Brasstown Valley Resort and Spa: Honoring Native American Heritage

Georgia’s Blue Ridge Mountains are rich in Native American history. Different tribal groups lived in the area for thousands of years, with the Cherokee being the last great nation to make the Southeastern mountain region their homeland. You may not have known this, but Brasstown Valley Resort and Spa’s 503 acres comprise land that once belonged to the Cherokee. And a revelation awaited us when we began to construct our golf course.

The Brasstown Valley Golf Course, ranked as one of Georgia’s top courses by both Golf Digest and Leading Golf Courses of America, was designed by leading golf course architect Denis Griffiths. It’s a beauty, meandering through wildlife preserves and by ponds and streams, the mountain backdrop serving as scenery. During construction, however, we uncovered the remains of a large Cherokee village. We brought in professionals and members of the Eastern Band of Cherokees to conduct a painstaking and culturally sensitive archaeological excavation, which recovered more than 400,000 artifacts. Denis redesigned the golf course in order to preserve this important historical landmark. We also made plans to add a small museum to the resort, where many of the relics are on display.

When you visit Brasstown Valley Resort and Spa, you may notice our turtle theme. According to folklore, a mammoth turtle saved many Cherokees thousands of years ago during an epic flood by carrying them on his back to Brasstown Bald. As a nod to this tradition, we incorporated a turtle motif throughout the resort. A large turtle greets you at the entrance, whimsical turtle tee markers ornament our golf course, turtle signs point you to destinations throughout the resort, and our turtle chocolates are a delicious treat.

We designed our luxurious Equani Spa with the input of many Cherokee people to reflect the spirit of their culture. Ornamental embellishments hand-crafted by Cherokee artisans grace the spa’s décor, and spa treatments include unique rituals indigenous to that nation. The spa elegantly blends accurate representations of the Cherokee culture with a lavish spa experience.
At Brasstown Valley Resort and Spa, we consider ourselves stewards of this significant legacy, and we’re excited to share it with you. Come visit us soon.

For more information call our Recreation Dept. at 706-379-9900