Glen-Ella Springs Inn & Meeting Place

What's your pleasure? A much needed romantic escape, or a getaway with your best friends. Or do you need the perfect place to celebrate a special occasion in your life with family and friends? For business or pleasure, Glen Ella Springs Inn Bed and Breakfast, Restaurant and Meeting Place is conveniently located just 90 miles north of Atlanta in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains between Tallulah Falls and Clarkesville, GA. From our 16 well-appointed guest rooms to our award-winning restaurant, we can meet and exceed your needs and expectations.

Glen-Ella Springs Inn is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and has a long-standing tradition of hospitality. As one of only fifteen inns in Georgia admitted to the Select Registry of Distinguished Inns, this nationally recognized assurance of quality gives our guests peace of mind in knowing they have selected a superior property for their leisure or business travel.

Recent Accolades:

Glen-Ella Springs Inn has received annual recognition as one of Georgia's Top Dining Destinations since 2004 by GeorgiaTrend Magazine.  

Other notable awards received include Fodor's Choice Award, the foremost name in travel publishing, as a 2010 Fodor's Choice selection for both "Where to Eat" and "Where to Stay" when visiting or planning a visit to the north Georgia mountains.  This distinction represents a remarkable achievement and recognizes Glen-Ella Springs Inn as a leader in it's field for service, quality and value in the year 2010.

USAToday.com - Glen-Ella Springs Inn was listed #1 out of 3 Romantic Getaways in North Georgia on their Travel Tips webpage in September 2010

Augusta Magazine, August 2010 - "Known as a place of rest and renewal - Glen-Ella Springs Inn can provide a restful backdrop to your next well deserved trip to the cool respite of the north Georgia mountains."

National Geographic Travelers Top Picks - In it's first ever "Stay List", National Geographic Traveler Magazine has chosen 150 hotels in the US, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean, which meet their criteria of celebrating authenticity in the soul of its location.  Glen-Ella Springs was one of 4 Georgia Inns to be named to this prestigious list.

Glen-Ella Springs Inn awarded Best of the Blue Ridge Reader's choice award. Glen-Ella Springs Inn & Meeting Place was among 3 inns voted as Favorite Places to Go in the readers poll for Blue Ridge magazine. Every five years the magazine invites readers to vote on their favorites and the top inn choices were the Grove Park Inn in Asheville, NC, the Martha Washington Inn in Abingdon, Va., and Glen-Ella Springs Inn in Clarkesville, Ga. Readers also voted the inn as one of their favorite restaurants for best Southern cooking and fine dining.

Glen-Ella Springs Inn Features

• Meander about our 12-Acre meadow or along a creek path.
• Swim in an open-air saline-treated swimming pool or lounge on the deck.
• Roast marshmallows & stargaze by a fire pit with Adirondack chairs.
• Take a night stroll along our solar-lit perennial herb and flower gardens.
• Dine with a view on our open-air terrace.
• Enjoy the outdoors in an open-air pavilion with ceiling fans, heaters and see-through panels for year-round use.
• Complimentary WiFi and office services – computer, fax machine, and copier
• Enjoy yard games: volley ball, badminton, croquet, horseshoes, putting green and half court basketball pad
• Limited handicap access

Visit Glen-Ella Springs Inn in the North Georgia Mountains for an Unforgettable Experience

Glen-Ella’s pastoral setting encourages you to simply rest and relax, regardless of whether you do so with a companion, a book, or binoculars. All of the covered porches have rocking chairs, and comfortable breezes beckon you to sit a while and take in the scenery.

Staying at Glen-Ella Springs Inn is a chance to escape the fast-paced, hurried life most of us have. Sirens, car horns and traffic noises are replaced with singing birds, rustling tree branches, and the sounds of crickets and katydids.

Enjoy sitting by a wood fire at the fire pit in our 12-acre meadow, where, far from city lights, nights are even more magical with a huge display of stars.

About the Innkeepers of Our North Georgia Bed and Breakfast

Fulfilling a life-long dream, Ed and Luci Kivett along with their boys, Edward and Andrew, became Glen-Ella’s third inn-keeping family in 2008. Glen-Ella Springs Inn is a haven that guests often return to again and again - a tribute to the sincere dedication of providing both Inn and restaurant guests with the very best experience on each and every visit.

