CRUMPLER — On Saturday, Aug 24, a crowd buzzed with excitement and anticipation as they gathered at Shatley Springs Inn and Restaurant for the community meeting organized by the four partners under contract for Shatley Springs. The current partners are Jim Mezzanotte, Chris Mezzanotte, Gary Johnson, and James Allison.
Meeting goers were strongly encouraged to raise questions, provide feedback, and share their own Shatley Springs stories.
Chris Mezzanotte, one of the four partners under contract for Shatley Springs and the president of Carolinas Coastal Construction Group, explained that their intention is to bring Shatley Springs back to life.
“The main thing we wanted to do with this (community meeting) is to let everyone in the community know that certain things are not changing,” Mezzanotte said. He said the community and those visiting Ashe will be able to continue to enjoy water from the spring for free and that the original menu will be brought back with a few additions.
Mezzanotte explained that the restaurant will be pulled back 25-30 feet off the creek. This will allow the creek to be exposed at the front of the building. The building will still have a covered porch. Among the newer additions, Mezzanotte said that there are plans to add an entertainment pavilion that will be used for concerts on Fridays and Saturdays. A 6,000 square-foot wedding and retreat venue will be added as well as a 5,000 square-foot spa with hot baths fed by the spring water. The plans also includes a six-stall equestrian barn, 20 new cabins, and an indoor pool.
According to the current partners, the condition of the cabins and some of the facilities require rebuilding instead of renovating.
“One of the things we do plan on doing is salvaging every scrap that we can of the original and utilizing it somewhere,” Allison said. According to the partners, all renovations and new developments will be completed within the next 18 months. Construction will begin January 2025 and eventually Shatley Springs will have a soft opening by spring of 2026.
Shatley Springs has a long history beginning with Martin Shatley in 1890. According to Shatley’s testimonial, the spring water helped “cure” him of the skin disease that had afflicted him for many years. The alleged medicinal properties of the water sparked widespread interest, drawing in people from all over. Over time, that interest has allowed Shatley Springs to grow into a location that people could lodge at and enjoy good country-style food. That was until Shatley Springs closed in 2022 shortly after the death of Lee McMillan who ran the business with his family for over 60 years.
Those attending the community meeting were able to share their feedback and their concerns. Many shared the memories they made while at Shatley Springs, recalling the pleasantness and wholesomeness of the inn and restaurant.
Lee McMillan’s daughter, Traci McMillan, said she is thrilled that somebody wants to take Shatley Springs to its next chapter in life.
Kethia Benfield, former manager of the business before she retired, said she thinks it’s great that Shatley Springs will be revitalized.
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