Conferences and Retreats
Host your club, society, company workforce, or family event at Blue Ridge Discovery Center! Situated on 12 acres of pristine forested land, our historic schoolhouse offers an ideal base camp for multi-day conferences, retreats, and events. This unique venue seamlessly blends natural beauty with functional spaces, creating an environment that inspires creativity, fosters learning, and facilitates collaboration.
Facilities
Our 17,250 sf Historic Schoolhouse includes: An Auditorium, Dining Hall, Commercial Kitchen, Natural History Library, Classroom, Outdoor Amphitheater, Bedroom Suites, and Bunk Rooms
Meal Service
Prepare your own meals in our commercial kitchen or have BRDC provide meal service for your event. Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner menus are available. Contact us.
Programming
Supplement your conference or retreat with group specific BRDC programming. Our programs are led by trained naturalists and provide fun, educational, and team building activities. Options include star watches, owl prowls, aquatic programs, regional hikes, salamander meanders, and much more. View curriculum.
Lodging
BRDC can provide lodging for your event including bedroom suites, bunk rooms, a standalone cottage, and primitive camping. Lodging can be reserved as a whole by the group or setup to be rented by individuals as needed. Contact us.
Auditorium and
Dr. Jean Hamm Chapel
This beautiful historic chapel provides groups with an central gathering place. Lit by locally made stained glass windows, this auditorium can seat 125 guests but is setup as a flexible space that can also handle dance programs, round table discussions, weddings and more. Audio equipment along with a retractable 12’ presentation screen and projector are available.
Judge Jack and Clare MATTHEW'S Dining Hall
Featuring locally hand carved chairs and replica solid oak dining tables, this dining hall can seat 64 individuals in family style dining. Soaring above the hall are our featured raptor silhouettes that provide guests with a sense of scale and ID markers for our migratory birds of prey.
Natural History Library
Our curated Natural History Library houses over 1,300 books dedicated to the natural sciences of the region. In this library you will find rare, historic, and local publications along with our collections of maps, artifacts, rocks, insects, furs, and more. Books are available for use by BRDC members and guests. A large meeting table along with a reading lounge make this one of the most attractive guest hangouts.
Accommodations and Capacity
Our facility comfortably houses up to 70 guests, with a variety of lodging options including 12 bunk rooms and 3 private bedroom suites located on the upper floors. An ADA accessible room is also available on the 1st floor. This flexibility allows us to cater to diverse group sizes and preferences.
Appalachian Heritage Kitchen Sponsored by Food City
Our commercial kitchen is fully equipped to efficiently serve guests a variety of complex hot meals. Food can be conveniently distributed through a passthrough window or plated directly in the dining hall. Featuring a six-burner range, dual propane ovens, stainless steel prep areas, an ice machine, coffee percolators, pantry, and basement freezers; this kitchen is ready for extended, full-service meal preparation.
Nature Trails
With nearly 1 mile of nature trails on the BRDC Campus and the adjacent Forest Service properties there is plenty of opportunity to explore during down time. The trails engage with an educational rain garden, a frog pond, a constructed wetland, Big Laurel Creek, Della’s Branch, and native plant landscapes. These trials feature wildlife support (bird houses, cover boards, insect burrows, debris piles, perches, etc..) along with interpretative signs. Bring your binoculars and field guides when you take a meander on our trails.