What McLemore Resort does

McLemore Resort is a privately held master-planned mountaintop golf resort and residential community located atop Lookout Mountain in Rising Fawn, Walker County, Georgia, at 2,300 feet above sea level. The resort is owned and developed by Scenic Land Company, which acquired the former Canyon Ridge Resort in 2017 and rebranded it to McLemore. Operated through McLemore Resort, LLC and McLemore Club, LLC, the property encompasses two award-winning 18-hole championship golf courses (the Highlands Course and The Keep, both designed by Bill Bergin and Rees Jones), a 245-room Cloudland hotel operated by Valor Hospitality under Hilton's Curio Collection brand (opened February 29, 2024), five dining outlets (The Creag, Auld Alliance, Croft, Skyside, and The Pocket Café), the Selah Wellness Retreat and Spa, a 20,000 square-foot conference center, private home rentals, and a residential real estate program offering 200-plus home designs through preferred builder AR Homes starting in the low $900s. Membership tiers include The Keep Equity ($125,000 initiation, $1,200 monthly dues, capped at 50 members), The Keep National ($50,000 initiation, $3,000 annual dues, capped at 100 members), Highlands Course Full Membership, and a Social Membership.

The business model combines multiple revenue streams: subscription/recurring (golf memberships, annual dues), transaction-based (hotel rooms, dining, spa, golf green fees, events, weddings, private home rentals), and one-time/perpetual (real estate sales of homes and homesites). Pricing for hotel rooms is governed by Hilton's distribution system; golf memberships operate on multi-year subscription contracts; real estate is pay-as-you-go. Distribution is hybrid: direct booking through themclemore.com and phone reservations, Hilton's global booking platform and HHonors loyalty network for hotel guests, an on-site real estate sales team with a Discovery Visit program for property buyers, dedicated membership managers, and an events planning team for weddings and corporate retreats.

The resort primarily serves affluent consumers within a two-hour drive of Atlanta, Nashville, Birmingham, Huntsville, and Knoxville (plus 35 minutes from Chattanooga), with secondary reach into national and international luxury travelers via Hilton's distribution platform. Identified customer segments include Golf Enthusiasts, Resort Guests, Real Estate Buyers (all primary), and Corporate Groups, Wedding Couples, and Families (secondary). Marketing is multi-channel: owned website and Instagram, Hilton co-marketing, PR coverage in Golf Digest, Sports Illustrated, Forbes, Southern Living, Golfweek, and GOLF Magazine, email/SMS communications, the annual Songwriter's Series experiential event, and a Discovery Visit program for prospective real estate buyers. The strategic agenda since 2017 has been a phased master-plan buildout under master planner Hart Howerton, executed through staged acquisitions (Canyon Ridge in 2017, 467 acres for The Keep in 2021) and product launches (Highlands Course 2019, Clubhouse and The Creag 2020, Cloudland hotel and The Keep course in 2024).

Name

McLemore Resort

Legal name

McLemore Resort, LLC

Website

https://themclemore.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Short description

McLemore Resort is a master-planned mountaintop golf resort and residential community atop Lookout Mountain, Georgia, featuring two championship golf courses, a 245-room Hilton Curio Collection hotel, five dining outlets, spa, event venues, and 200-plus real estate home designs serving affluent golf enthusiasts, resort guests, and property buyers in the Southeast U.S.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Luxury Golf Resort & Hospitality

NAICS

Hotels (except Casino Hotels) and Motels (72111), Golf Courses and Country Clubs (71391)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000), Hotels & Motels (7011), Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Luxury Golf Resorts (THAGACAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Luxury Wellness & Spa Resorts (THAGACAG), Resort Convention Hotels (THAGALAC)

Keywords

• Luxury golf resort
• Mountain hospitality
• Residential golf community
• Destination weddings
• Golf club membership

Headquarters

HQ city

Rising Fawn

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Golf Operations: Revenue from green fees, cart rentals, golf shop merchandise, and practice facilities for both the Highlands Course and The Keep at McLemore. Full membership and Social membership programs provide recurring revenue through dues.
2. Hotel Accommodations: Cloudland, A Curio Collection by Hilton - 245-room luxury hotel with rooms, suites, and spa services generating lodging revenue. Operated by Valor Hospitality under Hilton brand.
3. Food & Beverage: Five dining outlets including The Creag, Auld Alliance, Croft, Skyside, and The Pocket Café serving gourmet cuisine with Scottish and Southern influences.
4. Real Estate Sales: Sale of custom homes, available new homes, home sites, and Golf Village homes. Over 200 home designs from AR Homes builder network. Real estate from the low $900s.
5. Private Home Rentals: Vacation rental homes ranging from cottages to private homes available for short-term stays, including Stay & Play golf packages.
6. Events & Weddings: Corporate retreats, business events, weddings, and special events hosted at multiple venues including The Pavilion, Courtyard, Board Room, and Creag Terrace.
7. Golf Membership Dues: The Keep National Membership at $50,000 initiation with $3,000 annual dues; The Keep Equity Membership at $125,000 initiation with $1,200 monthly dues. Membership caps at 50 equity and 100 national members.
8. Spa & Wellness Services: Selah Wellness Retreat and Spa offering hot stone massages, facials, aromatherapy, hydrotherapy, sauna, and steam room services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

