Ed Land loves the 188 acres of his Chattooga Belle Farm, where Black Angus cattle roam in fields near pick-your-own rows of raspberries, blackberries, grapes, figs and paw paws at Long Creek, South Carolina.
Yet what Land harvests, mainly, are memories of beautiful brides, handsome grooms and lively music. “Weddings are the big deal,” says Land, 61. “Right now, the most important thing that goes on on this farm are the weddings.”
As many as 50 weddings a year are held here, with as many as 325 guests.
Why the success?
“It’s green grass into the pastureland into the forestland into the mountains.” Land says, scanning the horizon. “And there’s not a lot of places you can see it unobstructed.”
Such a view is amplified in autumn, according to Land, when “the muscadine grapes start turning their golden yellow.”
Even as a boy, Land pined for days outside. “My childhood dream was to be a park ranger,” he says.
Land attained the rank of Eagle Scout, served in the U.S. Army and spent eight years as a drill sergeant. He built a successful masonry business, too. Then, in 2005, he bought what became the Chattooga Belle Farm (864-647-9768)—an operation named for the nearby Chattooga River and the middle name of both his grandmothers.
This was once part of the Horseshoe Lake Farm in Oconee County, South Carolina. “And we pushed and shoved and burned 22,000 apple trees,” he says. “An apple tree has a life, just like we do.”
Still, he saved a few. Land now has 2,000 apple trees plus 220 peach trees.
Land ships excess fruit to make wine at Georgia’s 12 Spies Vineyards. More fruit goes to an on-site distillery, added in 2015 to produce vodka, gin, bourbon, brandy and moonshine. Even more fruit is served as part of the lunches at the Chattooga Belle Farm’s bistro.
Showing off jars inside his farm store, Land says, “Anything apple has come off this farm.”
Land and his wife, Kitty, 50, added three tiny houses—Llama Lodge, Chicken Coop and Beehive— in 2018, all overlooking the 22-acre Horseshoe Lake. Then, in 2019, the Lands bought the nearby Long Creek General Store.
“I like to create new things,” says Ed Land. “I’m a little ADD, so this is perfect for me. My hobby is I like to farm. I like to see things grow. I like to grow a business or grow an apple tree. I’m a capitalist at heart, but I’m a conservationist at heart, too. And they can both go along with each other.”
TRAVEL PLANNER
Farm & Stay: Chattooga Belle Farm, Long Creek, SC. Includes three tiny houses.
Do: Pick-your-own farm; distillery, bistro and farm store on site; fishing lake; tire swings; disc golf.
Eats: Lunch at Belle’s Bistro at farm; dinner at Humble Pie, Long Creek, SC. 864-647-9098.
The story above is from our September/October 2019 issue.
