The McLemore Resort Lookout Mountain, Curio Collection by Hilton in Rising Fawn, Ga., is the result of a partnership between Chattanooga-based Scenic Land Company and Hilton.
The upper-upscale hotel, conference center and spa is set to join Curio Collection by Hilton in 2020, and will offer 180 rooms and more than 10,000 square feet of conference space set within a more than 800-acre mountaintop golf resort development. Located more than 2,000 feet above sea level, guests will have access to cliffside views across the McLemore Cove and Pigeon Mountain, as well as numerous dining options, an 18-hole golf course and outdoor amenities. The location is also set against the backdrop of McLemore Cove and its more than 20,000 acres of protected wilderness area.
“As Hilton continues to grow its upper upscale portfolio of Curio Collection properties, we could not be more enthusiastic about the opportunity that northwest Georgia and east Tennessee represent for our brand,” Matt Wehling, SVP, development – North America at Hilton, said in a statement. “As the first high-end resort in the area, the distinctive property will offer one-of-a-kind mountaintop experiences for guests and is an ideal addition to the expanding global collection.”
In addition to the site’s natural and historical amenities, guests staying at The McLemore Resort will have access to a spa and fitness center, infinity edge pools and an 18-hole golf course redesigned by Rees Jones and Bill Bergin. The McLemore Resort will also provide visitors with a basecamp for exploration throughout Georgia’s Cumberland Plateau. Nearby access to hiking, cycling, mountain biking, rock climbing, bouldering, caving, kayaking, horseback riding and hang gliding is also available.
“The McLemore Resort is a perfect intersection for business travelers during the week and leisure guests on the weekends. No place in the Southeastern United States is as conveniently located and rich in natural amenities as we are,” Duane Horton, president of Scenic Land Company and developer of The McLemore Resort, said in a statement. “As a native of northwest Georgia I fully appreciate both the beauty of the area’s natural amenities, as well as the economic benefit this resort will bring to the community. By partnering with Curio Collection by Hilton, it allows us to develop a property authentic to Lookout Mountain while leveraging Hilton’s reservation system and its renowned Hilton Honors guest-loyalty program. Our team loves this place and people deeply and is excited about sharing it with visitors from throughout the region and nation.”
Leading operations for The McLemore Resort is Euan McGlashan, co-founder and managing partner of Atlanta-based Valor Hospitality, who previously launched the Cape Grace luxury hotel in Cape Town, South Africa.
“Working on The McLemore Resort with Scenic Land Company and Curio Collection by Hilton brings together my passion for introducing people to new, beautiful settings and creating best-in-class hospitality experiences for them,” McGlashan said in a statement. “The team assembled here is driven and devoted to the project’s long-term success and positive impact on the State of Georgia. Valor Hospitality is committed to creating exceptional and enjoyable experiences for our guests. I am confident that The McLemore Resort is going to do just that when we open the doors.”
Funding for The McLemore Resort was provided in part by Scenic Land Investments III, a limited partnership consisting of a select group of investors from the Southeast and Midwest.