Derbyshire Community Event - Dinner Be Dammed

I've been taking just a short break from blogging over the past week or so, but it's only because things have been very busy here at Derbyshire! This past weekend, we hosted our Second Annual Dinner Be Dammed. It's our community where we bring together all of the Derbyshire neighbors so that they can enjoy a good dinner by the lake and have another opportunity to spend time with each other.

The idea for Dinner Be Dammed came from the fact that we were upgrading our earthen dam, which forms our private 33 acre lake, last year when we hosted our first dinner. Even while we were under construction we wanted to celebrate all of the new neighbors we had welcomed!

We’ve had so many great things happen this year: seeing families make Derbyshire their new home, welcoming new property owners, and hosting our second Derby Dash 5K and Fun Walk. We want to continue the tradition of celebrating the year’s achievements (and the name really is the most interesting one we could come up with!).

Everyone seemed to have a great time, and the rain held off (at least until after dessert). We can't wait to see how much this group grows next year. We're going to need a larger tent!

This Week at Derbyshire - New Neighbors & Stable

This was a very busy week in our community for several families, as well as the Derbyshire team. Our new residents from Pennsylvania are still settling into their home after their move last week, and their new neighbors from California just arrived on Sunday. To help everyone get to know each other better we hosted a small lunch on Monday for everyone who was new to the community. They had a chance to take a break from unpacking boxes and grab some great food that didn't come from the pizza delivery guy (although he seems to be everyone's favorite person right now!).

The horses at the Derbyshire Community Stable are growing accustomed to their new home and to spending their days out in the front paddock. If you look closely, you can see them in the back there. We've learned that they need their privacy and that they insist on moving as far away from the camera as possible!

One of the most exciting things that happened this week was the rock work on the front of the new community stable. We're finishing the final touches so that we're ready for the Grand Opening Tour on August 3rd from 3-6PM.

Everyone is welcome to come and see the new facility and visit with the dogs that they Foothills Humane Society will be bringing with their "On The Road Team". We've learned that equestrians also have a soft spot for canines, and we thought that this would be a great opportunity to try and find some very sweet dogs new homes.

We have plenty of interesting events and news coming up, so check back next week!

Volunteer Opportunity - Foothills Humane Society

Polk County has a wonderful animal shelter, the Foothills Humane Society. The shelter is located only a few minutes from Derbyshire, and each member of our team is a dog owner. So, needless to say, we are big supporters of Foothills. Two years ago we decided to start a charity 5K that benefits both Foothills Humane Society and Go Girls, a running club at the local elementary school.

With support from our community and sponsors, both 5Ks have been a tremendous success. The best part, each year a dog from Foothills has been adopted following the race. The "On The Road Team" always brings the sweetest dogs that are available for adoption. This volunteer group travels to various community events and helps to find "furever" homes for animals in need.

Photo Credit Whitney Collins

In addition to the "On The Road Team", Foothills also has many other volunteer opportunities. They rely on volunteers to act as dog walkers, help with fundraising events, foster animals, and fulfill many other duties at the shelter.

They also accept donations of dog and cat food for the pets "meals on wheels" program which aims to keep dogs and cats in the homes of their owners who are struggling with the cost of animal care.

Whether you're looking for an opportunity to volunteer in the community or for your new furry best friend, the Foothills Humane Society team will welcome you with open arms!

Photo Credit Whitney Collins

New Derbyshire Neighbors - Ben and Millie

Derbyshire's newest neighbors, Ben and Millie, arrived from California yesterday with their owners. They're looking forward to many walks around the lake and making friends with the other dogs in the community.

Our Favorite Bed & Breakfasts

 When people contact us to begin planning their visit to Derbyshire, the question of where to stay always comes up. Through our experience of visiting local inns and hearing the feedback of those who have spent the night, we've compiled our list of recommended B&Bs. Below you can find our summary on each location and link to their websites.

 

Closest to Derbyshire - Butterfly Creek Inn

The Butterfly Creek Inn is a beautifully decorated home that has been converted into a truly relaxing space for visitors. We've been sending people over to Sarah for years now,and everyone has enjoyed their stay. In addition to the above standard accommodations, guests can also schedule massage appointments onsite with a local massage therapist (who also happens to be one of our favorites).

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Owner - Sarah

Location - Columbus, NC - 10 minutes from Derbyshire

Summary of Features - new construction, very nice accommodations, full breakfast

Website - http://butterflycreekinn.com/

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Best Views - The Red Horse Inn

The Red Horse Inn is quickly becoming one of the most popular places in stay in upstate South Carolina. They were recently featured in Travel + Leisure magazine as one of "America's Most Romantic Hotels". You can read more about that here. 

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Owners - Mary & Roger

Location - Landrum, SC - 20 minutes from Derbyshire

Summary of Features - new construction, very nice accommodations, breakfast basket in room, private cottages available

Website -  http://theredhorseinn.com/
 

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Downtown Location - Pine Crest Inn

The 1906 Pine Crest Inn and Lodge in situated right in downtown Tryon, NC. In close proximity to restaurants, shops, and the Tryon Theatre, the inn also features its own restaurant, Carter's at Pine Crest, where they serve up 3-course gourmet breakfasts.

 

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Contact - Linda

Location - Tryon, NC - 20 minutes from Derbyshire

Summary of Features - historic inn and cottages, nice accommodations, very nice full breakfast, unique location - downtown Tryon

Website -  http://www.pinecrestinn.com/
 

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Derbyshire Neighbor - Rockhouse Vineyards

Today I stopped by Rockhouse Vineyards to pick up some bottles of wine for a friend. Rockhouse, one of our favorite neighbors, is located on a 200 acre farm that is only 2 and a half miles from Derbyshire. The eighteen year old vineyard is owned and operated by Lee Griffin and Marsha Cassedy.

It was a little cloudy outside, but the "rock house" which functions as their tasting room and wine-making facility looked just as cute as always.

Derbyshire Neighbor - Green Creek Equestrian Park

Everyone at Derbyshire is very excited because construction has officially started on the new Green Creek Equestrian Park. This facility will be located one mile from the Derbyshire main entrance and will greatly enhance the equestrian community in Tryon. The equestrian park will be owned and operated by the Tryon Riding & Hunt Club which organizes the Blockhouse Steeplechase each year, in addition to many other horse races. The new Green Creek Equestrian Park was featured in a recent article in the Tryon Daily Bulletin which can be found at the link below.

New steeplechase track being built in Green Creek

Derbyshire Neighbor - Green Creek Winery

About a half a mile from the Derbyshire main entrance, right across the street from our community if you use the side entrance, is our neighbor, Green Creek Winery. The winery and vineyards are owned by two brothers, Alvin and Marvin Pack, who can be found on the property almost everyday.