The Beechwood Inn is situated on the side of a hill overlooking Clayton and back-dropped by Black Rock Mountain, the highest state park in Georgia. The owners, David and Gayle Darugh, bought the Inn in 2000. Since that time, they have transformed it into “Georgia’s Premier Wine Country Inn.” The inn is a member of Select Registry https://selectregistry.com/ which is a diverse collection of independent, boutique properties that deliver a level of personalized service unheard of at hotel chains and a quality of experience only a select few independent properties can attain.
Food and wine are a huge part of the success and foundation of Beechwood Inn. The Inn routinely shows up on Best Of lists from publications across the Southeast and has been recognized by Southern Living multiple times for their outstanding service, food, and charm. Wine Spectator has recognized the Inn with an “Award of Excellence” each year since 2007. https://www.winespectator.com/restaurants/1157/beechwood-inn The inn boasts two “Best Chefs America” on its culinary team. https://www.bestchefsamerica.com/david-darugh https://www.bestchefsamerica.com/gayle-darugh
Beechwood offers a daily “Bountiful Breakfast” for lodging guests that features local and sustainable products from area farms, orchards and dairies. Guests enjoy daily “Wine-Thirty,” the managers welcome hour, where guests can chat with the owners about things to do and sample Beechwood Inn proprietary wines. The Inn boasts a 4,000-bottle Wine Cellar and the owners offer several types of educational wine tastings. https://beechwoodinn.ws/specials/north-georgia-wine-tastings/ Owners Gayle and David are pretty serious about wine as both have been knighted as Chevaliers in the Ducal Order of the Cross of Burgundy in 1989 in Dijon, France. http://www.croixdebourgogne.fr/presentationa.htm
(Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, dinners and cooking classes in the Inn’s restaurant are currently suspended. The restaurant has been named one of the ten best “Farm to Table Restaurants in Georgia”)
As for lodging, the Inn has seven luxury suites and two on-site cabins. The rooms and cabins feature gas fireplaces, luxury 600 thread count sheets, plush pillows and fluffy robes. They also have air-conditioning, luxury soaps and spa amenities, hair dryers, iron, wireless internet, and modern bathrooms. Most rooms have private balconies or patios.
The huge front porch overlooks the property, which has been designated a certified wildlife habitat by the National Wildlife Federation and it has also been designated as a bird sanctuary. Comfortable front porch seating affords not only a view of a Black Rock Mountain but also some spectacular sunsets. The property also offers a natural gas fire pit located on a knoll with comfortable seating and offers an evening view of the grounds and gardens as seasonal fireflies light the night.
Check out their website for specials and packages for savings and adventure https://beechwoodinn.ws/specials/ . The Inn also offers the region’s most complete and thorough Blog, listing things to do and see in our corner of Northeast Georgia https://beechwoodinn.ws/blog/.
The Beechwood Inn
220 Beechwood Drive
Clayton, GA 30525
Owners: David and Gayle Darugh
Phone: 706.782.5485
Email: info@beechwoodinn.ws Website: https://beechwoodinn.ws/