The Middlebury Institute
for the study of separatism, secession, and self-determination
127 East Mountain Road Cold Spring, N.Y. 10516
Director@MiddleburyInstitute.Org                  
ANNOUNCING THE SECOND NORTH AMERICAN SECESSIONIST CONVENTION
3-4 OCTOBER 2007, CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE

Nestled in Upshur County, West Virginia, pretty much smack dab in the middle of the state, is the lovely and unique Deer Park Country Inn. The inn is a member of the Select Registry, a compilation of the most exclusive and exquisite bed and breakfasts. Situated on 100 hilly and landscaped acres, the inn consists of a mid-18th century log cabin (the oldest standing structure in West Virginia), a 19th century farmhouse and a two-story double-porch lodge. The farmhouse is decorated with CSA family artifacts. The rooms have been appointed with private baths, dried floral arrangements and period antiques. All guest rooms also have telephones and color television, complete with Direct TV. 

I stayed in the Upshur Room in the main house.  My room even had a closet, which was a rare feature until the last century. The Upshur Room has an antique Queen sized bed and a little trundle-style bed, which would be perfect if you have small children staying with you. The bathroom had a huge claw-foot style bath, besides which were exotic Italian fruit bubble baths and bath salts. Naturally, I just had to dive in!

Deer Park Country Inn is frequented by busy executives, celebrities and families in part for its many opportunities to just chill out. There is hiking, fishing in spring-fed ponds and croquet. Between the log cabin and the farmhouse (which are now interconnected) is an beautiful polished wood honor bar, stocked with all your top shelf favorites. There are also lots of quiet places to curl up with a book. Guests will love the hallway of built-in shelves filled with cookbooks, travel guides and history books. The hall makes up the wall of one of the restaurant’s dining rooms – which makes for too tempting a look-see while having dinner! It was just like home, where I often pour through cookbooks while I’m eating.

On weekends, the Inn operates a restaurant (reservations required). It’s so nice to be able to stay put, not have to drive anywhere for dinner. The menu can be described as classic bistro fare with fresh, seasonal ingredients. When picking out wines for the evening, the server suggested a house-made wine spritzer to start things off…which turned out to be the perfect thing. The evening I was there, the menu included crab cakes, a vegetarian portabella mushroom linguini, Filet Mignon and a special cheese platter. For dessert, I ordered the carrot cake, which was a carroty spice cake with cream cheese icing. All the portions are very generous – I ended up taking a little boxed snack up to my room! 

If you're lucky, you'll get to meet Truffle, the owners' prized King Charles Spaniel. She's very friendly! 

In the morning, the Inn serves breakfast to its guests…and they can pretty much whip up anything you desire. I had an omelette made for me with some of their cheese platter!

The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, has been the pride of the South for over 200 years. This is a luxury resort that prides itself on tradition and was the favorite relaxation spot for General Robert E. Lee. So many special touches constantly remind you of Southern grace and charm. The motto of their employees is, "Ladies and gentlemen serving ladies and gentlemen."

After 6:30 p.m., there is a dress code in the dining rooms and lobby: dresses or pants suits for ladies, jacket (and tie suggested) for men. If you didn’t arrive with the right apparel, no fret: the gifts stores in the basement sell clothes by such designers as Ralph Lauren, St. John’s and Lilly Pulitzer.

For my first luncheon, I went to Draper’s Cafe, named after their famous interior designer, Dorothy Draper. Their house iced tea is peach-flavored and delicious. I also had another Southern favorite: the fried green tomato sandwich. Draper’s Cafe serves theirs with goat cheese. I had a taste of Draper’s homemade chili with green onions. It was meaty and hearty.

If you are having a conference at the Greenbrier, there are many different options . . . but you might have a preference for the Virginia, Washington or Lee rooms.

In the South, what could be a more genteel tradition than afternoon tea? The Greenbrier begins theirs promptly at 4:15. Of course, you can get iced tea with an iced tea spoon, or you can choose from a number of Novus brand hot flavored teas. They serve beautiful petit fours and live music plays softly in the background.

For you Southern sports enthusiasts, there are activities galore at the Greenbrier. For decades, the Greenbrier has been known for golf -- and now, their signature course has been made even more challenging. The Old White, as it’s known, has been returned to its pre-WWII St. Andrews-like contours. The resort also has fly-fishing and on Kate’s Mountain, the Greenbrier Gun Club. I took some skeet-shooting lessons and while I will clearly never be an Annie Oakley, I did learn a lot.

When you have dinner in the Main Dining Room, you really see a celebration of the old South. I was able to feast on such favorites as homemade cornbread, barbecue bacon and ramp sausage, served with creamy scallion grits, the Greenbrier chicken liver pate’ with brandy cream, chilled spicy yellow tomato soup, fried soft shell crabs with warm potato salad, roasted pork loin with coconut-jasmine rice cake and spiced pork belly, buttermilk biscuits, hickory smoked pork with peach chutney, Vidalia onion tart, country-style beans, chilled strawberry soup, homemade ice cream and the famous Greenbrier peach dessert! I can’t really describe the Greenbrier peach, except to say that it’s a giant locally grown peach that I think is lightly poached in spices. It is so good! It’ll make you turn your head, even at chocolate desserts. All meals are ended with a plate of petit fours presented with coffee, very elegant.

