Blue Ridge County - March/April 2014 - 65

nights, this silo's top comes off so visitors can observe
the stars and deep space, millions of light years away,
with high-powered telescopes.
"We have some pretty interesting skies," says Scott
Martin, the resort's director of astronomy. "And our
altitude helps. We're roughly 3,000 feet atop the dome,
so that's 3,000 feet less altitude to fight through when
you're trying to see stars."
The name "Primland" comes from the resort's
founder, Didier Primat, a French businessman who
loved wildlife. He acquired this mountain land in 1977
and helped harvest the property's timber.
Later, and for many years, Primland primarily
served as a popular preserve for hunters, as early as
1986. It's still a great place to hunt, says Steve Helms,
the property's vice president.
But on came more development like the golf course
and, ultimately, building that giant cabin of cabins -
the 26-room lodge that overlooks The Highland
Course. The 72,000-square-foot lodge was completed
in 2009, the same year that Primat passed away.
Donald Steel designed The Highland Course, overlooking the Dan River Gorge, the Pinnacles of Dan
and North Carolina's piedmont. "We want to be a top
golf destination," Helms says, "and a top facility just
to come and enjoy nature."
Hiking paths lead to the popular Roaring Creek
Overlook and go by such colorful names as the

Bootleggers Loop Trail. Parts of the paths on this property actually follow what used to be the Appalachian
Trail through forests that appear to stretch forever.
Up to 90 percent of Primland remains in woods,
says Helms.
Amenities include a small selection of restaurants
plus an indoor swimming pool. Activities range from
horseback riding and sporting clays to fly fishing and
pond fishing.
And when you want to rest? Try the massage therapy at the spa, incorporating Native American healing
practices and encouraging visitors to simply breathe
deep and relax through the gifted hands of therapists
like Brenda Schwartz.
"We do 30-minute treatments to three-hour rituals," says Melissa Dillon, the spa manager at
Primland. "Eating healthy, exercising and taking
time out for a massage - it's not just a luxury anymore; it's a necessity." 
IF YOU GO

Primland
2000 Busted Rock Road, Meadows of Dan, Va.
866-960-7746
primland.com

TradiTion. Vision. innoVaTion.

LIVE THE LIFE YOU WANT

ROANOKE, VA:
A FUN PLACE TO VISIT
A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE.

The Roanoker
DINING AWARDS PART DEUX: NIGHTLIFE & NEIGHBORHOODS

m e t r o p o l i t a n

r o a n o k e

l i f e s t y l e

* Cost of Living Less than
National Average2
* 22 Minute Average Commute3

NO. 4
SEE A MOVIE AT
THE GRANDIN
THEATRE

Michael Hatch, glass

AllAnstAnd CrAft shop At the folk Art Center
Milepost 382 Blue Ridge Parkway
Asheville, NC | 828-298-7928

www.craftguild.org
The Southern Highland Craft Guild is an authorized concessioner of the
National Park Service, Department of the Interior.

* #1 in VA for Independent
Restaurants Per Capita4

Things
r
Every Roanoke 22
Do!
Must
See page

* Top 3 Place to Retire
in the U.S.5
Sources: 1. US News 2013 Best High School
Rankings, 2. U.S. Census Data, 3. Forbes Best Places
for Business & Careers, 4. Roanoke CVB, 5. Money
Magazine Best Places to Retire in the U.S.

GET YOUR FREE COPY OF THIS 100+ PAGE COMPLETE SOURCEBOOK

TheRoanoker.com/FreeSourcebook
Available as a Digital Edition Too!
MARCH/APRIL 2014 | 65

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Blue Ridge County - March/April 2014

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