The Foothills Equine Directory

Polk County really has many great resources for equestrians. One of the most important ones for those who are new to the area if the Foothills Equine Directory. For those of you who are not familiar with the directory, it is the most comprehensive list of equestrian services and resources available in the area. It lists boarding facilities, trainers, veterinarians, equine massage therapists, groomers, farm supply stores, and the many other resources that you would need to live comfortably in the Foothills with your equestrian companion(s). 

The booklet is compiled by the Foothills Riding Club, an equestrian club which organizes educational and recreational activities suck as presentations, clinics, schooling shows and other mounted programs focusing on dressage and combined training. The proceeds from their events are actually donated to other organizations in the area to further promote education and support for equestrians.
 

The current 80+ page directory is available now in many of the local stores. The Derbyshire team is happy to sponsor an ad that helps cover the production costs of this publication. It is such a valuable resource for the local equestrian community. If you own horses and are in the area, you should definitely pick one up. If you are unable to find one, stop by Derbyshire and we will locate one for you!

The Marigold Cottage at Derbyshire

As you turn in to Derbyshire and travel up the hill onto Hollymoorside Drive, you find a charming yellow home called the Marigold Cottage.

It was built by local builder Frank Cyrill, owner of Cyrill Custom Homes, on Homesite 61. The cottage features an open floor plan with custom cabinetry in the kitchen and a built-in entertainment center in the living room. It offers a great flow for entertaining guests, which we learned when we hosted 40 CETA members there for the post trail ride brunch!

The master bedroom is located on the main floor, with a great view of the backyard and patio. The second floor is currently be completed to include a third bedroom and full bathroom. The total square footage of the home is 1,840 square feet.  

It has direct trail access, mountain and lake views, and is only a short stroll from the lake front. The home is situated on a level half acre homesite, and the exterior features stone and stucco. There is a deck off of the living room, which leads down to a stone patio. The home also offers fully irrigated landscaping.

This beautiful home is available to tour. For more information on the Marigold Cottage you can also visit the Derbyshire website here.

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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The Story of Cain Lake

Derbyshire is built around the beautiful thirty-three acre Cain Lake. It is a spring fed, fully stocked lake that was built by the Cain family back in the 50s. It existed as a paid fishing lake for years, and for many of the locals, this was their favorite "fishing hole". In fact, for the first few years we were here, we still had people stopping in to ask if they could pay to fish.

When our management team was scouring Western North Carolina for the perfect location to build a community, they knew they have found the right spot when they saw this lake. All of the homesites surround it like an amphitheater,providing incredibly tranquil views.

The lake provides the perfect opportunity for our residents to indulge in various water hobbies: kayaking, canoeing, fishing, and anything else that doesn't involve a gas powered motor. In addition to the existing boat ramp, which offers everyone with access to the water, we are also working through the planning stage for our community pier, which will be located at the community center site. It will be gorgeous, stone with wrought iron accents, and will serve as an additional gathering space for those who call Derbyshire home.

Cain Lake is the focal point of our community. A source of relaxation, a place for neighbors to gather. And now you know the story of how it was created. It's been enjoyed for decades, and we're welcoming you to come and enjoy it for many more.

Derbyshire CETA Trail Ride

Derbyshire Hosts the Second Annual CETA Trail Ride

On June 16th, Derbyshire hosted 40 CETA members and guests at their Second Annual Derbyshire CETA Trail Ride. CETA members were invited to trailer in or trail ride to the development and enjoy a community brunch. Derbyshire also debuted their updated trail map with additional trails, which are a part of the CETA trail system, extending behind the new Derbyshire Private Farms.

Rhonda Lockhart and Anitra Peterson arrive at the brunch at Derbyshire's Marigold Cottage. 

CETA members enjoyed a post-trail ride brunch, 

which included treats for the horses! 

The horses were able to take in the lake views behind the 

Marigold Cottage while their owners gathered for brunch.

The team here at Derbyshire always enjoys hosting the CETA members and can't wait for next year's trail ride!

A Little More Information About the Trail Systems in the Area

Membership for the Collinsville Equestrian Trail Association (CETA) is open to landowners with CETA trails on their property. The membership consists of over 100 families, and all Derbyshire property owners have the option to become members. For more information, please visit their website.

Derbyshire is also adjacent to the Foothills Equestrian Trail Association (FETA) trails. In order to join FETA, you must live in the area, board your horse in the area, or own property in the area. All Derbyshire property owners would qualify to become members. Their website can be found here.

With membership in both the CETA and FETA trails systems, riders have access to over 165 miles of trails. Many of the homesites in Derbyshire are adjacent to the internal community trail system.

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