{"id":10844,"date":"2017-08-31T10:00:21","date_gmt":"2017-08-31T14:00:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/simplybuckhead.com\/?p=10844"},"modified":"2020-02-12T09:16:40","modified_gmt":"2020-02-12T14:16:40","slug":"mountains-majesty","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplybuckhead.com\/mountains-majesty\/","title":{"rendered":"MOUNTAINS\u2019 MAJESTY"},"content":{"rendered":"
SCENIC HELEN, GEORGIA, GETS ITS FIRST LUXURY RESORT<\/p>\n
It\u2019s late June, when the temps are reaching up into the 90s across most of Georgia, and I\u2019m sleeping comfortably in my hotel room with the patio door open, having been lulled into slumber by the soothing sounds of Mother Nature. It\u2019s a surprisingly cool summer night, even for the North Georgia mountains, making my stay at the newly opened Valhalla Resort Hotel all the more special.<\/p>\n Located on five woodsy acres in Helen, Georgia, just 90 minutes northeast of Atlanta, Valhalla is the popular mountain destination\u2019s first luxury resort. Named for the mythical heaven for ancient Nordic warriors, Valhalla is the pet project of Gayle and Jerry Murdock, and in design and decor, it reflects Jerry\u2019s Scottish heritage. The European influences are fitting considering Helen\u2019s alpine, German-village vibe, but Valhalla is unlike other accommodations you\u2019ll find in the area. Kids aren’t allowed, and it\u2019s geared toward the crowd who\u2019d rather spend the day touring local wineries than tubing down the Chattahoochee.<\/p>\n As I dined out on the terrace overlooking the pool, savoring a juicy filet of Buckhead Beef with twice cooked herb and vinegar potatoes, Hill stopped by to say hello and told me a little about his background, which includes stints at The Broadmoor Resort in Colorado and the Omni Homestead Resort in Virginia. Hill favors using local and regionally sourced ingredients and has a flair for adding an upscale edge to Southern comfort food. On the night of my visit, for example, he made gourmet corndogs as an appetizer for the rooftop Sky Bar.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n
<\/a>Its plush amenities include 24-hour room service, valet parking, free Wi-Fi, a full-service spa with sauna and steam room, a fitness center, pool and even a helipad. The rooms are all suites and boast balconies offering picturesque views, two smart TVs, marble vanities and rainforest showers, as well as separate sitting areas with a desk and gas fireplace. And the service is four-star, with friendly staffers looking after your every need. The nice woman at the front desk set me up with an appointment at the Solasta Spa, where I enjoyed a pampering\u2014and wonderfully aromatic\u201460-minute massage. She also made my dinner reservation at Caledonia, the on-site dining room, helmed by executive chef Dean Hill.<\/p>\n