The Fieldcrest Lodge and Clubhouse in historic Fieldale is planning to reopen just in time to join the celebrations of the 250 United States Semiquincentennial, while attracting visitors to the area, and serving as an economic driver.
Joey Arrington, owner of the lodge, made the announcement Sunday during a Super Bowl event at the lodge. The project is a collaboration between Arrington, Danny Turner, a former mayor and council member, and Traci Petty, Grant and Scholarship Administrator for the Community Foundation of the Dan River Region.
Turner recognized other attendees that included former congressman Virgil Goode, Martinsville City Manager Aretha Ferrell-Benavides, Pam Cobler, who represents the Reed Creek District on the Henry County Board of Supervisors, and Henry Law, of the Moonshiners Channel, were told that the lodge will offer accommodations in the historic community of the Fieldale area and serve as an alternative to local motels and hotels.
Arrington said he “is committed to restoring the lodge and reclaiming its historical place in Southwestern Virginia.” He also “is excited to work with the VA250 Commission” in his quest to complete the renovations and reopen the lodge in time for the celebration.
Currently, the lodge, an English Country Style Retreat situated on 500 acres, is used for private events such as weddings, family reunions and retreats. The lodge boasts seven bedrooms, six bathrooms, a great room, private area for conferences, and six stone fireplaces.
A fully equipped commercial kitchen is among the six rooms situated on the first floor.
“There is a dining room/sunroom with capacity for seating 20 people, and a beautiful view of nature and the surrounding area” to offer guests serenity and the opportunity to enjoy the abounding natural beauty, Arrington said.
Restoration efforts began in late 2010, and so far, includes building additional cabins on the property, as well as working on the lodge itself, Arrington said.
When all is said and done, Arrington, Petty and Turner hope the lodge will take its place as a destination of interest, along with the Martinsville Speedway, the Virginia Museum of Natural History, and Philpott Lake and Marina.
A grand opening is in the works for early 2025, and to that end, “I’m open to working with partners and coming up with creative solutions to help make Henry County- Martinsville an international destination for people who want to explore the American experience,” Arrington said, and added that McMillian Automotive, Speedway Service Center and Custom Cars “is going to merge to be a powerhouse here locally for automotive station wagons and hot rod cars.”
A former NASCAR driver and former owner of Arrington Manufacturing, Inc., Arrington said the lodge is steeped in history. It was built in 1917 by Marshall Field & Company, the lodge has many amenities for those who enjoy the outdoors.
The nearly 8,000 square foot facility overlooks Smith River, one of the East Coast’s premier trout streams, which makes it uniquely situated for tubing, canoeing, or kayaking. It includes more than 400 acres for hiking and biking. Other close fishing spots include Smith Mountain Lake and Philpott Lake. The Martinsville Speedway also is nearby.
“So much history that goes so much farther back than that, going back to 1760 Col. George Waller and his wife Ann Winston Carr, Patrick Henry’s cousin, settled in this area and built a farm, a settlement now known as Fieldale,” Petty said.
Col. Waller set up an area to train militia as the American Revolution began, taking three companies of men to the battle of Guilford Court House in Greensboro, N.C.
The companies marched on, crossing the northern part of North Carolina and then heading back into Virginia to join General Washington in Yorktown. The victory was later secured, and Cornwallis returned the land to America, “and declared them free,” she said.
Noting that she and Arrington have worked with the local Virginia 250 Commission Committee, as well as others on the celebration, Petty said, adding the 250th anniversary “is something that’s coming up and we’re happy to say the Fieldale Clubhouse is going to be on that list because it is on that property.”
She is currently updating a website that will provide more information on current and future events. A Facebook page is available with updates on Fieldcrest Lodge and can be accessed at www.facebook.com/fieldcrestlodgeofficial.
Arrington may be reached by calling (276) 790-4260; Turner can be reached at (276) 358-1671.
I think this is a wonderful idea and I hope it all works out for the good of Fieldale and all of Henry County. Good luck.
You may send me notices of the happenings if you wish. I worked nearly every year with the Fieldale Heritage Festivals and continue to give time if possible to the special things going on now.