There's a New All-Inclusive Luxury Resort in a Tiny Town in Georgia—Where Wellness and Food Take Center Stage

Travel + Leisure

3 days ago

Before I arrived at Quercus, a resort in the 129-person town of Gay, Georgia, I thought I had a decent idea of what I could expect. I was prepared to compare it to other high-end Southern properties—The Swags and the Old Edwards Inns of the world. I figured it would be thoughtful and well-executed, somewhere I'd feel comfortable recommending even to the most discerning of travelers.
While those initial assumptions were accurate, it's difficult, if not impossible, to juxtapose Quercus with any other resort in the South. Yes, the standalone cabins are reminiscent of those at North Carolina's Cataloochee Ranch, and the focus on nourishing guests with farm-fresh ingredients is akin to the ethos of Tennessee's Blackberry Farm. The quality of the linens, the surprise-and-delight moments (like a Hatch sound machine beside the bed), and the number of cozy reading corners are equivalent to those associated with five-star resorts, like Montage Palmetto Bluff or Sea Island. I could even argue that there are elements to the wellness offerings that feel on brand for Miraval Austin. A lounge library.
Lydia Mansel/Travel + Leisure
But the truth is, Quercus is unprecedented in identity and presentation. It's a unique concept, one helmed by Chiara Visconti di Modrone and her husband Angelos Pervanas, who are deeply passionate about their roles as stewards of the land and developing a restorative retreat that blends 'traditional ranch culture and Southern hospitality with a European flair.' Together with chef Ryan Smith and Kara Hidinger, owners of Staplehouse, a Michelin-starred restaurant in Atlanta, they've built an all-inclusive resort that left me with a newfound understanding of my health, a deeper appreciation of a good night's sleep, and the realization that there's a difference between relaxation and restoration (though I experienced both during my two-night stay).
Located about an hour south of Hartsfield-Jackson, the 3,800-acre property—filled with pecan groves, pastures, forests, and lakes—is rooted in Visconti di Modrone's family history. The land was purchased by her parents, an Italian duke and duchess, in the late 1970s. For the last few decades, it's served as a hunting reserve, a working farm, and a cattle and horse ranch. It wasn't until the pandemic, when Visconti di Modrone and Pervanas began discussing regenerative farming with Hidinger and Smith, that this idea of an overnight retreat began to form. Guests sitting around a fire pit.
Opened in the fall of 2024, 'the World of Quercus,' composed of four guest cabins, a biodynamic vegetable garden, a farm-to-table restaurant, a restored farmhouse, and endless ways to enjoy the outdoors, is the type of destination that has the ability to shift into whatever type of retreat you need. Visconti di Modrone and Pervanas hope that their guests leave feeling 'nurtured and re-energized, both physically and mentally,' and they've provided multiple ways to achieve that goal.
Whether you book a one-on-one holistic wellness consultation with Visconti di Modrone (who also founded the company Intuitas Integrative Wellness), indulge in an in-suite massage, test your hand-eye coordination at a nearby sporting clay course, or enjoy a leisurely lunch on your oversized porch swing prepared fresh by Smith himself, it's impossible to drive away from the property in the same headspace as when you arrived.
Read on for my full review of Quercus.
The four residential-style guest cabins, or 'suites,' are impeccably designed for a restful getaway, and touches include circadian lighting, organic mattresses, and wood-burning stoves.
Guests can explore the expansive property on foot or by all-terrain golf cart; a ride through the pecan grove at golden hour is a must.
Food takes center stage at Quercus, with a dining program steered by chef Ryan Smith and kitchen stocked by the sustainably farmed garden.
With 'Quercus' being the Latin name for 'oak,' it's no surprise to learn that the four guest cabins, ranging from one to two bedrooms, share a nature-inspired naming system. Cypress, Ember, Naya, and Sylva are all designed by Tammy Connor, but there's a shared throughline of bespoke elegance and sheer comfort, accented by books, artwork, and other furnishings and heirlooms owned by the Visconti di Modrone family (some pieces even date back to the Crusades).
The cabins are as spacious as they come. Each one is tucked into its own little private nook on the property, which guests access via an all-terrain golf cart; you're basically staying in your own home-away-from-home, as clichéd as the phrase may be. There's an outdoor fireplace and indoor wood-burning stove in the living room with all the necessary materials and tools to light them, a wraparound porch, a kitchenette and dining area, a powder room, a master bedroom outfitted with blackout curtains, and an ensuite bathroom with a soaking tub and a walk-in shower.
Every inch of the space, from the organic mattresses to the cupboards stocked with homemade snacks and a selection of herbal teas, anticipates the needs of the guests. The coffee maker comes with detailed instructions, the bath towels are plentiful, and you even get a little pouch of sunscreen and lip balm you can take with you at the end of your stay. There's no TV, but you won't miss it. If you do need to check in with the outside world, there's strong WiFi at your disposal.
