One of west Georgia’s most well-known golf courses has been repurposed as a new vineyard and event center. Lion Hills Vineyard is located on the property formerly known as The Lion Golf Club, known for its rolling hills and beautiful greens.
The Lion Golf Club closed down in 2016, and the perfectly manicured fairways were at risk of becoming overgrown.
“We’re glad that we were able to make use of this property, and preserve the beauty of it instead of letting it go and be overgrown,” said Tom Sammon, who owns the property with his brother, John. “The old fairways are particularly well suited for vineyards because they get very good sunlight and they ground drains water very well. The vineyards will be a very good backdrop for our events.”
The brothers say they want Lion Hills Vineyard to become a premier event center for west Georgia.
“We have converted the former clubhouse into an event center, which is a perfect use for it,” said Tom. “We are also in the process of finishing a lakeside cottage.”.
Tom says they are planning to plant Lion Hills’ first grapevines in March.
“We will plant two different varieties of grapes,” said Tom. “We will have what’s known as Blanc du Bois, which is a white grape. We will plant 1,000 vines of that variety, and we will also have 800 vines of a red wine known as Lenoir. Both varieties are already planted in Carroll and Haralson counties and make very good dry wines. They are very good for our climate.”
Tom said the vines will take about two years to bear fruit. The brothers plan on making wine and brandy from the grapes harvested at Lion Hills.
In addition to the vineyards and event center, Lion Hills also has miles of walking trails. John says the property is perfect for weddings, conferences, formal events, and many more occasions.
“The event center and vineyard is a great way for us to share this beautiful property with other people, and really give it a purpose,” said John.
For more information, visit the Lion Hills Vineyard website here.
