Telescope and views make mountaintop resort unique

It's the views.

Always the views.

The scenic vistas that golfers, hunters, fishermen and others participating in the mountaintop experience that is Primland Resort are spectacular.

Golfers on the first green of the award-winning Highlands Course stare at the Pinnacles of Dan. The Pinnacles stare back.

On a clear day, you can see the North Carolina cities of Winston-Salem and Greensboro while smacking golf balls on the driving range. All over the golf course there are places where you stand awestruck by what you see, and I'm not talking about the three-tiered green on the par-5 13th hole.

Primland's north gate, on Busted Rock Road, is off U.S. 58 in Patrick County. It's a couple miles past the Lover's Leap overlook and birdhouse store, and a couple miles short of the Meadows of Dan and the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Visitors coming from points south enter the gate near Claudville. It takes about 60 to 70 minutes to get there from Greensboro and Winston-Salem.

Primland is a massive property encompassing 12,000 acres. Owned by Frenchman Didier Primat, Primland began catering to outdoorsmen in 1986. The golf course, designed by Englishman Donald Steele, opened on top of the mountain three years ago and was a "Best New" honoree by Golf Digest and Travel and Leisure Golf magazines.

Until last month, overnight accommodations were offered in mountain cabins or fairway cottages. Now, the Lodge at Primland is open and providing more sumptuous and luxurious experiences.

Primat died in July, but his family has carried on at Primland. The back of the 72,000-square-foot lodge overlooks the 10th tee and fairway. The front has the magnificent southern view.

"The lodge is the showpiece centerpiece of the property with its many unique features and variety of facilities . . . ranging from the spa and ballroom to fine and casual dining and observatory that brings the mountains closer to the stars," general manager Brooks Bradbury said in a release.

The observatory is all about what you can see. Housed in the dome of the silo that dominates the western side of the lodge is a Celestron CGE Pro 1400 telescope. It has a 40mm eyepiece and a 70X zoom.

As fine as the golf course is, as good as the food is, as much fun as the hunting and fishing are, the telescope is what makes Primland unique. If you stay in the Pinnacles Suit, an 1,800-square-foot space, you can take the spiral staircase to the observatory.

The lodge has 26 guest rooms and suites featuring nine floor plans. There is a mix of king, queen and double queen suites. All have the omnipresent view.

Head PGA professional Jeff Fraim's golf shop occupies the lower level of the silo and doubles as a cigar bar.

The wine room is two stories and glass walled. There's a spa, indoor pool, fitness center, fully outfitted boardroom, meeting facilities, theater and indoor parking. The Elements is the intimate dining room and The 19th Hole awaits golfers.

Before the lodge opened, dining was at Stables Saloon, which is part way down the mountain. The good news is that Stables and chef Brit Saylor, who can cook anything, will continue operation.

Contact Arthur Utley at (804) 649-6559 or .