Barnsley Resort

Outstanding place! Beautiful location, well maintained, and extremely personable and professional employees. Located only an hour north of Atlanta, the drive up to Adairsville is easy and convenient.
Highly recommend! I’ll be back next year for sure.

We stayed at the resort on 5÷21÷16 and really enjoyed it. We had an evening snack at the Beer Garden, dinner at the Rice House, and breakfast at the Woodland’s Grill. All of the dining experiences were good and all of the food was very good to excellent. We will return for another visit! Our Manor Suite was clean and comfortable, and we enjoyed the hiking trails.

What a lovely resort with a great set of diverse activities. We are not golfers (although understand the course is great), but we enjoyed paintball, kids explorers club, canoeing, and hanging by the pool. Service across the board was great. My biggest frustration was lack of coffee service in the morning, but of course they did have it just by the reservations desk (people at Woodlands Grill looked at me like I had two heads when I kept saying, «I know there are urns of coffee somewhere on the property (I was right)», but they were super accommodating and send me back to our house with a small pot and all the fixings. Very accessible from Atlanta so its a nice add-​on to a weekend trip to Atlanta (especially if coming from far away). Woodlands Grill was great, but we were a little over it by day 3 after racking up 6 meals there!

Played golf today, there are some good holes and from tee to fairway the course is well groomed. However the greens were very grainy, so much so they were not enjoyable to putt on. I grew up playing the gulf coast courses and learned how to read and play grain but they are nothing like these. Your putts are chewed up, the staff needs to do something and quick.

Nothing could be more peaceful than time at Barnsley. I’ve been in both winter and summer, and I look forward to going again. My husband loves the golf course, and I love the pool. The Woodland Grill rocks for dinner – not my fav for breakfast.
We’ve stayed in two cottages, and they are charming. The only reason I didn’t give Barnsley all five stars is because the cottages could be cleaner. The wood floors are beautiful but filthy – I mop each time I arrive with a towel; the bathrooms also need attention – glad I travel with Scrubbing Bubbles as the wall paper by the toilet looked like it had poop on it:(
Barnsley isn’t close to much, so stop by the store for cokes, milk, and such before you arrive. The fridge has plenty of room.
The grounds are worth visiting, and learn the history. One guest is legendary, and both times we’ve been there, Mrs. Overmeyer and her dog have also been there:)

All in all, it was a fantastic afternoon at Barnsley Resort. We had fun, in spite of the heat, and got some great pictures. The food was delightful and gave us time to cool down and rest before hitting the road to come home. It’s perfect for a day trip from Atlanta and would make a super weekend getaway. Guten appetit.

We were the grateful recipients of a substantial gift card, which was just enough to cover two nights, two lunches and two bottles of wine to take away. The resort is so relaxing and beautifully maintained, just as it was on our first overnight visit several years ago. Unfortunately, our plan was to arrive early, enjoy the pool, check in, and spend the next two days at the pool. But we arrived late just as it started to rain and were confined to the cabin the rest of the weekend while it poured down. But it was fine, because the cabin was comfortable and we ordered in lunch both days so we didn’t have to go out. Food and attentive service were both exemplary. We did leave to sample a local restaurant in Adairsville (the excellent Okinawa – see review), but were content to read, watch DVDs and rock on the porch swing on the back porch or the rockers on the front porch. Missed the sun but were total noodles by the time we arrived back home after all the relaxing!

Beautiful resort! Also the added historical aspect is a great plus… a true Southern Gothic tale.

