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Put Your Feet Up at the Patch
Country inn offers plenty of peace and quiet
Guests can take a dip in the pool, nap in a hammock or find other ways to soak up serenity at the Parish Patch Farm & Inn in Normandy.
If it weren’t for the black and white sign along Highway 269 in Normandy, you’d never know Parish Patch Farm & Inn existed down the adjacent country road. And that quiet seclusion
is exactly what draws people to this peaceful estate, where guests can take a nap in a hammock, read a book in the library, fish for trout in the Duck River and even get married in the chapel.
“People will be here 15 minutes and say, ‘I can’t believe how quiet it is,’ ” says David Hazelwood, who owns Parish Patch with his wife, Claudia. “They also comment on how great the stargazing is because there are no city lights around.”
Nestled on a 300-acre working farm in the rolling hills of Bedford, Parish Patch attracts wedding parties, family reunions, corporate and church groups, and couples seeking a romantic getaway. The operation consists of a country inn with 21 guest rooms, a conference center, a 120-seat limestone wedding chapel and Cortner Mill restaurant, which is housed in an 1825 gristmill and specializes in fine dining.
Parish Patch has hosted several notable folks since
it opened in 1982, including Merle Haggard in the early years and the Dixie Chicks, who stayed at the inn for a weeklong songwriting retreat with writers from Nashville.
The Cortner Mill restaurant is another important facet of Parish Patch and has become a popular dining spot with Bedford County residents. It’s open by reservation, and entrees average about $19 per person.
“We feature things from a farm or out of the river – trout, catfish, grilled duck breast, frog legs,” Hazelwood says. “We use all fresh produce – nothing canned or frozen – and we even make our own ice cream.”
Although there’s plenty to do at Parish Patch, guests who want to venture off the property won’t be disappointed. Two wineries are located less than 20 minutes away, and the quaint historic towns of Wartrace and Bell Buckle are a short jaunt down the road. The city of Lynchburg and Jack Daniels Distillery are just a 30-minute drive.
Most people, however, are perfectly content to stay put at the Parish Patch.
For more information, call (931) 857-3017 or visit
www.parishpatch.com.
Story by Jessica Mozo