"Our Goal is to delight each guest and enrich their experience through a combination of an inspiring environment, outstanding food and exceptional service."

Area outdoor attractions, from north Georgia wineries to nationally recognized hiking trails and Georgia waterfalls, make Glen-Ella Springs Inn a very special destination.

When the Inn was restored in 1986 by Bobby and Barrie Aycock, all of the original heart pine–paneled walls, floors, and ceilings were left intact wherever possible, including in the guest rooms. The lobby, the dining room, and two of the second-floor suites have one of several original stacked-stone fireplaces.

 

Although guest rooms do not have TVs, there are TVs in common areas with full satellite connections for our guests to use. Cellular service depends on your carrier, and the entire property is set up with complimentary WiFi access.

For the comfort of our guests, we have 4 rooms (2 ground-floor king rooms and 2 second-floor suites) which are family friendly. Please contact the Inn directly for lodging reservations if you are traveling with children.

Included With Your Stay

• Full breakfast for two
• Private entrance
• Private Bath
• Luxury 600 thread count sheets
• Coffee maker with specialty gourmet coffee
• Custom-milled bath products & Spa inspired robes
• Hair dryer, Iron and ironing board & luggage stands
• Individually controlled air & heat
• Complimentary WiFi
• Spa Sound Machine
• Telephone with messaging
• Covered porches with rocking chairs, access to pool & view of property

Enjoy Our Regionally Acclaimed Menu for Evening Dinner at Glen-Ella Springs Restaurant

The restaurant at Glen-Ella Springs Inn is open to the public and inn guests beginning at 6:00 pm for dinner. Offering one of the finest dining experiences in North Georgia, the restaurant presents award-winning cuisine in a rustic, yet elegant, country atmosphere. Recognized as one of the Top Dining Destinations in the state of Georgia by GeorgiaTrend Magazine since 2004, Glen-Ella Springs Inn has long been recognized as a north Georgia favorite.

Guests enjoy our many signature dishes such as Sautéed Jumbo Shrimp with peppers and andouille sausage in a smoked tomato sauce served along side our fried Parmesan grit cake, or the herb encrusted New Zealand Rack of Lamb accompanied with a Jalapeño mint sauce, maple whipped sweet potatoes and fresh green beans. Trout, steak and Macadamia crusted chicken with a Dijon cranberry sauce are also regular menu items. Nightly specials are typically seafood inspired.

Our Chef Marc Badon, comes to us with an extensive food service history. His natural talent and passion has matured over the years since beginning his career as ‘Sous Chef ‘ in 1991 for the Capital City Club in Raleigh, North Carolina. Serving in several different capacities with other superior establishments such as Westglow Spa & Resort and Chateau Elan over the last 11 years, his experience has encompassed just about every area of the kitchen. Chef Marc is passionate about using the freshest ingredients and uses locally grown produce when available. While Chef Marc continues with many of the traditional Glen-Ella Springs' favorites, he also imparts his own unique talents with daily specials and creativity all designed to enhance your fine dining experience.

Kindly note: We suggest you call ahead for dinner reservations (706-754-7295).

A private dining room is available to groups of 35 or less. Please inquire with our manager for menu options. Facility fee or minimum food charges may be applicable.

In addition to our regular dinner service, the restaurant is open for special events such as Easter Sunday, Mother’s Day and Thanksgiving Day serving a buffet lunch. These special events do require advance reservations.

We offer on-site catering services for your wedding reception, rehearsal dinner, wedding brunch, weekend retreat, or family gathering.

Full Complimentary Breakfast for Our Over Night Guests

Included with your stay is a freshly prepared full breakfast for two. Start your day with a cup of our specialty blend gourmet coffee, then enjoy homemade baked goods, a bowl of fresh-cut fruit, low-fat yogurt, and our own house-made granola, followed with a hot entrée special such as Glen-Ella’s Blueberry Pancakes or our popular Two Cheese Strata. Breakfast is served to inn guests daily between 8:30 and 10:00 a.m. We encourage you to let us know in advance if you have special dietary needs or requests.

