cason Callaway after his death in 1961. He said, "This is going to be the most productive 7½ acres, with the largest number of varieties of fruits and vegetables in the Southeast." The goal was to provide a demonstration garden that would show visitors how and what to grow in their own gardens. As of 1965, the garden provided much of the produce for restaurants serving Callaway Gardens.
The attraction was the location for years of television shows about growing vegetable gardens, most notably the southern edition of The Victory Garden on PBS. Mr. Cason's Vegetable Garden . Callawaygardens.com. Retrieved December 26, 2011. The Home Demonstration Garden was honored by Barbara Bush in 1990 with a National Landscape Award.
Horticultural Center
The grand opening of the John A. Sibley Horticultural Center was March 22, 1984, and something was always in bloom. The center's namesake was a Georgia banker, Callaway Gardens trustee, conservation advocate and friend of the Callaway family. The attraction was originally funded by private donations from people who knew John Sibley. Because the center contained a production greenhouse and was a top display conservatory, their research, internship and educational programs had a profound impact over 30+ years. Callaway Gardens promoted it as "one of the most advanced garden/greenhouse complexes in the world".
Mountain Creek Inn
Mountain Creek Inn was originally a 274-room Holiday Inn off U.S. 27 built in the late 1950s. Around 1980 it was purchased by Callaway Gardens and renamed the Mountain Creek Inn. Later, the Conference Center was created along with the Mountain Creek Ballrooms. The Longleaf Ballroom could accommodate 450-500 people; the Cypress Room's capacity was 100 people; the Ironwood Courtyard perhaps 75 persons. In 2011 CEO Edward Callaway said the facility looked “old and tired,” attracting neither individuals or group travelers.From late 2012 to 2014 a $2.5 million in renovations was spent at the Mountain Creek Inn to upgrade rooms and the lobby.
Cottages
The cottages in the 1980s were a small community for families, with a teen center, pizza parlor and large pool. Each had a full kitchen, BBQ grill and screened porch. However, it was two miles from the Mountain Creek Inn where many activities were held. Those included movies, game nights and theater productions from the La Grange College drama students. The original golf clubhouse became the Gardens Restaurant.
Seasonal events
Callaway Gardens annually hosts quite a few seasonal events depicted in the table below. There are other events that have been held including: Sip & Savor, a four-day food and drink festival; Callaway Marathon/Half Marathon/5k/Kids Fun Run;
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra concert; Free Admission on Founders Day; Organ concerts at the Memorial Chapel; Free Fireworks shows; Concerts featuring Travis Tritt, Parmalee, 38 Special, The Beach Boys and Foghat;
Spring Flower Fest March thru May 1960 Annual Plant Sale Last March weekend 1980 Egg hunt & Sunrise service Easter weekend 2013 Masters Water Ski & Wakeboard Tournament Masters Water-ski Tournament History. masterswaterski.com. Retrieved December 26, 2011. Memorial Day Weekend 1959 FSU Flying High Circus June thru August 1961 Summer camp June thru August 1960 Sky High Hot Air Balloon Festival Sky High Hot Air Balloon Package . Callawaygardens.com. Retrieved December 26, 2011. Labor Day weekend 1999 RC Model Boat & Seaplane Boat racing 2nd weekend in September 2008 at Callaway Fall Harvest Festival Mid-September thru Halloween 2008 Morpho rhetenor September The Steeplechase at Callaway Gardens The Steeplechase at Callaway Gardens . Callawaygardens.com. Retrieved December 26, 2011. 1st weekend in November 1985 Christmas lights Fantasy In Lights . Callawaygardens.com. Retrieved December 26, 2011. November thru December 1992 Maintenance window 1st two weeks of January
Gallery
See also
External links
Categories: Www.callawaygardens.com Official Website, Hotels In Georgia, Golf Clubs And Courses In Georgia, Tourist Attractions In Harris County, Georgia, Botanical Gardens In Georgia, Protected Areas Of Harris County, Georgia, Butterfly Houses, Protected Areas Established In 1952, 1952 Establishments In Georgia, Callaway Family, Herschend Family Entertainment
|
|