When asked about their vision for Quercus, Visconti di Modrone and Pervanas mentioned creating a 'high-level culinary experience that nurtures the body.' Chef Smith and Hidinger have brought that idea to fruition, developing an innovative food and beverage program that leverages local ingredients and the fruits of the garden to fuel guests throughout their stay.
All meals are included in the nightly rate, and there are a variety of ways to enjoy the delicacies prepared by Smith and his team. Breakfast can be hand-delivered to your suite, and you can opt for a picnic lunch for on-the-go convenience. Don't expect standard eggs-and-bacon or sandwich-and-an-apple combinations, though. Whatever is growing in the garden inspires Smith's menus. And, given the limited number of guests on property at any given time, it feels as if he's whipped up your own personal gourmet spread, all made with any dietary restrictions in mind.
You can also choose to take meals or grab an afternoon cocktail inside The Main Cottage, a restored farmhouse complete with a charming library and porch, that sits next to Uberto, Quercus' 30-seat farm-to-table restaurant named after Visconti di Modrone's late father.
Uberto's multi-course tasting menus are devised by Smith and offered exclusively on Fridays and Saturdays. The exact makeup of the meal is dynamic, but it's clear Smith has perfected the art of impressing his guests both visually and gustatorily. One dinner at Uberto is included in your stay; other dinners, while not as extravagant, are equally entertaining (and delicious). The signature chef-guided hotpot experience, which I cannot recommend enough, is the perfect introduction to the type of inventive, ingredient-forward cuisine Quercus is adamant on serving. On the night of my arrival, Smith and Hidinger welcomed me to my suite, armed with platters of rice, kimchi, broth, and greens and other vegetables.
The type of individualized service you can expect from the culinary side of things is also reflected in other areas of the Quercus experience. Ahead of your arrival, you'll receive an email asking you to share your preferences for your itinerary. Available activities include guided fishing or kayaking on the Flint River, an educational tour of the on-site biodynamic farm, rucking (hiking around the property with a weighted backpack), clay shooting, and liberty training with horses. I opted for the latter two, spending one morning maneuvering through the courses at neighboring Big Red Oak Plantation and an afternoon learning the ins and outs of bonding with horses.
The activity that had the biggest impact on me, however, was my consultation with Visconti di Modrone. After losing her brother to cancer and her parents soon after, she immersed herself in the world of nutrition and preventative health. The journey led her to develop The Visconti Method, a 12-week program to 'empower women living with the fear of cancer.'
She and I spoke about my own health concerns and goals, and we touched on food and sleep and the role they play in wellness, particularly for women. As a travel writer on the road multiple times a month, I find it difficult to eat in-season and prioritize sleep all the time, but with her approachable, actionable advice, I left our session feeling empowered and excited to review my personalized health plan she developed.
Visconti di Modrone and Pervanas are looking forward to 'creating a wellness program that aligns with [their] ways of living off the land,' with plans to begin construction on a separate spa—featuring a sauna, cold plunge, and massage rooms—this coming fall. For now, guests have the option to book an in-suite massage or private yoga session.
The Main Cottage and Uberto are wheelchair accessible, but the completion of the ADA-compliant suite has been delayed.
Sustainability and eco-conscious efforts play a significant role at Quercus. The property mostly uses solar power, and Visconti di Modrone and Pervanas shared with Travel + Leisure , 'all aspects of growing our food and livestock, including compost production, minimizing plastic, and food preparation (where, for example, every component of the plant is used),' are sustainably-minded as well.
Quercus is a 16-and-up property. While there are no teen-specific activities, the team can certainly help design an itinerary that keeps younger guests entertained.
The small town of Gay is located 3 miles east of the Flint River and about 53 miles south of downtown Atlanta. Outside of Quercus, its main attraction is Towerhouse Farm Brewery, a taproom and biergarten that's just a short walk from the resort.
All meals and snacks, beverages (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic) in the suites, and certain activities and gratuities are included in the rate. Check-in is only available Thursday through Sunday, with a minimum stay of one night and a maximum stay of four nights. Keep in mind, Quercus is closed during the summer months, from the beginning of June until early September.
Nightly rates at Quercus are $1,350 per person.
Every T+L hotel review is written by an editor or reporter who has stayed at the property, and each hotel selected aligns with our core values.