Bring your team to Glen-Ella Springs Inn for a corporate retreat.

Here your group will enjoy casual yet elegant accommodations, outstanding food and service, and a comfortable and private meeting environment.

Suited for groups of up to 35 people, the 30’ x 30’ conference room is equipped with ergonomic seating, complimentary WiFi, and the latest in audio/visual equipment.

An all-inclusive package price makes budgeting for an off-site meeting easy because there are no hidden charges. The package price includes lodging, 3 meals (breakfast, lunch, and a 3-course dinner), use of a conference room with all available AV equipment, 2 snacks catered to the conference room daily, continuous beverage service, and all meal gratuities. Applicable sales tax added to final invoice.

We book only one meeting at a time, giving your group a sense of exclusivity and allowing our staff to provide our undivided attention. Glen-Ella’s staff has more than 45 years of combined sales, marketing, and event planning experience and welcomes the opportunity to assist you in planning a successful meeting.

In addition to hosting your meeting, we can offer a variety of activities and programs to help make your event more memorable – and successful.

Leisure Activities

We are happy to arrange a golf outing or tennis match at a private championship golf and country club located just 2 miles from the Inn.

Let us plan an outdoor excursion for your group. Go horseback riding through the Chattahoochee National Forest, take a pontoon boat cruise on Lake Rabun or go whitewater rafting down the Chattooga River.

Or you can simply relax by our pool, rock on the porch, or enjoy a stroll through our beautiful gardens.

Team Building with Customized Leadership Development Programs
D. Shine and Associates – Debra Shine, President. Debra is a management consultant, instructor and motivational speaker from North Georgia with over 37 years experience in helping corporations, individuals and non-profit organizations maximize human potential and achieve internal goals. Having served hundreds of clients locally and nationally logging over 150,000 career hours of corporate training, speaking and coaching, Debra has developed key skills necessary to help individuals and groups deal with change, stress, regulatory challenges and the need to thrive in the midst of challenge and chaos. Her trademark humorous high energy style is a sought after and refreshing departure from “dullsville” corporate meetings and training. Debra offers professional services in many areas and is available to custom design your next leadership development program.

Host Your Special Events and Group Gatherings at Glen-Ella Springs Inn

We invite community organizations, charities and groups of all types to consider Glen-Ella Springs Inn when planning their next event.

Groups who have booked with us in the past include:

• Marriage and Church Retreats
• Scrapbook Groups
• Sewing and Book Clubs
• Family and Class Reunions
• Driving Clubs
• Non-profit Organizations
• Charity and Political Fund Raisers

To request more information or a quote by email: meetings@glenella.com

There is much to do in the north Georgia mountains. If outdoor adventure piques your interest, there are numerous hiking trails and waterfalls to be explored. Some of the best trout fishing streams and most challenging golf courses in the South are only minutes away. Tallulah Falls and Black Rock Mountain State Parks are within 30 minutes of the Inn and offer some of the area’s most beautiful vistas. You could see part of the Chattahoochee National Forest on horseback or take a white-water rafting trip down the famed Chattooga River. Art, pottery and antiques.
are also abundant in the mountains. Small communities such as Clayton, Clarkesville and Sautee are filled with galleries and shops offering large selections of “one of a kind” pieces. Visit local wineries along the Georgia Wine Highway and discover why Georgia is becoming one of the nation’s most popular wine regions. Whatever your interests, we are always happy to assist you in planning a day trip.

Horse Back Riding     
Tallulah Gorge State Park     
World Class Flyfishing
National Forest Hiking Trails     
Zip Line Tours     
Waterfall Hikes
Original Art and Pottery     
Downtown Clarkesville     
Antiques at Sautee General Store
Georgia Wine Highway     
Folk Pottery Museum     
Appalachian History

We loved the amazing grounds, the beautiful gardens, the open meadow, the arbors and the creek. So nice to walk the creek path and then sit a spell on the bench in the meadow and breathe the sweet air!

"Loved our stay at Glen-Ella Springs, a great place and fun staff, and such a great restaurant, too! We had the salmon and the rack of lamb, both were exceptional, we can't wait to get back!"

