Something For Everyone at Chattooga Belle Farm

August 22, 2023

Farm Overview

Chattooga Belle Farm is a 198-acre working farm, distillery and event barn in Long Creek, SC. The setting offers spectacular views of the Blue Ridge Mountains and is a must-see destination for people traveling to the area. Visitors are welcome to enjoy the mountain panorama, beautiful sunsets or an evening under the stars; though areas of the farm may be restricted during wedding ceremonies and special events.

Fruit Orchard

The farm produces a wide variety of fruit including: apples, peaches, muscadines, scuppernongs, table grapes, blackberries, raspberries, and blueberries. They also grow more “exotic” fruits such as: persimmons, paw paws, Asian pears, figs, jujube’s and more! You can expect fruit to be in season throughout the summer and fall. Visitors are encouraged to wander through the orchards for an U-Pick experience. Freshly harvested fruit is available inside the Farm Store too.

Event Venue

Rustic elegance with an amazing view! The event barn offers 5,000 square feet of covered space and features a catering kitchen, bridal dressing room, and lawn space for tents. Full and half day rentals include: choice of ceremony location either under the barn or on the adjacent lawn, as well as farm staff helping set up and clean up the event. For venue rental pricing and details go HERE.

Farm Store

You’ll find a wide selection of canned products, gift items, wine and all-natural grass-fed Black Angus Beef raised on site. The Farm Store is open 9am – 5pm seven days a week from May through the holidays.

Belle’s Bistro

This on-site restaurant serves lunch and is open on a seasonal basis. The farm uses permaculture techniques to ensure fertile soil and the culinary team creates great tasting specials based on what’s ripe and available in the fields. Starting mid-August, Belle’s Bistro has a limited menu on Wednesday and Thursday. Full menu is offered Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Hours: 11am – 2pm. Belle’s Bistro MENU.

Distillery

Chattooga Belle Farm is the first legal distillery in Oconee County, SC. They grow fruit, ferment it, distill it, bottle it and sell spirits on-site at their Distillery. They offer mixed drinks and select “mini bottles” of vodka and moonshine too. Stop by the Distillery and you’ll get to see the distilling process and have the opportunity to taste sample products. It’s an enjoyable setting with places to relax with views of the pasture, farm and rolling countryside.

Lodging

Chattooga Belle Farm also offers places to stay! Options include: a lake house, two tiny houses, three RV sites and primitive camping. The Lakehouse is a 2 1/2 bedroom, 2 bath home that can sleep 9 people. The tiny houses, Llama Lodge and The Chicken Coop, are near a peaceful llama and cattle pasture down the hill from the Distillery. The RV sites have power and water hookups with sewage or non-sewage capabilities. Tents can be set up next to Horseshoe Lake or creekside in the woods.

Farm History

In the 1950’s and 1960’s, the predecessor of Chattooga Belle Farm was Horseshoe Lake Farms. The farm was planted with 1,650 acres of apple trees. At one point it was the largest apple farm east of the Mississippi River!

Fun Fact: The farm was co-owned for a time by comedian Groucho Marx.

Several hard freezes in the 1980’s forced Horeshoe Lake Farms to sell off to the US Forest Service and neighboring farms owners.

Today, the farm is owned by Ed Land and his wife Kitty.

They’ve worked hard to bring back the apple orchard while cultivating a wide variety of additional fruit grown on the property.

The Lands also own the Long Creek General Store and the Feed, Hardware & Roadside Market, which packs a whole lot of useful merchandise into a very small space.