I have been to Barnsley Gardens several times. It is my place to go to get away and have some «me» time. The staff is always friendly, courteous and helpful.
I arrived early in the afternoon and was able to check-​in a bit early. From there, I headed to the spa for a much anticipated facial with a few «add-​ons». I was greeted promptly and shown to the ladies locker room. As I changed, I noticed how dingy the locker room had become. The baseboards were dirty and in need of fresh paint job. I also noticed that there were holes in the paneling in the sauna lounge as well as stained, cracked tiles and paint peeling off the wall. My facial was wonderful. The aesthetician had great hands, the products felt great on my face and I truly enjoyed the experience. As I checked out and was confirming my appointments for the next day, I was informed that the person who does the Reflexology was off that day and therefore I wouldn’t be able to experience that treatment. I was offered other services, but none appealed to me. When I arrived at the spa the next day for my massage, they had added a few extras to my massage to make up for the Reflexology snafu. I totally appreciated the gesture and enjoyed the massage immensely. The masseuse was amazing and I would ask for her again.
Unfortunately the Rice House was closed during my visit, but I enjoyed all of my meals from the Woodlands Grill. When I walked in to order room service to be delivered to my cottage a bit later in the day, I was greeted by name before I said a word. When I asked for some recommendations, the hostess was helpful and offered several suggestions based on some of my comments.
I was disappointed in the state of my cottage. My first impression when I walked in was, «wow, it is very dated» and nothing about my stay in the cottage changed that impression during my 3 day stay. It needed a fresh coat of paint everywhere, the bathroom door had a large crack in the seam and there was wallpaper peeling in several different places. My sofa was worn and uncomfortable. The cushions were just worn out and you simply sank too low in the sofa to be comfortable. Since I was by myself, I chose to have dinner delivered to the cottage. The chairs at the table were uncomfortable and wobbled. The bed was comfortable.
The turn down service is always a bonus!
In the past, I have described Barnsley Gardens to my friends as my favorite place on earth to go for a quick «mental health» get-​a-​way since it is a short one hour drive from Atlanta, but it has fallen a bit on my «favorites» list due to the need for some renovations and updates to the interior of the cottages and spa. It is not an inexpensive resort and for the same money and drive, Ritz Reynolds Plantation is another option, with much more attention paid to the details in the facilities. I prefer the cottages at Barnsley, but I expect more than what they are currently providing. The staff is outstanding, do their jobs well and do try to make your stay as pleasant as possible.

I went to celebrate a birthday and wanted to relax for a couple days. This served that purpose.
About an hour outside of Atlanta. You can be away and close to the action when you’re ready for that.
I thought the staff was five stars. Everyone was friendly and warm.
The grounds are well maintained. To fully take advantage of the resort, I think the ideal time to go is spring and fall. When the grounds, golf course, etc green up, I bet it’s pretty.
Food was a three. Up and down. One meal is great another would be so/​so. Thought the selection of whiskey’s were great at the bar.
I did clay shooting while there and this place was perfect for that.
Great place to breathe, take in some fresh air and enjoy the outdoors with a sense of calm and tranquility.
I don’t need to visit again, b/​c I don’t live in the area, but if you’re nearby and need a break, this is gold.
P. S. They should offer more amenities in the room to welcome guests. Selection of teas, hot chocolate, warm cookies or something. After all, it is home away from home.

Horseback riding, golfing, skeet shooting, fishing, and good food! I’ll be back :)

We came here in August on a mini-​vacation and found it so pleasant and relaxing. it is quiet, beautiful and not crawling with people like the Homestead or the Greenbrier (except at the pool that is). The food was excellent and our cottage was attractive. We took our French bulldog boating (in his own life jacket).
The gardens are magical. They have perfected a European garden feel that is both culitvated and wild. The whole place has a slightly eccentric vibe which seems fitting given that a German prince bought the Romantic ruins of a Southern plantation, where he built an English village! (And a German beer garden.) But it all works and is quite charming. Unlike some of the other reviewers, I liked the fact that it does not scream «posh.» The staff is unobtrusive yet very available. We took a sporting clays shooting lesson and the instruction was top-​notch The one thing I wish they would add is an adults only pool. Can’t wait to come back.

What a nice surprise! I was really worried when I was told that the wedding venue would be in the middle of no where Georgia… The staff exceeded my expectations at every turn going way out of their way to make our stay more enjoyable. They had an awesome sporting clay course and horseback riding. We didn’t get a chance to go fishing or play golf, but I think I will find myself heading that direction again soon. Oh, and the accommodations were Five star hotel equivalent… Or they would be if housekeeping could clean off the cobwebs and spiderwebs on the porch furniture… All around great visit and great venue for a wedding… Just not in July heat.