McLemore Resort is a master-planned mountaintop golf resort and residential community operating two championship 18-hole golf courses (The Highlands Course and The Keep), the 245-room Cloudland hotel under Hilton's Curio Collection brand, five distinct dining venues, a Selah Wellness Retreat and Spa, event and wedding venues, private home rentals, golf memberships, and real estate offerings (available homes, home sites, and custom builds). The resort targets affluent leisure travelers, golfers, and home buyers seeking a luxury mountaintop destination in northwest Georgia.

Product overview

McLemore Resort is a master-planned mountaintop golf resort and community located atop Lookout Mountain in Georgia, featuring two championship golf courses (The Highlands Course and The Keep), a 245-room Cloudland hotel operated by Hilton's Curio Collection, five dining venues, a full-service spa, event and wedding venues, and private home rentals. The resort offers multiple membership tiers (Highlands, Keep, and Social) and real estate opportunities including homes and homesites through preferred builder AR Homes. Outdoor adventure activities, hiking trails, and the annual Songwriters Series round out the guest experience.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Keep at McLemore: An 18-hole links-inspired cliff-edge golf course designed by Bill Bergin and Rees Jones, named Best New Course in America for 2025 by Sports Illustrated.
• The Highlands Course
• Cloudland
• The Creag
• Selah Spa

Products and services

• Cloudland at McLemore Resort A 245-room Curio Collection by Hilton hotel perched at over 2,000 feet above sea level on Lookout Mountain, featuring dramatic cliffside views, a world-class spa, a 20,000 square-foot conference center, and access to two championship golf courses. Operated by Valor Hospitality under Hilton's Curio Collection brand.
• The Highlands Course An award-winning Rees Jones and Bill Bergin re-imagined cliff-edge par 71 course that plays 7,055 yards from the tips. Named among Top 100 Public Courses by Golf Digest with a finishing hole ranked among the Top 10 in the world.
• The Keep at McLemore An 18-hole 'links-inspired' cliff-edge golf course designed by Bill Bergin and Rees Jones, featuring five cliff-edge holes along the eastern side of Lookout Mountain at 2,300 feet elevation. Named 'Best New Overall Course in America' by Sports Illustrated and 'No. 2 Best New Public Course in America' by Golf Digest.
• The Cairn Short Course A Bill Bergin-designed 6-hole short course providing practice and accessible golf for resort guests and members.
• Private Home Rentals Vacation rental homes including cottages to private homes ranging from three to seven bedrooms, available for golf excursions, corporate retreats, family getaways, and weddings. Premium private home accommodations with three, four, and five bedrooms are conveniently located throughout the resort.
• The Creag Restaurant McLemore's signature restaurant offering Southern-inspired cuisine with sweeping views of McLemore Cove and Pigeon Mountain. Named after the Scottish term for 'crag,' drawing inspiration from the area's Scottish heritage.
• Auld Alliance Restaurant A fine dining establishment offering French and Scottish inspired dishes paired with an exceptional wine list in a romantic setting. Recipient of the Golf Inc. Golden Fork Award.
• Croft Restaurant An upscale dining venue at Cloudland offering gourmet cuisine with scenic mountain views.
• Skyside Restaurant A cliff-edge suspended dining venue at Cloudland with expansive glass walls offering uninterrupted panoramic views and gourmet cuisine.
• The Pocket Café Casual on-site dining option at the resort offering light fare and beverages for golfers and guests.
• Selah Wellness Retreat & Spa A world-class spa and fitness center at Cloudland offering couples massages, hot stone massages, facials, aromatherapy, hydrotherapy, sauna, and steam room services.
• Stay & Play Packages Bundled golf and lodging packages that combine tee times with hotel accommodations or private home rentals at the resort.
• Event & Wedding Venues Mountaintop event spaces including The Pavilion, The Courtyard, The Board Room, and Creag Terrace for weddings, corporate retreats, and special events accommodating groups from 2 to 250 guests.
• Real Estate - Available Homes Over 200 home designs from McLemore's preferred builder AR Homes available for purchase, ranging from cottages to custom estate homes in the mountaintop community. Real estate starts from the low $900s.
• Real Estate - Home Sites Mountain view homesites offering flexibility to build in fairway, forest, and cove settings throughout the McLemore Resort community.
• Real Estate - Custom Homes Custom home building opportunities allowing buyers to design their fully customized dream home on spectacular mountain view homesites through AR Homes builder network.
• Highlands Course Membership Full golf membership providing unlimited green fees for the 18-hole championship Highlands Course and 6-hole short course, resort-wide dining discounts, and family privileges including spouse, direct descendants up to age 25, and grandparents.
• The Keep Membership Equity and national memberships providing access to The Keep golf course with preferred tee times and member benefits. Equity membership at $125,000 initiation with $1,200 monthly dues; National membership at $50,000 initiation with $3,000 annual dues. Membership capped at 50 equity and 100 national members.
• Social Membership Clubhouse dining and amenities access with limited golf play at reduced rates. Includes access to hiking trails, scenic overlooks, and social events. Non-transferable.

