Guest post
Today’s post is brought to you by my husband, William. He and our son recently visited Chattooga Belle Farm to experience The Great American Eclipse. Read on to find out about his adventure.
Chattooga Belle Farm and The Great American Eclipse by William
The Good
What business charges a fraction of the going rate during an event as momentous as The Great American Eclipse? One that is building a generous brand like Chattooga Belle Farm in the far west corner of South Carolina. My son and I primitive camped there on August 20 and 21, 2017 for only $10 per night. We camped in their field among a bunch of amateur astronomers, musicians, aging hippies, young families, internationals, and one very good drone pilot. There was a fun tree house with swings, a lake with a nice little dock, porta potties, and a source of drinking water. The cows and calves pastured in the adjacent property were entertaining and soothing. The employees were absolutely warm and friendly. Considering that this event was likely the biggest they had hosted, it is hard to imagine how they stayed so chipper.
The view from the barn is stellar and the bands playing during Eclipse Fest were all professional and fitting. The place was all kept neat, and orderly.
Back to my observation that the Chattooga Belle Farm is a generous place, I understand that they allow disc golfers to use their course even when the business is closed (payment via the honor system.)
Not knowing how busy the food service would be during Eclipse Fest, we ate before heading to the barn for the music and the view on the day we all stood in the shadow of the moon. Otherwise, I would report on what I am sure was tasty cuisine.
The Not so Good
Their communication around the event could have stood improvement. I didn’t know that check-in had to be before 5:00 PM until nearly the time we left central Florida. I also don’t recall being told that generators were okay or not, but many campers brought them (fortunately, these were mostly associated with RVers who boondocked a good distance from those of us in tents.) There was also some confusion about whether or not we could keep our vehicles beside our tents. A more recent trip over the field with a bushhog would have been a plus, too. Day trippers to the farm for weddings, u-pick opportunities, or a meal wouldn’t be affected by any of this. So drop in if you can, I’m sure that you will feel de-stressed as you gaze out from the grand porch and soak up the best of southern hospitality at Chattooga Belle Farm!
Disclaimer: All opinions expressed here are solely mine or those of the guest poster. I/we did not receive compensation for this review.
