Old Edwards’ new multi-generation adventure-wellness community, GlenCove by Old Edwards, is now open.
The community was created, according to Director of Operations Jerry West, with one simple mindset, to create something for generations.
“We wanted to create something that lived long-beyond our years,” West said. “Through numerous field trips, multiple arguments, some arm wrestling matches and all of the in-between, we settled on what you see in front of you. A place where three generations of family can come and be together as one, have activities that they can participate in together, but the entirety of the project was supposed to be a restorative, throwback to history. It’s a place to go back and heal. It’s a place to go back and be. That’s why the golf course is walking. That’s why the trails are here. That’s why there is a 200-year animal barn that we restored. That’s why there is interactive farming and classes. This entire purpose was to create an opportunity for our families to gather and be together.”
West said there isn’t a team on this side of the east coast besides Old Edward’s Hospitality Group that could have pulled something of this caliber off.
“It is phenomenal in every aspect,” West said. “Every little detail was thought of and considered, and it was all thought of for you and your pleasure. Hold hands with your wife as the sun’s setting and play golf, or don’t play golf. Just be. Just be happy. That is this creation. That is what this was for. This is a place for families. This is a place for us to reunite with how we grew up, that our kids and grandkids will never understand if we don’t show them.”
There are several people that contributed to the project that West mentioned were integral to the completion of the project.
“Tony Schuler and his wife have been inspirational to me for 23 years,” West said. “Tony and I built Highlands Cove together. We redid Highlands Cove when it became Old Edwards Club. The first call I made when Art and Angela told me they were going to buy this place was this guy. Second thing, we could not have gone across the first creek, built the first building; every rock, every brick, every piece of cement you see, Kevin Rogers and his team has done. Bill Futral came to us years ago and helped us build 4.65. Bill has been around the Plateau for several years and will tell you this is the biggest thing he has ever done and I’m going to tell you right now, he hit an absolute home-run. Bill’s team of Chester Chandler and Chris Chandler. Chester and I rebuilt Old Edwards Club, the clubhouse itself in 2012 and he was responsible for 4.65 and here. There is not one person I would want to be in a project beside this cranky, miserable, old, mean man, Chester and I wish he was here to hear that. One last person to specially recognize, when you build a building, when you do a project, there is always one guy, every time you look up, every time you turn the corner, he is there working. Miguel Perez. This young man beats me here and leaves later than I do and that is saying a lot. We could not have done this without you.”
West went on to mention Orville Coward, Smoky Mountain Surveying, Boelling Design, Landworks Engineering, Sam Edgins and Pete Ship, Landscapes Unlimited, Parker Paving, Jim Co, Cochran Plumbing, Chaz Cannon Concrete, Jim Horn, Jimmy Tate from Tate Landscaping, Asheville Fence, Wilson Gas, and Angela Williams and Jeannie McRae, Highlands Cove Realty, Caliber Properties.
“Last but not least, my wife and my beautiful children,” West said. “Through this project I met the love of my life and have two young babies to prove it. Despite how wonderful this is, it pales in comparison to me getting to go home to them every day.”
Old Edwards Inn President Richard Delany said three years ago, they took a leap of faith.
“We sat down and created a vision and design for a building that I think is the most innovative, unique, inclusive and most importantly fun building and club in the United States,” Delany said. “It is so different than what anyone else has ever done. We led and we did not follow. So many people made that happen. I want to say thank you to Art and Angela Williams. I love them like family, and they have done so much for Melissa and me in helping us grow as leaders. Their vision, passion and inspiration enable us to do what we do day, in and day out. Jerry West has been out here day and night for three years looking after every single detail of this job. He has spent every day making sure everything you see was crossed and dotted and perfect.”
Old Edwards owner Art Williams then made his way to the stage, in front of his 17 grandchildren, telling the story of how Old Edwards became a reality.
“We grew up in South Georgia, and as kids, we used to come up to Highlands,” Williams said. “We have been in love with this place forever. So, when we sold our company and retired, we came up here and we wanted to buy a place. All we wanted was a little log cabin. Then, we thought Highlands needed a place where you could eat that was worth something. So, we thought it would be great to build a luxury spa, resort and restaurant. We started it and it was a disaster. We knew we needed somebody to run the thing and that is when we met Richard Delany. I believe he is the greatest leader in hospitality and what he has done with this thing is just a miracle. It is unbelievable.”
Early on, Williams said there was some controversy because it looked like they had bought up half of Highlands.
“We finished downtown and Rich and I got together, and he said that we needed a golf course,” Williams said. “The only one that was available was the Cove. So, I called my longtime friend Lou Miller, who ran Pinehurst, he was one of the top club pros in the country. He told me that the course was a jewel, and we could do some amazing things. He was right. We started out here and we renovated the whole clubhouse. We did a lot of work on the original 18 holes. Then, we got through with that, but we had a lot of pressure to do a Par 3, because nobody has one up here. We had a chance to buy this beautiful property that borders Old Edwards Club, so we got it and started. We fly out to Houston and get all of these ideas about what we want to do, and we wanted to build a generation to generation complex where you can make memories. You can bring your little ones all the way up to the old people like me. We did it. This is a home-run. I’m so proud of our team that did this.”
Along with the 12-hole, par-3 golf course, GlenCove has trout ponds, a recreation lake, wellness center, community gardens and a farm with animals, swimming pool, pickleball and multi-use courts, kids camp, and a clubhouse with activities like bowling, a golf simulator, an arcade and much more.
For more information about GlenCove, visit glencovelifestyle.com.
- By Christopher Lugo