Walking up a hill to the "Artists’ Colony", you will see all kinds of locally made goods and the Presidents’ Cottage Museum. There’s a little, tiny cottage called the "Doll House" that sells everything dollies might need. Before you dismiss this as "just for the girls" or too frou-frou, you gotta check it out! They even sell miniature magazines and get this -- baby electric guitars! I guess dollies aren’t going to be invited to play at the Carter Family Fold, which remains solely acoustic.

On the top of the hill is the President’s Cottage Museum, arguably one of the Greenbrier’s most special treasures. This is where the archives of the resort are kept in beautiful condition. The Greenbrier, which was known as "The Old White," was the place to see and be seen by the South’s most powerful families for 30 years before the Civil War. In the cottage, which is where American Presidents used to stay while at the resort, you can see a wonderful mural of General Lee on Traveler. The mural was taken down and preserved while the Greenbrier was used as a hospital during WWII. It was preserved so well, it was lost for 50 years! You can also see a copy of General Order #9, which served as the General’s farewell address, and read about how General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson stayed at the resort while a professor at the Virginia Military Institute. There are also rare photographs of the Confederate Fancy Dress Balls held at the Greenbrier.

Another fun Southern tradition is Cocktail Hour. While the Greenbrier’s seems to be in some form of transition, I can recommend their signature drink, "The Rhododendron". It’s served in a martini glass with rum, creme de almond and fresh lime juice. Yes, it’s pink, so it might be something for the ladies ... but it’s really good.

For the past few years, the Greenbrier has become even more famous for their Barbecue University seminars with barbecue guru, Steven Raichlen. The author of such best-selling books as "Ribs, Ribs, Ribs" takes on students for three day periods, teaching them the alpha through omega about barbecue. I learned so much! The word "barbecue" itself originates from a Caribbean word, "barbecoa," which was the cooking technique that Christopher Columbus observed the natives using when he traveled to the New World.

The classes are held at Kate’s Mountain Lodge, complete with wood burning stove and mounted trophy heads. Raichlen encourages all the students to be "hands on" with preparation of lunch for all the students. He shares secret recipes, products and methods. Outside the lodge, he provides over a dozen different types of grills and smokers, so that students become familiar with all kinds of equipment. It was really nice to see the family members who were taking the class together as well as groups of friends, neighbors, etc. Many of the attendees have been coming back for years -- and they learn new things each time. Raichlen is considering a "Master Class" for those frequent flyers that might include learning how to grill whole piggies, etc.

Lunch at the Barbecue University is prepared in part by the students and in part by the Greenbrier’s award-winning chefs. It is always great! They sure do know their clientele: the music in the background included Skynyrd, the Outlaws and other Southern rock greats.

The "raison d’etre" of the Greenbrier for centuries has been its spa. When you go for a treatment, you are encouraged to change into a fluffy bathrobe and hang out in the Relaxation Room. In the room are the latest upscale magazines, spring and sulphur water, fresh fruits and tea.

I was able to try the "Mountain Kur," which takes advantage of local materials, such as ground walnut shells for the scrub. First, you are led to a private room with a sunken tub, lit by candlelight. You are soaking in warm mineral water that has many healing qualities. Then, when you are all draped in thick towels, you are lead by an esthetician for a whole body scrub down, with oatmeal/walnut scrub. You end up smelling like a freshly-baked cookie! Then, you rinsed off first on the table with a Vichy shower and then by a high pressure shower. Then, you are treated to a relaxing massage! Afterwards, I relaxed further in the steam room. This is the perfect treatment for feeling renewed after traveling or if you have been avoiding taking care of yourself.

In the morning, breakfast is included for guest of the Greenbrier. This is no buffet line of cereal, no sir! You can order pretty much anything and everything your heart desires. I tried a particularly "Old South" breakfast of smoked wild local trout, grits, bacon and roasted local tomato. They thoughtfully serve it with a lemon wrapped in gauze. The trout was battered, fried chicken style -- delicious!

Founded in 1979 in St. Petersburg, Florida. Within a few short months, The Angelus became "home" for eight children ranging in age from 2 to 12 years. The home was supported by State Funding, but the founders continued to work at night to supplement the income. The Angelus then became a non-profit organization so they could begin to accept charitable gifts. The community responded with financial as well as volunteer help.

Just-turned 30 Beth Lucas is a painter who calls West Virginia home. After studying at Marshall University and also at North Carolina’s Queen’s College, she began to seriously pursue her art. Her paintings reflect her love of antiques, quilts and old magazines. Lucas describes her work as "primitive," and says about the scenes she paints, "That’s what I wanted to show, that way of life." That lifestyle is part of living on the West Virginia-Kentucky-Ohio border. "The way of life here is slower, like the Andy Griffith show! I think if you live in a big city, you don’t get to see what I see. We’re in the middle of nowhere," Lucas says, laughing.

Lucas’ favorite medium is acrylics, though she has used watercolors in painting botanicals. She prefers acrylics, pronouncing them "really bright and bold,". Lucas has been thinking about branching into oil painting in the future.

Lucas finds plenty of inspiration from her surroundings: she lives on 78 acres of rolling hills with her husband, Daniel. They love listening to the church bells ringing on Sundays, Autumn smoke in the air, attending pumpkin festivals and looking at the stars.

If you are interested in obtaining Beth Lucas’ art, contact her at BLucas02@adelphia.net  . . . And tell her you read about her in Southern Fried!