Barnsley Gardens is a great getaway resort located just an hour north of Atlanta!
I had the honor of attending a friend’s wedding there last weekend and they still had all of their insanely beautiful Christmas decorations.
The resort has a very mountain lodge feel to it and there are many activities such as clay shooting, golf, kayaking, fishing, biking, nature trails, museum, horse back riding, and the spa.
Treat yourself to the Spa! It is a little pricey, but worth it. They also offer a complimentary steam room, sauna, and whirlpool to all guests.
Each quad room/​cottage has its own fireplace in the bedrooms and a claw foot tub in each bathroom. To me that was the best part about the entire trip!
Service is a little effy in the Woodland Grill. The kitchen tends to get backed up because it is the only restaurant that serves breakfast and lunch on the property.
The Rice House is open for dinner only.
Blake is an exceptional bartender! He really kept up the pace in the crowded bar area.
Highly recommended for a weekend getaway or a wedding!

I love that this resort is less than two hours away, and perfect for a quick getaway. However, the cottage we stayed in seemed to be in need of some repairs, and for the price, was far from posh. Service on the premises was friendly. Had s’mores by an outside fire. Complimentary marshmallows, graham crackers, and Ghiradelli chocolate squares… yum! The resort is quaint, and quiet and peaceful. There is bike riding and skeet shooting and golf available. They also have a spa. Though it was nice to get away, for the price and accommodations, I am going to look elsewhere.

My husband and I visited this past weekend for our one year anniversary and we loved it so much that we were sad to leave. There’s so much good stuff about this place that I need to break it down:
Appearance: When you first pull in and go to registration, everything looks gorgeous and well-​groomed. The autumn leaves are vibrant this time of year and we caught them decorating for Christmas. It was like being transported to a different time period in a small quaint town.
Room & Board: Our cottage suite was better than we expected. We saw photos online, but it doesn’t compare to being there in-​person. The furniture, the flooring, the decorations, even the curtains all came together to bring the Jacksonian theme home. Everything was clean and in order. We LOVED the fireplace and the rocking chairs on the porch. I fell in love with the claw-​footed bathtub (which never seemed to run out of hot water) and my husband loved that there were two flat screens (one in the living room and one in the bedroom). Fresh towels were delivered daily and they restocked the complimentary shampoo/​condition etc…
Recreation: As soon as we got there we wanted to explore the property. We settled in and rented two mountain bikes. The lady at the bike-​rental shop was very helpful and gave us a trail map for our ride. We vastly underestimated how large the property was, 3300 acres. We ended up going across the street and going the 1.5 mile Meadow trail. We saw the back 9 of the golf course, the outskirts of The Ruins, and the paintball field. We also took a walk to the stables and got to interact with the horses. My husband played 9 holes and thoroughly enjoyed the course with the cigar he bought at Addie’s. And my spa visit was excellent! The whole spa facility is wonderful, which a steam room, sauna, whirl pool, showers, robes and shoes! I highly recommend the Lava Shell and Little Splendors treatment. I grabbed some aromatherapy bath salts on the way out to use in the claw-​foot tub!
Food: We visited the Beer Garden once to catch some football and grabbed a hot dog, some chips and a drink = $ 21. It was a steep price for bar food. We had the remainder of our meals at the Woodlands Grill. Dinner the first night at Woodlands Grill was decent enough. We ordered a local cheese plate, salad and the open-​faced buffalo burger. My salad was exactly what I wanted, light fare without breaking the bank. The cheese plate was the highlight though, due to the home-​made peach preserves. The second dinner was on the actual night of our anniversary — so we shelled out. He got the bacon-​wrapped filet and I got the chef’s special — Bourbon glazed salmon. Both were amazing. He said it was the best filet he’s ever had! We even got complimentary champagne for our celebration. We had breakfast both days at Woodlands, too. The first day we did the breakfast buffet and the second day we ordered from the menu. Both were hearty breakfasts that left us feeling full until after lunch. And the service was great every time we went! The prices are steep for some items, but we indulged ourselves.
Customer Service: Have you ever been treated so nice that you became skeptical, as if that person had a hidden agenda? Well that’s what we thought because the staff at Barnsley is so nice! We’re not used to the fanfare of fancy resorts, so this type of customer service might be customary, but we were taken aback by how kind and helpful everyone was. We were greeted by a cheerful staff when checking-​in, and the gentlemen who showed us our rooms was humorous. When we called the front office, we were greeted with, «How may we help the (our last name)?» And anything we wanted was delivered to our door — towels, fire starters, food, you name it! Best of all, my husband asked if they could deliver s’mores supplies, and a woman came back with a 1lbs of marshmallows, Ghiradelli’s chocolate squares, graham crackers and a whole bushel of clean, wooden sticks for the marshmallows! When it was raining, staff would pick you up and drop you off in golf carts so you didn’t have to walk in the rain. And my husband loved the peach preserves so much that the chef gave us some to take home! Their customer service is what stands out the most to us.
TL:DR — This place is beautiful, relaxing and perfect for anyone.
We can’t wait to go back!