Quantifiable outcome

• The Keep named 'Best New Overall Course in America' by Sports Illustrated
• +6 more outcomes

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Curio Collection by HiltoncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2018Curio Collection by Hilton serves as the hotel brand partner for Cloudland, McLemore's 245-room luxury hotel. Hilton provides global distribution, loyalty program (HHonors), booking infrastructure, and brand recognition. Valor Hospitality operates the property under Hilton's Curio Collection brand.
• Valor HospitalitycoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2018Valor Hospitality Partners is the proven hospitality management company operating Cloudland hotel at McLemore Resort. They provide management services including on-time/on-budget operations and direct investment in projects.
• Bill Bergin / Bergin Golf DesignscoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2018Bill Bergin of Bergin Golf Designs serves as Golf Course Architect of Record for McLemore's course renovation and redesign since 2018. Bergin's philosophy combines touring professional experience with teaching expertise to create demanding yet accessible courses.
• Rees Jones, Inc.coreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2018Rees Jones, Inc. serves as Golf Course Architect of Record for McLemore's course renovation and redesign since 2018. Founder Rees Jones earned the nickname 'The Open Doctor' for redesigning venues that have hosted major championships.
• Hart HowertoncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Hart Howerton, a team of planners, architects, landscape architects and interior designers headquartered in New York and San Francisco, serves as Master Planner for McLemore. Specializes in Designing Complete Environments in unique historic or natural environments.
• Tinker MacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Tinker Ma, a Chattanooga architecture and design firm, serves as Architect of Record for The Cloudland Lodge. The firm of 14 architects and designers specializes in sustainable community enhancement through creativity and professional leadership.
• AR HomescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018AR Homes has been a respected name in homebuilding since 1953, building homes upon four cornerstones: design, craftsmanship, service and responsibility. One of the largest networks of independently owned and operated homebuilding companies, offering over 200 home designs at McLemore.
• New South ConstructionminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2018New South Construction named Construction Manager for The Cloudland Lodge hotel construction project.
• GenTech ConstructionminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGenTech Construction provides value-added construction services in the Tri-State area of Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia. Their mission combines teamwork, communication, collaboration and personal integrity for unique service levels.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Regional players

• Biltmore Estate: Asheville, NC luxury estate with hotel, winery, and event venues. Comparable Southeast luxury destination experience with strong weddings/corporate group business, though without championship golf focus.
• Callaway Resort & Gardens: Georgia resort destination with golf, gardens, and lodging in Pine Mountain. Regional peer with multi-course golf and resort accommodations in the same Georgia market, though more mass-market positioning.
• The Omni Grove Park Inn: Historic mountain-view luxury resort in Asheville, NC with golf, spa, and event venues. Comparable Southeast mountaintop leisure destination with strong wedding/corporate group business, but lacks McLemore's golf championship identity.

Direct peers

• Pinehurst Resort: Iconic multi-course luxury golf destination resort in North Carolina with hotels, F&B, and real estate. Closest comparable to McLemore in the Southeast luxury golf-and-residential category with multiple Top-100 courses, resort accommodations, and memberships.
• Reynolds Lake Oconee: Georgia-based master-planned luxury golf and lake community with multiple courses, Ritz-Carlton hotel, and home sales. Closest geographic peer with directly overlapping luxury golf community, residential, and resort hospitality model.
• Big Cedar Lodge: Ozarks mountaintop resort with multiple golf courses (Tiger Woods-designed Payne's Valley), lodge accommodations, and Bass Pro Shops ownership. Closest analog to McLemore's mountaintop golf + nature + hospitality combination under a visionary developer.
• Sea Island Resort: Coastal Georgia luxury resort with multiple golf courses, The Cloister hotel, spa, and residential offerings. Highly comparable integrated luxury golf + 5-star hospitality + residential community in the same Southeast region.
• Kiawah Island Golf Resort: Multi-course luxury oceanfront golf resort in South Carolina with hotels, spa, and residential community. Directly comparable integrated luxury golf + hotel + residential model, though larger scale and beachfront positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Pebble Beach Resorts: Premier cliffside luxury golf destination on California's Monterey Peninsula with multiple courses, resorts, and residential. Larger scale and broader international brand, but a benchmark for cliff-edge luxury positioning and championship golf identity.
• Trump National Golf Clubs: Portfolio of high-end luxury golf clubs across the U.S. with premium memberships and resort-adjacent amenities. Comparable in premium golf positioning and membership economics, though a multi-property network rather than a single integrated community.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/mclemoreresort
• Facebookfacebook.com/McLemoreResort
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mclemore

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about McLemore Resort