Our Growth

Callaway Resort & Gardens

Our Growth

Open since 1952, Callaway Resort & Gardens is nestled in the southernmost foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. Founders Cason and Virginia Callaway longed for a place where man and nature could abide together for the good of both. More than six decades later, their retreat continues to offer solace, inspiration, and discovery for all who visit.

Timeline

Callaway Resort & Gardens

1950

Cason and Virginia Callaway deed the land that ultimately becomes Callaway Resort & Gardens to the Ida Cason Callaway Foundation

1952

First named Ida Cason Gardens in honor of Cason Callaway’s mother, Callaway Gardens opens to the public

1958

Robin Lake Beach, America’s largest man-made white sand beach, opens

1959

The Masters Water Ski & Wakeboard Tournament is first hosted at Robin Lake Beach

1961-1981

Callaway Gardens builds cottages & villas

1962

Imagined and designed by Cason Callaway, Cason’s Vegetable Garden opens

1988

Cecil B. Day Butterfly Center opens, it is crowned with the cupola from Virginia Hand Callaway’s family home

1989

7.5-mile Discovery Bicycle Trail opens. Permanent Beach Dome erected at Robin Lake Beach.

1990

The Ida Cason Callaway Memorial Chapel, designed by Cason Callaway in honor of his mother, is rededicated

1992

Fantasy In Lights, Callaway’s award-winning Christmas light and sound spectacle inspired by Virginia Callaway’s love of Christmas lights, debuts

1999

The annual Labor Day weekend Hot Air Balloon Show & Glow featuring lakeside activities, water sports, and a nightly show where hot air balloons dance to music around Callaway’s Robin Lake Beach, debuts

1999

Discovery Bicycle Trail is expanded to 10 miles

2000

The Virginia Hand Callaway Discovery Center, including the Birds of Prey show and Mountain Creek Cafe, opens

2001

The Lake View and Mountain View golf courses are renovated

2002

Callaway adds a 54,000-square-foot conference center next to the cottages

2006

Nestled in the woods, the 150-room Callaway Lodge opens

2007

The Lodge adds the full-service Spa Prunifolia

2011

Treetop Adventures is added to the Discovery Center

2017

Cason’s Tap Room opens at the Lodge & Spa

2017

The Callaway Lodge & Spa is renovated and expanded

2019

Herschend Family Entertainment starts managing Callaway Resort & Gardens

2021

Pumpkins at Callaway, a family-friendly and non-spooky fall experience filled with thousands of pumpkins, colorful characters, towering cornstalks, golden sunflowers, and twinkling lights, debuts

2022

Herschend Enterprises purchases resort assets, wholly takes over Callaway Resort & Gardens commercial operations

2022

Cason’s Garden is refurbished and reopened as part of Callaway’s annual Celebrate SPRING! event

2023

Water tubing returns to Robin Lake Beach

2023

The Himalayan Salt Room opens at the Spa Prunifolia

2024

As part of a multi-phased plan, Robin Lake Beach Plaza is renovated, opening with enhanced guest amenities

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