YOU WOULDN'T EXPECT to find a resort hidden along a dusty, dirt road in Swainsboro.  In fact, when I think of a resort, I picture mountains or beaches.  But the Flat Creek Lodge has changed my mind.  Here in our own backyard is a full-service hideaway that honors nature and relaxation.
     The Lodge is a resort because of the one-on-one attention each guest receives.  You don’t just stop in here to spend the night.  They offer their guests everything from hunting and fishing to spa treatments and fine dining.  When booking your reservation, a custom package is built for you.  Their primary goal is to help you rejuvenate and have fun.
    If you are a hunter or ever entertained the idea, this is the place for you.  Take your choice of pheasant, quail, duck or deer hunting during your stay.  Bob Edwards, the sporting club director, has decades of experience, and he willingly shares it with all who come here.  
    Impressive to the grounds is the clay skeet range.  With the use of a state-of-the-art computer system, the range is challenging for the more experienced shooter but still accessible to the novice.  The range is designed in the shape of a baseball diamond, and up to five people can participate in a single shoot.  
    To make your way into the hunting zones, you climb aboard an early ’60s model Unimog.  These fully restored Mercedes trucks were once used by NATO before being put into storage under the Swiss Alps.  Steven and Caroline Harless, the owners, purchased them during an online auction and put them to work transporting hunters.  
    This place is also a perfect fit for the nature lover or conservationist.  Recycling here is not limited to paper bags and old aluminum cans.  It is in the building materials and the furnishings.  But, no worries, you won’t check in and find yourself sleeping under an old newspaper.  Instead, the rooms have the feel of a cabin you happened upon in the woods.  The use of reclaimed and restored furniture gives each lodge and cottage a feeling of individuality.
    The accommodating staff at Flat Creek jumps at the chance to show off their property.  All you have to do is ask.  Starting the tour, you pass the first of two hydroponics greenhouses.  Consistent in what the lodge stands for, as much food as possible is grown on the grounds.  Although not certified organic by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, these efforts are evidence of the love the owners feel toward all things natural.  No pesticides are used in their agriculture.
    Next on the tour you come to the fish tanks, housing the fish that are served fresh in the dining hall.  The pens for the quail and pheasant are also close by.  
    But what if hunting and fishing aren’t on your list of favorite things to do?  Lucky for you only steps away from the Lodge House is the Flat Creek Spa.  Take your choice of eight different massages including aromatherapy, Swedish and hot stone.  There is even a gentleman’s massage for the weary sportsman.  They also offer more traditional comforts such as pedicures, manicures and facials.
    The sunken whirlpools offer a serene place from which to stare out over the lake while enjoying nature, making this my favorite spot on the property.
    A lack of technology plays a part in the overall theme of relaxation.  The cottages are equipped with televisions; however, none of the rooms has a phone.  Cell phone reception and WiFi are also limited.
    There are many reasons to visit Flat Creek, but the most important to me is undoubtedly the food.  The head chef, Ira Mittelman, has joined the staff from San Francisco and brought with him fresh ideas and enthusiasm.  The menu is diverse and is true to the area, with wild game featured regularly.
    They have satisfied a long empty niche of fine dining in the Swainsboro area and brought a new sophistication to traditional fare.  But, then again, how can you go wrong with fresh, home-grown ingredients and an environment made for experimenting with new ideas?
    At Flat Creek Lodge you are surrounded by pieces of the past gracefully placed together with the comforts of today.  The completed project stands as a monument to reuse, being environmentally friendly, and above all, escape.  The staff takes its responsibilities to serve seriously and make every traveler feel at home.  
    Flat Creek Lodge is a peaceful two-hour drive from Savannah, but it sure feels like a million miles away.

Editor’s note: This story has been condensed for online viewing. For the full story, pick up a copy of the November/December 2008 Savannah Magazine.