"Set on the 8,000-acre estate conceived by a Gilded Age industrialist, this French château–inspired stay offers Old World elegance, exclusive access to expansive grounds after day visitors depart, and eco-conscious operations (nine acres of solar panels offset roughly 20 percent of the estate’s energy use). Guests can unwind at a full-service spa, sip wines from the estate vineyard, swim in a heated outdoor pool with Blue Ridge views, and dine on farm-to-table Southern cuisine in a white-linen dining room; the property is undergoing phased renovations with newly designed rooms already debuting." - Jenn Rice