I’ve been studying on how to best write this review for some time. My group of 7 families (19 people) stayed for a Fall weekend a couple if weeks ago and my emotions/​experience was so mixed that it’s been difficult to formulate.
I’ll start with the good which includes the accommodations. Rooms were large, well appointed and very comfortable. The resort setup which is welcoming, like home and easy to get around. The golf course was beautiful, challenging and fun. Oh and the girl working the counter at the pro shop was fantastic. Excellent customer service and awareness. Wish I could remember her name. My wife said the spa was nice. Woodland Grill is excellent. The staff were engaging, helpful and a real treat. The food there was yum. The stores (there are 2 small stores) were well stocked (not groceries) and the items for sale were high-​end. The ruins were interesting and attractive. Every staff member on a golf cart driving around the resort had a smile and a hello. The resort manager was very responsive and understanding about some of the issues we were having while trying to make arrangements. We had 2 novice shooters who received brief good instruction from Skip. We hunted a half day at Spring Bank and enjoyed the dogs, the property and the fellowship. See separate review for details.
Now for the bad. I won’t go into great detail, but the Rice House screwed up our menu and were unapologetic. The wait staff were like robots and all meats and fish were over cooked. All other foods served tasted like the chef was trying too hard and over did it. The tennis court was not maintained. They are clay courts and if you play tennis you know what needs to be done. The cost was a little much for what we got on a global — I just spent a weekend here — experience and you’ll understand when you read the ugly section of my review. After checking in for shooting clays we drove to the clay shooting course to find a ghost town so we helped ourselves as we were told at the check in desk. Suddenly, a man approaches and asks what we were doing and barked commands. There could have been better communication related to course rules.
The ugly, and there is some ugly. I set up a hunt at Spring Bank and scheduling was a nightmare. If we didn’t have 6 other families joining us I would have cancelled the weekend just from this issue. Clay was dismissive and full of erroneous information. A female answered the phone once, didn’t have answers to my questions, took my contact info and never returned the call. Skip was not responsive to voice messages and emails. The only way I could get him to communicate with me was through the manager. Once we were finally at the hunt location what we had setup was not communicated to the guides and they were not prepared for what we scheduled.
What we learned once on property was that the shooting clays is world class and the focus of the shooting team. Spring Bank is like the redheaded step child and has little concern from shooting management. So it’s not that they are bad/​mean people. It’s that quail, pheasant hunting is not their focus. This ultimately hurts the resort’s upscale approach and pricing. One expects top notch service at these prices. Some areas the resort were spot on. Others need great improvement.

This place is beautiful. The map makes it look huge, but from the mansion to the pool is about 300 yards. Despite the proximity of the other guest cottages, the landscaping made our cottage feel secluded. There are a variety of activities, and our experience there was spotty at best.
Some great things and some really disappointing things as well.
1. Cell Phone service: I have Sprint and my phone had no service while at the resort, except at high points on the golf course and at the shooting course. My boyfriend has AT&T and he had full bars throughout.
2. The in-​room, free wi-​fi signal was very weak in our suite and non-​existent while out of the cottage. If college campuses can be completely internet accessible, so should this resort OR they should be very up-​front about the lack of connectivity.
3. Pets: We brought an 85 pound dog and she was welcome everywhere except the pool and restaurants. It would be nice if there was a fenced dog play area where the pooches could be off leash. After three days, the dog definitely had cabin fever. If you are bringing a dog, you must book a suite.
4. The four fire pits are a nice gathering space and s’more fixings are available at 6pm every night. The staff will even start the fire for you before 9pm.
5. The service was spotty, the staff was either pleasant or standoffish. No-​one was excellent. IMO the key to excellent customer service is flexibility. As a customer, I don’t like hearing «no» and as a Disney employee I was trained to not tell a guest no, unless it was a safety issue.
A 20% gratuity was included in every bill, even the pool snack bar and was not adjustable. Additionally, an $ 18.00/day/person resort fee applied.
6. Food was disappointing. It is a remote resort, and we are a captive audience so I would expect variety and flexibility in the kitchen. They don’t make pizza on property. The closest delivery place is 45 minutes away and it is Pizza Hut. They also won’t make a club sandwich, even though the kitchen has bread, a toaster, sliced turkey, bacon, mayo and lettuce. They don’t have any quick grab options, so if you want to eat before your 9:30 tee time plan to sit down at the grill no later than 8:15, or order room service by the same time.
7. Our suite was clean and had wood floors, a front and back porch and a standard bed. The linens would also be found in a Holiday Inn Express or Econo Lodge. The shower was large, with plenty of hot water and adjustable water pressure.
Overall, a nice place to spend a few days with a variety of activities but the service and accommodations are not on par with the prices.