“What a delightful weekend here at Glen-Ella Springs! …what a lovely day we had yesterday – Minnehaha Falls was just spectacular and the Gorge was beautiful. We loved watching the kayakers.”

“What an absolute gem of a place to find! We have enjoyed the wonderful ambiance of great food, peaceful surroundings with excellent hospitality. Our excursions were a delight and fun and we have enjoyed exploring the vicinity. Hope to be back!”

“When the pavement ends peace begins!”

“We were able to do a lot of fun stuff – Goats on the Roof, Minnehaha Falls and Tallulah Gorge. The weather was perfect!”

“Hiking the area waterfalls is a glimpse into nature at it’s best!”

“WOW! Tallulah Gorge …a 1000 ft. deep cavern! Need we say more?”

“Lovely mountain retreat”
We had a most beautiful evening drinking wine on the porch in rocking chairs and eating delicious fruits and cheeses, followed by a fantastic trout dinner. Glen-Ella was quiet and charming, with a lovely garden and a great pool. In the morning we watched deer in the meadow while enjoying our breakfast. I wanted to give my British boyfriend a real taste of the South, and I think he appreciated it all, from the good food to the hospitality to the golden afternoon sunshine lighting the meadow as we took a stroll over to the tree swing. We had a perfect night, and I'd like to send everyone I know here!

DO NOT RELY ON VEHICLE NAVIGATION SYSTEMS!
We have had many complaints about inaccurate directions to the Inn provided by GPS and OnStar. If you are using one of these services, consider using these coordinates and not the street address:

N 34° 43.261
W 083° 26.944

We recommend that you print the directions below and use them as final directions to Glen-Ella Springs Inn.

Also, please note that we are located on an unpaved road that is narrow in places and can be quite dusty and bumpy in the summer. The road has been here for over 100 years, though, and is seldom muddy or treacherous. First-time visitors are encouraged to arrive before dark, if possible. We have made every effort to give you comprehensive directions here, but feel free to call us from your cell phone if you need to.

From Atlanta — 90 Miles
Take I-85 North to I-985 to Gainesville, which is Exit 113 on I-85. After Gainesville, this will become GA 365, then US 441. Travel north past exits to Cornelia and Clarkesville. At the interchange where Hwy 365 turns toward Toccoa, continue north approximately another 7 miles on US 441 toward Tallulah Falls and Clayton. *At mile marker 18, turn left on Travis Smith Rd., go one block, then turn right onto Old Historic 441. Take the first left onto the Orchard Road (there is a large directional sign for the Orchard Country Club & Community). Go approximately 1½ miles to the second paved road and turn right onto Bear Gap Road. Glen-Ella Springs Inn is located 1½ miles down Bear Gap Rd. Bear Gap Road will turn into gravel about halfway down, but continue on for approximately another ½ to ¾ mile. The Inn is on the left.

From GA 400 — Follow GA 400 until it ends, then continue straight on Hwy 115 through Cleveland to Clarkesville. Stay on Hwy 115 until it comes to a dead end in downtown Clarkesville. Turn left onto Historic Old 441 and follow directions below from Clarkesville.

From Greenville, SC — From I-85 take Exit 173, GA Hwy 17 North toward Toccoa (Appalachian Foothills Highway). Go 12.2 miles and turn left following Hwy 17 for approximately 12 more miles until it intersects with US 23 and 441. Turn right on US 441 north and follow the directions after the asterisk (*) from Atlanta above.

From Clayton — take US 441 south through Tallulah Gorge State Park. Turn right on Old Historic 441, 2 miles south of the Tallulah Gorge Bridge (do not take any earlier turns marked Old 441; they will not work). Follow Historic 441 for approximately 2 miles and turn right onto the Orchard Road. Go 1½ miles and turn right onto Bear Gap Road. The Inn is located approximately 1½ miles down Bear Gap Road.

From Clarkesville – Take Old Historic 441 North for 8½ miles to Orchard Rd. Turn left and then take the second paved road to the right (Bear Gap Road). The Inn is located approximately 1½ miles down Bear Gap Road.