At the historic gateway to the Blue Ridge Mountains, The Dillard House has spent generations filling long tables with country ham, biscuits and family-style platters passed hand to hand. Now the North Georgia farm resort is in the middle of a transformation that includes new ownership, a sprawling renovation, and plans for a spa, brewery and winery on the property.
The resort describes itself as a tranquil farm retreat that sits at the doorstep to the mountains, according to dillardhouse.com, and its restaurant has long been known for Southern Appalachian cuisine served family style. Ownership has since shifted away from the Dillard family, with the resort's website now stating that Atlanta-based Legacy Ventures owns and manages the property.
That change in ownership has not been simple to pin down in terms of timing. The Clayton Tribune initially reported that the sale was not yet complete but was expected to close within 60 days. A later report from the same outlet stated that the sale of The Dillard House by the Dillard family to Legacy Ventures had become official, closing in July. As reported by Fast Food Club, the resort includes a Southern family-style restaurant and hotel, and guests describe the food as arriving in shared bowls and platters meant for all-you-can-eat family-style dining.
A Menu Built Around Country Ham and Biscuits
The Dillard House's family-style spread has become its calling card, with breakfast options including eggs, biscuits and gravy, French toast, grits, bacon, sausage and fried pork, per Fast Food Club's account. Dinner offerings also include collard greens, beef stew and bread. The resort also offers a meat-and-three option for guests who want a lighter meal, and a family-style meal runs about $30 per person, according to the same report.
Food Network has singled out the restaurant's cornbread and cobbler à la mode as highlights of the family-style experience, noting that celebrity chef Alton Brown praised the country ham on The Best Thing I Ever Ate. That reputation has followed the property even as ownership and management have changed hands, with the restaurant's country ham remaining a fixture on both breakfast and dinner tables.
Renovations Reshape the Hotel Side
Fast Food Club reports that the hotel side of the property has active construction underway, with plans for a new spa and brewery, and that the main dining room recently reopened after a makeover while the resort adds outdoor dining spaces. The Paddock rooms were recently renovated, according to the same account, though the broader renovations have caused construction noise and temporarily blocked views for some guests.
Those upgrades track with the resort's own stated plans. Per dillardhouse.com, a transformative redevelopment is underway with completion targeted for early 2027, introducing new accommodations, resort amenities, dining experiences and wellness offerings. The centerpiece is a planned Grand Lodge featuring 60 guest rooms, mountain views, a resort-style pool and bar, and a modern fitness center, while the resort's 75 existing guest rooms are also being fully renovated. A new spa with four treatment rooms, along with manicure and pedicure services and boutique retail, is slated to open in late 2026.
Brewery and Winery Plans
Rabun Brewery is planned to launch at Dillard House in summer 2026 and is described on the resort's site as set to become the only brewery in Rabun County. Doghobble winery was also planned to open that same summer, and a separate report from The Cute North Georgian says its tasting room, a satellite location for Familia Vineyards, has become the first outside operation to open on the property following the purchase.
Resort Amenities
Beyond the restaurant and lodging, Fast Food Club describes a property that includes an outdoor pool, fitness center and bar.
Fast Food Club's report also notes the resort carries a 4.2-star rating from more than 6,200 reviews, with guests praising the staff and hospitality even as some reviews point to mixed feelings about food quality, older rooms, and breakfast offerings. The Dillard House is a stop for travelers exploring the wider North Georgia mountain corridor.