What happens at the office holiday party stays at the office holiday party…
My sister’s generous employer paid for his entire staff to eat dinner, get wasted and spend the night in a cottage at Barnsley Gardens for their holiday party this year. And I got to be her date.
Our sage-​green cottage contained four private bedrooms and adjoining bathrooms. And, since we knew all our fellow cottage-​goers, the building’s common area was available for our enjoyment, too. Our bedroom contained a king-​sized bed with a sitting area and a fireplace that burned all night while I drooled on my paisley pillow. The bathing room contained a claw-​footed tub, sink and shower; and a separate door enclosed a potty and second sink. (This is a wonderful solution for any co-​habitating couple; waiting to eliminate while your honey hogs the shower is the worst.)
The pre-​party occurred at the Big Chief’s cottage, where he happily mixed Old Fashioneds along with dozens of other libations. Immediately upon his request, a staff member delivered a plate of sliced oranges to dip into the O.F.s.
For buffet food, dinner was exceptional, stand-​outs including the salmon with dill, beef stroganoff and tomato/​red onion salad. Din-​din took place in the Pavilion with a couple other office parties. While those people approached the bar with a single drink token, we guzzled cocktails all night courtesy of our wristbands.
I fell asleep in the cottage before the after-​party, waking up fully rested and abdominally able to order breakfast via room service. The Crab Cake Benedict absorbed any remaining Jack in my system. I didn’t care for the coffee, most likely because soymilk wasn’t available to dilute it.
I could go on and on about the property’s other attractions: the Ruins, the Rice House, horseback riding, golf…
But I’ll close by describing the 21-​year-​old child who relentlessly hit on me with the Arm on the Wall Move.
«Let’s dance,» he suggested after trapping me in a corner.
«I do have a boyfriend,» I eventually said.
«Oh yeah? That’s not what I was told. Well I have a GIRLFRIEND.»
«Cool, how long have y’all been dating?»
«Two weeks,» he swelled his chest.

A little piece of heaven lies just 60 miles north of Atlanta: Barnsley Gardens. It’s in a remote location, so follow the signs closely and you’ll get there without a problem. Everything about Barnsley Gardens is just fantastic; it’s impossibly charming and romantic. Everyone is so warm and welcoming, and chances are good that you’ll run into the in-​house Fairy Godmother while you’re there, who is positively wonderful. Woodlands Grill is such a treat this time of year– from the warm fireplace to the beautiful holiday decorations, you’ll feel right at home.
I came here with my family after a day of shopping at the Calhoun Premium Outlets. I had the tenderloin tips alfredo ($ 12.95), which was made with mushrooms, shallots, garlic and a light alfredo sauce with tortellini. I’m not a huge alredo lover, but this dish was full of flavor and perfectly comforting, without being too rich. I would also recommend the chicken pot pie (in puff pastry), the grilled salmon BLT (my parents’ favorite) and the General salad, which is served with romaine, grilled chicken, berries, almonds, haricot verts, etc. They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner, and if you want to dine «lighter,» then ask for the pub menu (which is essentially the lunch menu) at dinner.
Woodlands Grill would be a great place for a romantic date, dinner with your family, or a post-​spa treat with your girlfriends. The property is gorgeous and full of history, so if you can, take the time to explore the ruins, museum, and gardens. If you want something more relaxing, then get a drink and cuddle up next to the fire. And if you need help planning a special occasion, be sure to contact the Fairy Godmother, Denise.