Project Use Type: High-end dining and winery facility
Client: McLemore Resort Manager, LLC and Scenic Land Company
Location: Rising Fawn, Georgia
Property Size: 2,000+ Acre Master-Planned Community
Building Square Footage: 203,000 SF
Services Provided:
– Comprehensive Infrastructure Planning
– Rigorous Environmental Permitting
– Complex Jurisdictional Verification
– Strategic Site Grading
– Geotechnical Coordination Oversight
Unique Solution:
Orchestrated on-site rock quarry blasting to generate construction materials and created a functional lake for irrigation, while successfully negotiating an 18% slope allowance with the State Fire Marshal to overcome extreme vertical relief.
Case Study: A High-Altitude Haven: Engineering Excellence at Cloudland
Context & Services
Cloudland at McLemore Resort is a luxury hospitality landmark perched atop Lookout Mountain. As the civil engineering partner, we provided comprehensive infrastructure planning and permitting for this Hilton Curio Collection asset. Our scope encompassed the essential foundation of development: site grading, utility sketches, and geotechnical coordination. We managed complex jurisdictional verifications and environmental permitting to ensure this 203,000 SF facility met stringent regulatory standards.
The Unique Solution
Developing a full-service resort with 500 feet of vertical relief presents extreme technical hurdles, particularly when the site consists almost entirely of rock with minimal usable soil for foundations. Recognizing the immense pressure of operating a luxury facility without a public water supply, we moved beyond “linear” engineering to provide a strategic, multi-purpose solution.
We orchestrated the blasting of an on-site rock quarry to generate the necessary construction material, subsequently converting the void into a functional lake to capture and store water for golf course irrigation. By anticipating the project’s long-term operational needs, we secured a vital resource while mitigating the cost of importing fill. To address the steep terrain, we advocated for the client by negotiating an 18% slope allowance with the State Fire Marshal. We paired this with a tailored logistics plan, coordinating with operations to limit delivery vehicles to box trucks, ensuring safe access without compromising the guest arrival experience.
Success & Impact
This creative engineering approach transformed significant geographic constraints into a resilient, self-sustaining asset. By solving the water scarcity and access challenges early, we protected the developer’s ROI and ensured the project’s April 2024 opening. Today, the resort stands as a premier destination, providing over 200 local jobs.
